The Filipino internet was anything but quiet in 2024. From viral posts and canceled celebrities to meaningful discussions on various topics, the year sparked plenty of conversations online.
These conversations, both silly and serious, gave chronically online Filipinos plenty to laugh, reflect, and argue about. But beyond the humor and scalding tea, some of these discussions also provided valuable insights into relevant social and cultural issues.
Here’s a look back at some of the topics that kept the Filipino internet buzzing, not including the long list of online fanwars and celebrities who got cancelled!
1. The P299 engagement ring: Is it always the thought that counts?
The year kicked off with one of the most entertaining dramas of 2024: a woman in an eight-year relationship went viral after expressing her disappointment over receiving a P299 engagement ring from an online shopping app.
The post sparked a heated debate on social media about materialism, love and expectations surrounding proposals.
READ: ‘It’s the thought that counts’: Radio DJ, poetry page on viral P299 engagement ring post
The main point of contention was that while some argued love and commitment should matter more than material things, others felt the ring was the bare minimum and believed the man should have been more financially prepared to make his partner feel truly special.
Many emphasized that an engagement should reflect effort and thoughtfulness, with proposals being a demonstration of commitment. On the other hand, supporters of the man contended that love isn’t defined by extravagant rings, but by building a strong foundation for the relationship.
This viral drama left netizens questioning whether the thought truly counts and what it means to show love through actions, effort, and not just symbols.
2. Not so ready for it: UP’s Taylor Swift elective sparks debate
The University of the Philippines–Diliman has introduced a groundbreaking elective course, Celebrity Studies: Taylor Swift in Focus, becoming the first university in the country to offer a class centered on singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.
Offered by the College of Mass Communication, the course explores Taylor Swift’s conception, construction, and performance as a celebrity, delving into her influence on media narratives related to class, politics, gender, race, and societal ideals of success and mobility.
Reactions to the announcement have been divided on social media. Some expressed excitement about the unique course offering, while others criticized it as a misuse of taxpayers’ money.
One X user remarked, “Sana kasama sa ididiscuss ang kanyang white feminism at carbon emissions!!!!” followed by, “Pero teh, antanga talaga natatanga ako. Sige kung san masaya ang mga nasa field of communication.” The user later acknowledged, “I could’ve worded that tweet better, and I’m taking accountability for that.”
Despite the debate, it’s clear that the course aims to provide a critical analysis of Swift’s cultural influence, rather than simply glorifying her music or fame.
In defense of the course, students argued that celebrity studies is a relevant field of study, especially considering Swift’s prominent role in modern pop culture. They emphasized that it’s time to stop dismissing communication studies and social sciences as trivial.
Bakit tanga ang pag-aaral ng celebrity studies which is clearly under mass communication studies? Bakit minamaliit ang social sciences at communication? https://t.co/ps2CgxNIBl
— St. Gabe (@gabebalita) January 11, 2024
3. Which is cheaper: Karinderya or Fastfood?
The debate emerged when people who couldn’t necessarily join the McDonald’s boycott amid the Israel-Gaza war defended their choice by saying that McDonald’s was the most affordable option for them.
However, an X user argued that it isn’t the cheapest option, and if you can’t find an affordable karinderya, it’s a “skill issue.”
READ: Karinderya discourse opens talk about steep food prices, economic struggles
This sparked a conversation about the rising costs of karinderyas, with many pointing out that meals there are now as expensive, if not more, than fast food.
Some attributed this to inflation and the country’s economic struggles, with one user commenting, “Let’s all agree that food is expensive in the Philippines, especially when compared to our neighbors in Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.”
Magkaisa na lang tayo na mahal ang pagkain sa Pinas, lalo na kung ikukumpara sa mga kapitbahay natin sa Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, at Vietnam.
Sobrang mahal kumpara sa karaniwan (o minimum) na sahod. https://t.co/T2jKuhHCCf pic.twitter.com/e1cIMl7pd3
— Jim Miraflor (@futilityfunc) February 12, 2024
4. What is ‘anik-anik’ and who are the real ‘anik-anik gurlies?’
The rise of toy collectibles from stores like PopMart has sparked a debate on what qualifies as “anik-anik,” with many self-proclaimed “anik-anik gurlies” joining the trend.
