SIM registration most searched news in Philippines for 2023 – Google

MANILA, Philippines — The new law requiring Filipinos to register their SIM cards is the most searched news in the Philippines this year, according to technology company Google.

Google Philippines on Tuesday night unveiled the Year In Search 2023, its annual compilation of the top trending keywords and terms that Filipinos searched for.

“These top 10 lists serve as a record of the many events and issues that people have gotten caught up in over the year. For example, SIM registration topped the News list because of the new law that mandated everyone to register their phone numbers, and because Filipinos wanted to know more about the process,” the company said.

Following “SIM registration” in the most searched news category was “precinct finder,” which allowed Filipinos to look for their voting precincts in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last October.

“Persona non grata” ranked third, which Google said was due to the controversy involving drag queen Pura Luka Vega. It was followed by “Nipah virus” and the “War in Israel and Gaza.”

Sixth on the list was “lato-lato,” a toy that surged in popularity in the country this year.

Other top searches in the news category included updates and information on disasters, including “Typhoon Egay,” “Taal Volcano” and “Turkey earthquake.”

Completing the list was “MoCa Farm,” the subject of an advisory from the Securities and Exchange Commission in June for supposedly offering investments to the public without proper registration.

Aside from the top news searches, Google’s Year in Search also featured top searches in other categories.

In sports, “Lakers vs Warriors” was the most searched keyword among Filipinos, referring to the National Basketball Association games between Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. It was followed by “Lakers vs Nuggets” and “FIBA World Cup.”

Korean series “Duty After School” was the most searched show or series, followed by local series “Maria Clara at Ibarra” and Korean show “Moving.”

“Say You Won’t Let Go,” a 2016 song by James Arthur, was the most searched song or lyrics, followed by local songs “ERE” of Juan Karlos and “Pasilyo” by SunKissed Lola.

“Oppenheimer” was the most searched film among Filipinos, followed by “John Wick: Chapter 4” and “Barbie.”

Top male personalities included South Korean actor Ahn Bo-hyun, who had a brief relationship with Blackpink’s Jisoo, as well as Japanese actor Mackenyu of One Piece fame and Filipino actor Marco Gumabao.

Top female personalities included British actress Katy Louise Saunders, wife of popular South Korean actor Song Joong-ki, as well as Filipino actress Cristine Reyes and British actress Millie Bobby Brown.

Google also released the most searched Korean series in the Philippines, which included “Duty After School,” “Moving” and “The Glory.”

It also had a list of most searched farewells, led by broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez, actor and comedian Joey Paras and “Friends” actor Matthew Perry.

For gamers, the most searched in the Philippines was “Blade Ball codes,” followed by “Delta Executor” and “Soldier, Poet or King quiz.”

Globally, the “War in Israel and Gaza” was the most searched news this year, followed by “Titanic submarine,” “Turkey earthquake,” “Hurricane Hilary” and “Hurricane Idalia.”