Manny Pacquiao tops Google, Yahoo ‘Most Searched’ lists for 2009

By NEIL RAY RAMOS
December 10, 2009, 8:29pm

Google and Yahoo!, the number one and number two most popular search engines today, respectively, have released data a propos the most searched topics and names of 2009 according to local users.

It’s no surprise that boxer Manny Pacquiao still tops both lists.

Pacquiao edged out deceased political icon Cory Aquino and the late Michael Jackson for ‘most searched’ in both Google and Yahoo.

Following Pacquiao and Aquino in overall most popular searches for Yahoo! are Francis Magalona, Ondoy, Dionisia Pacquiao, Shalani Soledad, Eraserheads, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Mar and Korina, and the Philippine Basketball Association.

In Yahoo!’s celebrity search rankings, domestic stars came first, with the list being topped by controversial actress-commercial model Maricar Reyes.

Reyes was followed by online queries for actress Angel Locsin, Korean performer Sandara Park, Binibining Pilipinas winner Pamela Bianca Manalo, Kris Aquino, actress Marian Rivera, Jackson, and local celebrities Coco Martin, Anne Curtis, and Judy Ann Santos.

Meanwhile, the most searched celebrity names according to Google is Carla Abellana, the star of the local remake of Mexican telenovela “Rosalinda.” The actress bested Bebe Gandanghari, Sandara Park, Coco Martin, Pacquiao’s mom Aling Dionisia, Katrina Halili, Angel Locsin, Dennis Laurel, and Katherine Luna.

Special mention goes to embattled beauty surgeon, Hayden Kho, as well as Korean pop star, Kim Bum.

As for music-related searches, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story" is the hottest song for Google users.

For local Yahoo! users, local band Sponge Cola's "Di Na Mababawi" is this year's anthem.

Making it on Google’s most popular music celebrities list is Lady Gaga who visited the country for a one-night concert at the Araneta Coliseum on August and pop king Michael Jackson, whose queries revolved mainly around his untimely death.

As for networking tools, Facebook and Twitter top Google Philippines’s most-searched items.

Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, son of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and the late president Cory Aquino, leads this year’s “fastest-rising politicians” category according to Google.

Interest on Aquino, which had been below other 2010 presidential candidates, spiked in August, peaked on September and continues to top other bets.

Other popular politicos are senators Mar Roxas, Manny Villar, ex-president Joseph Estrada and former defense chief Gilbert Teodoro, according to Google search data.

As for list of current events topics, Yahoo! said Filipinos searched for information online regarding the A (H1N1) flu pandemic, which claimed the top spot, followed closely by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng and curiously, the reproductive health bill.

The fastest-rising local travel destination search term for Filipinos, is Baler in Aurora, the popularity of which was probably spurred by a period film shown late last year starring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales.

Therese Lim, Google’s corporate communications head for the Philippines, believes the year-end report serves as “barometer to reflect the pulse of Filipinos on wide-ranging issues.”

"Searches via Google offer an accurate assessment and is reflective of the information seeking behavior of Filipinos, especially on issues that interest them locally and even globally,” said she.

Meanwhile Yahoo! deemed it quite “unique” that for most Filipinos, entertainment, politics, and sports seem to intertwine almost naturally.

“What is unique to the Philippines is that the boundaries between entertainment, politics and sports intertwine simultaneously, reflective of Philippine culture,” Yahoo! disclosed.

Online searches done by people who accessed the Internet from mobile devices such as mobile phones, however, had a slightly different flavor, evidence perhaps of the different demographics of mobile web users.

The top search terms for mobile phone users according to Yahoo! [in order from first to last] are the NBA, Katrina Halili, Manny Pacquiao, Marian Rivera, Hayden Kho, Francis Magalona, Citigroup, Michael Jackson, Cory Aquino, and lastly, the PBA.

Source: mb.com.ph