Traditionally, the term described the collection of random, inexpensive items often kept for sentimental reasons.
However, with buyers now purchasing entire collections at once and stocks of toys quickly running out—especially with high-priced items like PopMart dolls—some feel this doesn’t align with the definition of “anik-anik” but rather represents a more deliberate, curated collection.
these fake anik anik people… all i see is consumerism and corny rich people trying to fit in https://t.co/CW6U83iDkQ
— vince (@droidhymns) November 1, 2024
This has led to discussions on how the term is being ‘co-opted’ and turned into a microtrend, losing its original meaning in the process, with some frustrated by how trends like these are rapidly commodified.
5. Soaked, stressed and sorry over Wattah Wattah’s festival
San Juan City’s Wattah Wattah festival this year wasn’t just soaked with water, but also overwhelmed by complaints about the chaos and inconveniences it caused.
In June, a viral post from a single mom shared her distressing experience at the festival, where she was drenched while heading to an important interview. Despite pleading with the crowd to stop, her clothes and envelope containing crucial job documents were soaked, ruining her chances after months of hard work and a year-long job application process.
As frustrations mounted online, with many criticizing the festival’s lack of consideration for those who didn’t want to participate in the basaan, and some even questioning the relevance of the activity, one X user dismissed the complaints, calling them “overacting” and “killjoy.”
“Alam nyo namang pag fiesta sa San Juan, may basaan. Tapos magpupumilit kayong dumaan doon at aasahan nyo na hindi kayo mababasa lol,” he posted.
San Juan City Mayor later addressed the concerns and issued an apology. On the day of the festival, six people were charged, with one accused of throwing muriatic acid.
Additionally, Lexter Castro, known as “Boy Dila,” also apologized after videos went viral showing him spraying a motorcycle rider with water from a gun with his tongue out, seemingly to provoke him.
6. ‘Tama ba ito?!’: Movie piracy and boycotts
The issue of piracy reignited on X after a user called out a Gen Z TikTok user who proudly shared a link to a pirated copy of Inside Out 2, which gained over 344,800 likes.
“Tama ba ito?!” the X user asked, with a facepalm emoji.
A number of netizens agreed, calling piracy theft and criticizing the TikTok user for promoting it online. They argued that this normalizes stealing, with some pointing out how Filipinos often tolerate or even praise piracy.
On the other hand, some defended the act, citing high movie prices and inaccessibility as reasons for piracy. Those who came into the TikTok creator’s defense also justified it as “morally correct,” especially following Disney’s US$2 million pledge to support Israel amid its conflict with Palestine.
The original poster on X responded, “Okay, boycott Disney. But this still does NOT justify piracy or promoting pirated content. Also, maybe don’t watch Inside Out 2 at all—even the pirated version??”
Another user commented that “context is key” to this issue.
“This person you posted is pirating from a company that earns billions of dollars on a regular basis. If you pirate local low budget films, that’s when you should be concerned,” the netizen said.
7. Classrooms and where it’s not okay to be OA
TikTok content creator Nathan Portez, known for his ‘OA’ (Overacting) persona, has come under fire from his peers at De La Salle University (DLSU) due to his ‘disruptive’ behavior in classrooms. This has sparked a broader debate about privacy and consent in the digital era.
The creator’s TikTok videos, once met with humorous comments, gained attention when two posts on the DLSU Freedom Wall called out his actions.
The call out spilled over onto X when one user reposted his video going to his class facepainted as Joy from Inside Out, declaring, “siya na talaga pinaka fave kong Lasallian Content Creator HAHAHAHAHA.” But, another user quoted this post, saying, “Nakakainis tong mga ganitong papansin. Like kelangan pati time na nagkaklase nagvvlog?”
Nakakainis tong mga ganitong papansin. Like kelangan pati time na nagkaklase nagvvlog? https://t.co/bvLTpARMOl
— ijbolistan (@notthxtserious_) June 15, 2024
The discussion heated up on X, with commenters divided. Those critical of the creator’s actions argued that filming during class hours is disruptive and infringes on classmates’ privacy, especially without their consent.
Defenders of the creator pointed out that if the professor didn’t mind and it wasn’t an issue for those involved, others, especially non-DLSU students, shouldn’t be so quick to criticize.
