Twitter Unveils 3 Conversation Themes that are Important to Filipinos

Manila, 27 July 2022 – Billions of conversations take place on Twitter everyday which makes it the go-to platform for Filipinos to see and be part of #WhatsHappening in real-time. From breaking news, local entertainment, to various topics of interests; Filipinos on Twitter meaningfully connect and converse with each other that eventually help shape the Philippines’ culture and what’s next in the Philippines.

Analyzing billions of Tweets in the Philippines over a two-year period (January 2020 to December 2021), Twitter has taken a deep dive into the conversations on Twitter and shares its findings in the Philippines TwitterTrends Report 2022. The report found that Filipinos are passionate about bringing positive contributions to societal development. The findings also show that Filipinos perceive Twitter as a space for their communities’ collective reimagination – from mental wellness, fandoms, and finance.

The Great Restoration, Force of Fandoms, and Finance Goes Social are the three major cultural themes and conversation insights that are heard on Twitter that drive and shape Philippines’ culture.

Commenting on the findings, Preetha Athrey - Marketing Director, APAC, Twitter said, “What two years worth of Twitter conversations showed was that Filipinos turn to Twitter to collectively push for causes that matter to them. It’s heartening to see these communities empowered to engage in discussions that solicit positive impact to society. The report also lays out rich findings about the emerging key cultural trends in the Philippines and how the culture of tomorrow will be shaped.”

Let’s take a closer look at the three cultural themes and conversation trends on Twitter in the Philippines:

1. The Great Restoration: Healing the planet and healing ourselves

A lack of access to green spaces and long-lasting lockdowns are two of the contributing factors to the decline in mental wellbeing amongst Filipinos. There is a 62% increase in conversations around mental health awareness and 69% around green spaces year-on-year. The need for support in tackling mental health issues, improving overall wellness, and a place to discuss other related matters prompted Filipinos to look to Twitter for ways to take the edge off of this. 

The top sub-trends to emerge within the well-being conversation are participation in discussions (+104%) and coping mechanisms (+77%). Twitter becomes an open space for kindness as conversation rises. Filipinos on Twitter are openly speaking about their mental health issues and sharing steps on how they’ve been managing it. Hashtag #UsapTayo (let’s talk) attracts and gathers many, providing them with engaging and helpful mental health-related discussions, while the gift of virtual yakaps (hugs) offers a glimpse into what mutual care for those dealing with mental health challenges can look like online. 

Keeping an eye on the future, Filipinos are realising that pivotal change is a must if their lifestyles and cities are to meet their mental and physical wellness needs. Thus, nature photography (+145%) and forest bathing (+133%) are two of the top sub-trends that emerged. Community-led campaigns like #NoToParex, for instance, exemplifies Filipinos’ resistance to projects that will negatively impact the environment, heritage, public health, and mobility.

      

2. The Force of Fandoms: Fandoms spreading their wings beyond stanning

Filipino fandoms are second to none. Their passion and dedication are next-level and they’re realising that they have the power in numbers to create and drive positive change. It’s no longer ‘just’ about stanning, but about making the world a better place.

Variety and diversity are key here. With new fandoms appearing daily and conversations branching out across a multitude of topics, Filipino fandoms are taking over the world of entertainment. Local P-Pop groups have captured the hearts of Filipinos across the nation with a 223% increase in mentions of “P-Pop” and 40% around content streaming year-on-year. The vibrant space enables fandoms to flourish and thrive alongside one another, often attracting new audiences to Twitter. Conversations around new P-Pop groups are also growing year-on-year: Gigi Vibes (+4,706%), KAIA (+2,127%), and YARA (+508%).

Fandoms are constantly evolving, and Filipinos are borrowing elements from one fandom and applying it to another. The Bayanihan culture takes its next level, where fandoms are not only bonding over passion for their idols, but promoting social good, too. #ATINProjectPagsibol, for example, was a movement driven by SB19’s fandom in support of women in farming communities.

