#PiliPinasDebates2016 generates over a million tweets

Over a million tweets were generated during the #PiliPinasDebates2016, propelling it to "Top Trending Topic" status on Sunday, not just in the Philippines but worldwide.

Twitter data shows that 1.3 million tweets were posted from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 21, peaking at 6:36 p.m. when former Secretary of Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay traded barbs about the two faces of Makati.

The tension between the two candidates produced a peak of 16,000 tweets per minute.

Twitter data also shows that Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach's casual endorsement of the event was met positively by the Twitterverse.

I'm so proud! I hope this enlightened many of our countrymen. ???? Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! ???????? #PiliPinasDebates2016

— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) February 21, 2016

Additional data showed that users were interested in "Poverty, Development, and Agriculture" round the most, with the topic generated 51 percent of the tweets.

Among the five candidates, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte created the most buzz during the debate. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was the least discussed candidate.

Combined, however, both Duterte and Santiago won the Internet with their unexpected alliance. Their friendship birthed the #DuRiam hashtag, which users generated organically.

Relationship Goals. #DuRiam pic.twitter.com/ftTWxSmsqo

— Jomar Dela Rosa (@jomardlrs) February 21, 2016

"We’re excited to empower Filipinos across the nation and all over the world to engage in millions of conversations about the first presidential debate for this year’s #TwitterElection in the Philippines," said Pratiksha Rao, Twitter’s Head for Media Partnerships for Southeast Asia.

She continued, "Yesterday’s debate was a resounding success with our media partners and shows how millions of people are flocking to Twitter to experience and participate in the live debate. Join us on Twitter for the future debates as we give Filipinos across 7,000 islands and working overseas an influential voice to be heard in #PiliPinasDebates2016." —Aya Tantiangco/JST, GMA News