What do Dolphy, Simsimi, Jesse Robredo, and Jeremy Lin have in common?

Published December 13, 2012 2:52pm

Chat robot site SimSimi, Asian basketball sensation Jeremy Lin, the late comedy king Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon Sr. and the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo topped Google search queries for 2012.

Google said SimSimi was the top trending search term in the country for 2012 while basketball fanatics searched for then New York Knicks and now Houston Rockets guard Lin, who earned the nicknames Linsanity and Lin Dynasty.

On the other hand, Filipinos made Dolphy the top most searched newsmaker in the country as they mourned his death earlier this year.

In its 2012 Year-End Zeitgeist, Google looked back on the major events and hottest trends of 2012 based on searches conducted on its Philippine website Google.com.ph.

Other highlights of 2012 in this year’s Zeitgeist for the Philippines include:

Filipino-American Jessica Sanchez’s runner-up finish in American Idol Season 11
the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona
Filipino teenage martyr Pedro Calungsod’s canonization
the reelection of US President Barack Obama II
the franchising of noontime show Eat Bulaga in Indonesia
the temporary restraining order on the Anti-Cybercrime Law

Anti-Cybercrime Law third most searched for 2012

Google also noted the extensive use of social networking websites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube by Filipinos to voice their opinions, as in the case of motorist Robert Blair Carabuena assaulting a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority constable.

But it noted this form of online freedom of speech raised a controversy when the government enacted the Anti-Cybercrime law.

Protests against the law eventually prompted the Supreme Court to issue a 120-day temporary restraining order against it.

"Cybercrime law is the third most searched news this year," Google said.

Tragedies

Filipinos became involved with tragedies in the nation, including the deaths of Dolphy, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, singer Whitney Houston, singer Karl Roy, and actor-model Ramgen Revilla.

Top trending searches

As with 2011, top trending searches this year include the computer games Angry Birds, Tetris Battle, a multiplayer tetris game, and Dragon Nest, a massively popular multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG).

The top two trending searches - Simsimi and Angry Birds - are mobile apps, "which indicate that Pinoys are increasingly using smartphones and keeping up-to-date with smartphone trends."

Other trending searches include "Super Bass lyrics," Korean musician PSY’s Gangnam Style; and Asian-American basketball player, Jeremy Lin.

Local travel

The Manila Ocean Park peaked this year as the most searched local travel destination.

Other most searched Metro Manila destinations include Club Manila East and Greenhills.

Filipinos are also seeking the other wonders of the country, including Cagayan de Oro and Abra.