      

3. Finance Goes Social: Investing has entered the chat

As the Philippines is switching up its relationship with money and finances, chats around digital wallets and investment are also on the rise. Filipinos are exploring and sharing new ways to make money, spend it, and talk about it too. This results in the growth of conversations around finance in the Philippines by 201% year-on-year.

With information on stocks, personal finance, trades, and crypto constantly racing; Filipinos stay up to date and react to what’s happening on Twitter. Some of the popular finance-related topics in the Philippines show triple digit year-on-year conversation growth: Crypto (+466%), ETH (+288%), and $SOL (+170%).

Creativity is brewing too. With 7,290% year-on-year growth, NFTs are making their mark on the art and gaming worlds as Filipino enthusiasts take the conversation to Twitter to bring about unidimensional finance-related dialogues with a splash of fun and creativity. Play-to-earn games, such as Axie Infinity (+54,282%), have transitioned from pure investment into entertainment conversation while Filipino gamers are connecting with other players around the world.

Lastly, while traditional banks are now pushing to digitise Filipinos’ lives, digital-wallet players like GCash (+287%) had a first-mover advantage on spending habits, streamlining access, and simplifying transactions.

On Twitter, where connections and conversations unfold, these trends are actually what Filipinos are talking about that shape their cultures and depict what’s coming tomorrow.

Check out marketing.twitter.com/trends-ph to read more about the findings on the conversation insights on Twitter in the Philippines.

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About Twitter, Inc.

Twitter is what’s happening and what people are talking about right now. To learn more, visit about.twitter.com and follow @Twitter and @TwitterPH. Let’s talk.

Shopee, Shopee Xpress Partner with Brands and Charities to aid Taal Evacuees

MANILA, APRIL 11, 2022 - The continued unrest of the Taal Volcano forced over 1,000 Filipino families to evacuate to nearby communities in Batangas last March. With Alert Level 3 still in place, these families continue to spend their days in evacuation centers across the region.

As part of its commitment to better the lives of the underserved, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partnered with several brands and charity organizations to provide aid for Taal evacuees. 

Shopee Philippines Director Martin Yu said, “As we remain steadfast in our commitment to be a force for good, especially in times when Filipinos need it the most, Shopee will work closely with our partners to help provide immediate relief to the evacuees. Our thoughts are with those affected and we hope that the situation in Taal will recover soon for these families to be able to return to their homes.”

Together with Shopee, partner brands such as Universal Robina Corporation, Colgate, and Monde Nissin, donated essentials such as drinking water and food items to affected residents. Through the help of its Shopee Xpress fleet and volunteers, Shopee transported and coursed donations through the ABS-CBN Foundation for the latter’s ongoing on-ground efforts. 

These Shopee Xpress volunteers also helped collate and distribute potable water donated by the Luzon Clean Water Development to evacuation centers in Batangas.

Shopee also invites users to donate to those affected by the taal eruption and other emergencies through its partner charities found on the app. 

Users simply need to:

  1. Head to the Shopee app homepage

  2. Click Load, Bills, and Travel

  3. Click E-vouchers 

  4. Click Charity

  5. Choose and purchase the e-voucher of their preferred charity

Users can also contribute to the ABS-CBN Foundation’s on-ground efforts through Shopee’s Scan-to-donate feature. Just scan ABS-CBN Foundation’s QR code, choose the donation amount, and donate via ShopeePay.

Download the Shopee app via the App Store and the Google Play store today. 

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About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Coco Martin Supports New Partylist Advocating for Livelihood and the Transport Sector

Coco Martin, famously known as Cardo Dalisay on-screen, is making rounds all over as he debuts his endorsement not of the partylist with the same name as his show, but of a new party-list – AP Partylist #AkoyPilipino on Friday, February 25.

“Anuman ang hirap na ating pinagdadaanan, may kakampi na tayo…” Martin introduced his new party-list group with first nominee Rep. Ronnie Ong in-action in the background in the partylist’s video now circulating online. He continues, “Ang AP Partylist ang tutulong magbigay ng trabaho at kabuhayan sa mga manggagawang Pilipino.”