Amid the backlash, the creator addressed the situation, acknowledging the criticism and apologizing to those inconvenienced. He vowed to be more mindful of consent in the future when recording videos.
8. Flash and fury: A reminder on concert etiquette
In October, Jen Barangan faced backlash after posting videos of herself singing along at Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour in Manila while using flash to record.
A Facebook page called We Are Millennials tagged flash photography as a “new pet peeve,” urging concertgoers not to use it as it distracts others.
Barangan apologized briefly on Instagram, saying, “To everyone, I’m so sorry for my actions,” which she reposted on Facebook and TikTok. However, some criticized her apology as “half-hearted,” with one Reddit user commenting, “It’s really difficult for a narcissist to be humble.”
READ: New pet peeve’: Jen Barangan sorry over flash use at Olivia Rodrigo’s Manila concert
The incident sparked discussions about the “self-recording with 0.5 and flash epidemic,” where fans were upset by people blocking their views with phone flashlights. Jen’s videos, circulating on TikTok, X and Facebook, drew attention to her behavior, with many accusing her of “main character syndrome” and a lack of concert etiquette.
Some also defended her right to enjoy the concert her way, but it raised the question: at whose expense? Many netizens pointed out that personal enjoyment shouldn’t come at the cost of others’ experience.
9. Inner child or consumerism?
Last November, a viral post on X has sparked a discussion about the concept of “healing your inner child” and its connection to consumerism.
The original poster shared a wholesome video showing off his toy store purchases, expressing happiness about being able to buy the things he wanted now that he is employed.
However, in a now-deleted response, another user reposted and questioned,”Bakit kaya kapag sinabing ‘healing my inner child,’ kailangan konektado sa konsumerismo?”
After receiving criticism, the OP deactivated his account but later returned to encourage kindness despite the negativity.
Many online users defended him, explaining that for some, treating themselves with material possessions is a way to heal from childhood deprivation. Others criticized the commenter for discouraging the OP’s enjoyment and emphasized that people should be allowed to spend their hard-earned money however they see fit.
The conversation touched on issues like consumerism, retail therapy, and the right to celebrate personal achievements without judgment. However, another layer to the discourse surfaced when one now-deactiated user went to question the idea of “inner child,” saying it’s not in psychology literature and is just made up by the “self-help” industry.
However, many came in response — including psychologists and psychology students — refuting the claim and saying that the concept of inner child has its roots in psychology literature/theories. And more importantly, if there’s a lack of literature in it, then all the more reason to further explore the concept through research.
As a prof with an MA degree in clinical psych.
This is stupid, considering that one of the important aspects of psych is that everyone’s experiences are UNIQUE.
Also most western lit cannot completely cover indigenous and local experiences.
Dont cook, stay out of the kitchen. https://t.co/gvVgYidWKk
— ABC.DatPromilKid / M’sah Kett @Tonberry FFXIV (@jamesdaflores) November 4, 2024
10. The Yulos and the cycle of ‘Utang na Loob’
After winning two gold medals at the recent Olympics, Filipino athlete Carlos Yulo received praise, but his victory was overshadowed by a family controversy.
His mother’s indifferent posts on social media about his success and her disapproval of his Australian-Filipina girlfriend sparked online criticism. Carlos later addressed the issue in a TikTok interview, confirming his mother’s concerns about his girlfriend’s style.
The public reaction was divided. On one side, they maintained that Carlos should respect his family, as they are still an important part of his life as his gratitude for the resources his family has put him through his entire life and that he wouldn’t be in the same position today without the support of his family.
However, many younger netizens argued that utang na loob, a Filipino concept of gratitude, is a toxic expectation, claiming children shouldn’t sacrifice their dream and autonomy to repay their parents.
“Carlos Yulo’s spat with his mom over money and his girlfriend publicly challenges traditional Filipino norms of filial obedience, subservience, service, and priority. It expectedly hits a nerve and triggers the most intimate fear and insecurity of every boomer Pinoy parent,” said one X user.
Moreover, the media faced criticism for amplifying the issue, with netizens pointing out that it should have been handled privately within the family rather than being aired publicly.
Despite the continued criticism, some defenders of Carlos argue that his true legacy will still be defined by his remarkable gymnastics achievements, not the drama surrounding his family life.
— with reports from Jeline Malasig, Kelsey Telo and John Marwin Elao
