Bieber, basketball, and beauty queens: PHL’s top tweets in 2013

Micro-blogging site Twitter on Monday presented the very first Philippines Year on Twitter, a rundown of topics that trended and people who mattered in the country in 2013.

The Pope and Justin Bieber on Yolanda

Garnering the more than 35,000 retweets in 2013 is Pope Francis' tweet asking the world to join him in prayer for the victims of Yolanda. It was also favorited by over 17,700 Twitter users.

I ask all of you to join me in prayer for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda especially those in the beloved islands of the Philippines

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 9, 2013

Meanwhile, Justin Bieber's tweet on his surprise visit to Tacloban City garnered more than 48,533 retweets and more than 41,000 favorites. The pop star even appealed for assistance.

Flew to the affected areas in the Philippines, please do what you can to help. #givebackphilippines http://t.co/UwO3P38AGB

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 10, 2013

Coming in a far third place is Kpop star Nichkhun Horvejkul's tweet and photo of his first balut during his stay in the Philippines. It garnered more than 6,500 retweets and almost 5,000 favorites.

Two more tweets that made news is actress Anne Curtis' message about her slapping incident with actor John Lloyd Cruz and two others after having had too many drinks in a bar, and comedian Vice Ganda's reaction to it.

Biggest events on Twitter

Twitter was abuzz during these four “biggest events and occurrences in 2013 that made Twitter users from the Philippines narrate, share and discuss:”

1. Filipinas winning international beauty crowns (miss philippines, #missworld2013, megan young, #miss international2013, bea rose santiago, mutya datul, #pinoypride)

Filipino twitter users reacted and talked about Filipina beauty queens Megan Young, Mutya Datul and Bea Rose Santiago when they bagged the titles Miss World, Miss Supranational and Miss International, respectively, this year.

2. Typhoon Yolanda (#YolandaPH, #ReliefPH, #prayforthephilippines, #walangpasok, #haiyan, #givebackphilippines)

Naturally, one of the biggest, and strongest typhoons to ever hit the Visayas region to date got online attention as well. People tweeted about the impact of the typhoon, and ways to help out.

3. Smart Gilas in FIBA Asia (#labanpilipinas, #gilaspilipinas, gilas pilipinas, #philippines, #puso, #fibaasia#2013)

Twitter was also busy during the FIBA Asia 2013 held in Manila last August. Smart Gilas Philippine men’s basketball team beat perennial stalwarts Japan and South Korea and ended up second against Iran.

4. Philippine Mid-term Elections (#phvote, #eleksyon2013, #halalan2013, #dapattama, #harapan2013, #vote2013)

Twitter became an outlet for citizen's praise and concerns about their candidates, updates on the process, and on-the-ground reports during the elections last May.

Among Twitter's lists are also the following:

Top influencers

Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) – Entertainment
Kuya Kim Atienza (@kuyakimatienza) – Science
Karen Davila (@karendavila) – Media
Noynoy Aquino (@noynoyaquino) – Politics/Government
Aly Borromeo (@alybor11) – Sports
Ogie Alcasid (@ogiealcasid) - Music
Rommel Feria (@rom) – Tech
Jim Paredes (@jimparedes) - Advocate
Georgina Wilson (@ilovegeorgina) – Lifestyle
Rajo Laurel (@rajolaurel) - Fashion
It’s a Teen Thing (@ohteenquotes) – Inspirational

Most tweeted topics

Most tweeted celebrity: Angel Locsin (“angel locsin”)
Most tweeted TV variety show: It's Showtime (#itsshowtime)
Most tweeted TV soap: Be Careful With My Heart (#becarefulwithmyheart)
Most tweeted movie: Sisterakas (#sisterakas)
Most tweeted music personality/event: Wanderland Music Fest (#wanderlandmusicfest)
Most tweeted political campaign/service: Mr. Education - Sen. Sonny Angara (#mreducation)
Most tweeted sports personality/event: Ateneo vs La Salle UAAP Volleyball (#admuvsdlsu)
Most tweeted service/social responsibility campaign: Sagip Kapamilya (#sagipkapamilya)
Most tweeted tech product: Windows 8 (#windows8)
Most tweeted business campaign/service: Globe Enlightens (#globeenlightens)
Most tweeted media organization: GMA News TV (#gmanewstv)
Most tweeted gadget: Samsung Galaxy (“samsung galaxy”)
Most tweeted food and beverage service: Starbucks (“starbucks”)
Most tweeted fashion product: SM Accessories (“sm accessories”)

Most used hashtags

#YolandaPH: Tweets on updates and information about the strongest typhoon ever to hit land
#ThrowbackThursday: Tweets about memorable past experiences, with accompanying photos or videos
#PrayforthePhilippines: Tweets asking for prayers for the typhoon-devastated country
#walangpasok: Tweets about class suspensions
#itsshowtime: Tweets about a popular noontime show
#labanpilipinas: Tweets supporting the Philippine basketball team, Smart Gilas, at FIBA Asia
#blessed: Tweets from people enumerating their blessings
#BeCarefulWithMyHeart: Tweets on the top-rating late morning romantic drama
#TheMorningRush: Tweets related to a widely followed FM radio show.
#ootd: Tweets on celebrities’ “outfit of the day” — Kim Luces/BM, GMA News