 

Rep. Ronnie Ong is Coco Martin’s long-time friend and is nicknamed by PeopleAsia as the “frontliner Congressman.” Ong is known for his various out-of-the-box COVID-19 Bayanihan projects since the first lockdown, such as his #LibrengSakay program for healthworkers, #LibrengGulay program for community kitchens, #LibrengTablets and E-skwela Hub e-learning centers for students and teachers.

 

Before the pandemic, Ong also supported senior citizens looking for employment through his Tulong Pangkabuhayan program, deploying various able-bodied and willing-to-work seniors at airports, public universities and government agencies. During the pandemic, he also helped out-of-work transport workers such as UV Express or FX drivers by employing them as #LibrengSakay drivers, as well as some laid-off ABS-CBN employees who found alternative work as contact tracers.

 

More than just Coco Martin, the all-star cast of Ang Probinsyano forming the famed “Task Force Agila,” has also expressed their support for AP Partylist on their social media pages, sharing the various advocacies of AP Partylist closest to them. “Mula po noong umpisa nakasama na namin si Cong. Ronnie, at kita namin na nagtrabaho talaga siya, naglingkod talaga siya. Kaya ngayon, ang #164 AP Partylist na kasama siya ang sinusuportahan na namin. Sana po ay suportahan niyo rin,” Coco Martin said.

 

Embed video link:

 

https://fb.watch/bn-S-15eNk/

Aside from the endorsement video, AP Partylist also collaborated with OPM artists Bassilyo, Sisa and Smugglaz with their “Ako’y Pilipino,” anthem that sings of the pride, perseverance, and hardwork of Filipinos. They sing, “Ikaw ay magtiwala, magtiwalang may magagawa. Ito na ang panahon, ang tamang pagkakataon, sa bawat daing mo’y magtutugon. Ako’y Pilipinong lumalaban, tumatapang, lalo kung nasusugatan, anumang pagsubok ang daanan, haharapin nang may kagitingan. Itaas mo ang noo, isigaw mo sa buong mundo, ako’y Pilipino.” Both videos are available on Youtube and on AP Party-list’s official social media pages.

 

Coco Martin calls on the audience to join him on his new journey with his new partylist, “Dito na tayo sa biyaheng aasenso ang lahat ng Pilipino… AP Partylist #AkoyPilipino, number 164 sa balota.”

 

Stay updated, for more info, visit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHAqU3Ie-mI 

 

and  https://fb.watch/bnvpau0MFE/

Adopt A Community Pantry Project to Institutionalize, Sustain Community Pantries Nationwide

The community food banks that sprouted and spread in April to feed hungry communities are ready to go to the next level.

A group of individuals from notable social institutions are in the process of institutionalizing the community pantries to address the unmitigated hunger brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Former Education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, former Cultural Center of the Philippines Chair Emily Abrera, Fr. Tony Labiao, Executive Director of the National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Rey Laguda, Philippine Business for Social Progress president; Bobby Calingo, Executive Director of the Peace and Equity Foundation; Mario Deriquito, President of BDO Foundation; Dan Songco, president and CEO of PinoyME Foundation and Yvonne Palomar Castro, organizer of the North Commonwealth Community Pantry have launched the Adopt A Community Pantry Project (ACPP) to ensure that the community pantries continue and expand throughout the country.

Philanthropic individuals, families, groups, civic clubs, and other social and business institutions will be tapped to commit their support in cash or kind, short term or long term, to any of the over 1,300 CPs that provide food and basic necessities to families in hungry communities.

The ACPP has created a financial platform that will connect sponsors to the community pantries and ensure smooth and transparent transactions. The Tanging Yaman Foundation of the Jesuit Province and the De La Salle Brothers, Inc. of the La Salle Brothers will receive the funds while the Community Pantry PH, a support group, will select the beneficiary CPS, coordinate the activities and provide the logistical and technical support. Sponsors may also be connected to their beneficiary CPs to foster greater solidarity.

