It’s the season for looking back at the year that was and summarizing all the trends, events, and issues that captured Pinoy’s interests throughout 2023. Google ends the year once again by releasing the Google Year In Search 2023, its annual compilation of the top trending keywords and terms that Filipinos search for.

SIM Registration

After it was made mandatory via the SIM Registration Law, Pinoys flocked to Google to search for everything they needed to know about registering their numbers. “SIM registration” became the most searched keyword on Google followed by “precinct finder” for the barangay elections and “persona non grata” after drag queen Pura Luka Vega’s controversial drag performance.

Ahn Bo-hyun

Even before BLACKPINK’s Jisoo dated actor Ahn Bo-hyun, he already made a name for himself in South Korea’s entertainment industry. Bo-hyun has starred in multiple K-dramas including Itaewon Class (2020) and Yumi’s Cells (2021). His popularity skyrocketed after it was revealed in August 2023 that he was dating Jisoo. Two months later, the pair broke up.

Katy Louise Saunders

British-Colombian actress Katie Louise Saunders tops the list of Google’s most searched female personality in 2023. ICYDK, she tied the knot with South Korean actor Song Joong Ki last January 2023 while she was already pregnant with their child. Heartbroken fans who haven’t moved on from Joong Ki and fellow Descendants of the Sun actress Song Hye Kyo’s failed marriage likely stormed Google to find out more about Saunders.

Oppenheimer

With all the noise Barbie made online, one would think it would be the most searched movie of 2023 but it looks like Oppenheimer blew Greta Gerwig’s movie out of the water. The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, stars some of the most notable Hollywood actors including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.

Mike Enriquez

This year, we also had to say goodbye to kind souls like actor Matthew Perry, comedian Joey Paras, and showbiz reporter Mario Dumaual. But Mike Enriquez’s passing topped the Google charts. The veteran broadcast journalist passed away in August, leaving a legacy that spans more than five decades in the industry.

Duty After School

This year’s most searched Korean series is the coming-of-age military sci-fi drama Duty After School. The drama explores a dystopian world where high schoolers face an alien invasion and mandatory military training while still expected to take university exams. It stars Shin Hyun-soo, Lee Soon-won, Im Se-mi, Kwon Eun-bin. Other K-dramas that made it to Google’s Year in Search 2023 include Disney+ hit Moving, The Glory, and Twinkling Watermelon. 

Below is the full list of the top search trends in the Philippines:

News

1. SIM registration
2. precinct finder
3. persona non grata
4. Nipah virus
5. War in Israel and Gaza
6. lato-lato
7. Typhoon Egay update
8. Taal Volcano update
9. Turkey earthquake
10. MoCa Farm

Sports

1. Lakers vs Warriors
2. Lakers vs Nuggets
3. FIBA World Cup
4. Miami vs Denver
5. Lakers vs Grizzlies
6. Suns vs Nuggets
7. Celtics vs 76ers
8. Heat vs Knicks
9. Golden State Warriors vs Kings
10. Ginebra vs Bay Area

Shows or Series

1. Duty After School
2. Maria Clara at Ibarra
3. Moving
4. The Glory
5. Twinkling Watermelon
6. King the Land
7. XO, Kitty
8. The Last of Us
9. My Lovely Liar
10. Strong Girl Nam-soon

Songs or Lyrics

1. Say You Won’t Let Go
2. ERE
3. Pasilyo
4. Uhaw
5. Lupang Hinirang English
6. Angels Like You
7. California King Bed
8. Rapstar
9. Raining In Manila
10. Jopay

Games

1. Blade Ball codes
2. Delta Executor
3. Soldier, Poet, or King quiz
4. Cosmic Values
5. Anime Adventures codes
6. Farlight
7. Choox Sega
8. Honkai: Star Rail
9. Minecraft 1.20
10. Project Slayers codes

Male Personalities

1. Ahn Bo-hyun
2. Mackenyu
3. Marco Gumabao
4. Taylor Lautner
5. Travis Kelce
6. Liam Hemsworth
7. David Licauco
8. Kyle Kuzma
9. Juan Karlos
10. Chen Zhe Yuan

Female Personalities

1. Katy Louise Saunders
2. Cristine Reyes
3. Millie Bobby Brown
4. Lee Da-in
5. Issa Pressman
6. Janna Dominguez
7. Bada Lee
8. Jenna Ortega
9. Emily Rudd
10. Isabel Santos

Movies

1. Oppenheimer
2. John Wick: Chapter 4
3. Barbie
4. Insidious: The Red Door
5. The Menu
6. Extraction 2
7. I Love Lizzy
8. Evil Dead Rise
9. Nowhere
10. Kill Boksoon

Farewells

1. Mike Enriquez
2. Joey Paras
3. Matthew Perry
4. Andrei Sison
5. Patrick Guzman
6. Mario Dumaual
7. John Regala
8. Michael Gambon
9. Park Soo Ryun
10. Tina Turner

Korean Series

1. Duty After School
2. Moving
3. The Glory
4. Twinkling Watermelon
5. King the Land
6. My Lovely Liar
7. Strong Girl Nam-soon
8. Alchemy of Souls
9. Island
10. A Time Called You

To see the full Year in Search 2023 list, click here.

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