“The very encouraging show of support for community pantries shows that the inherent qualities of caring, sharing, and the bayanihan spirit are very much alive. They need to be harnessed to neutralize the prevailing negativity and political division among citizens. The CPs are already doing excellent work in performing a much-needed social intervention at this time. They are also generating remarkable support from within their community and from many others outside who believe in this cause. This needs to expand and spread throughout the country. It is an inspiring social phenomenon that must be institutionalized because it is what defines us as Filipinos,” said Brother Armin Luistro.

Yvonne Palomar Castro said sustaining the community pantry in North Commonwealth is a daily challenge. “We go to sleep every night thinking if we will have enough food to give to the 200 people we have committed to assist daily. Many of them we would see patiently falling in line every day, almost depending on us for their daily subsistence. It makes me wonder where they would get food for their family if we stop operating. The thought that we can alleviate the hunger of a few among the million hungry souls keeps us going.”

The group coordinates directly with Community Pantry PH through Jenny Non, sister of Community Panty Maginhawa organizer Patricia Ana Non.

Bayanihan nung Araw ng Kalayaan

Habang ang iba ay nasa galaan, nag iinuman, nasa mall, namamasyal o nasa bahay lang, eto naman ang mga taong ito na nasa ibang lugar.

Nagmula sa mga iba't ibang henerasyon(o edad) ng nakilahok sa pagtulong sa komunidad. Isa sa aking sinasaluduhang gawa, dahil ito ay pagtulong sa kapwa at iyon sa aking palagay ang isa sa mga magagandang dahilan para mabuhay sa mundo. Ika nga na hindi lang tayo nabubuhay para sa ating sarili kundi para na rin sa iba. Maaaring ito ay sa ating mga mahal sa buhay pero pwede pa natin itaas ang antas ng pagtulong.

Ako'y lubos na humanga sa mga kabataang nakilahok sa Bayanihang ito na inihatid ng Gawad Kalinga at mga nag organisa dahil ito ay magandang pag hubog ng pagiging matulungin, pakikipagkapwa tao at Bayanihan na isa sa mga magagandang katangian nating mga Pilipino.

Naging kaayon ayon ang panahon at naging kapanapanahon ang paglahok dito lalo na ang malaking miyembro na nanggaling sa kalapit na Paaralan at ang kanilang naging oras sa pagsasagawa ng Bayanihan sa Napindan.

Mula sa pagtulong sa pag gawa ng mga building, paghalo ng simento, pagtatanim, pagtatayo ng bakod, pagpintura sa mga hagdan, hanggang sa pagaasikaso sa mga batang 9 anyos pababa at pagbibigay ng kasiyahan sa kanila ay naging nakakapagod ngunit makahulugan.

Nakita natin kung gaano kaganda ang nagagawa ng pagtulong na ating nasaksihan din nung huling sakuna na dumaan sa ating bansa na hanggang ngayon at tuloy tuloy pa rin ang buhos ng tulong. Maganda na nakibahagi tayo duon pero sana ay hindi pa doon magtapos ang lahat, marami pang pwedeng gawin na maaaring at hindi mo na minsan kailangan pang lumayo. Malaki man o maliit ang iyong nagawa ang mahalaga ay meron kang nagawa.

Hayaan ninyong ibahagi ko ang isang tanong na aking napulot sa Bayahihang ito na sana ay makuha din ninyong pagnilayan:

Kung mas marami pa kayang Pilipino ang kagaya mo, mas maganda ba ang Pilipinas?

Ang Bayanihang ito ang nagpapasalamat din sa mga sumusunod, Mabuhay kayo!

REACH Magazine Yellow Cab Pizza Co. JCI PHILIPPINES

Marami pang ibang gawain ang Gawad Kalinga sa buong bansa at sa mga gusto o interisadong lumahok sa mga susunod pa nilang mga proyekto ay maaari ninyong bisitahin ang https://www.facebook.com/gawadkalinga