SPOTTED | The Top 25 Websites in the Philippines and What These Might Say About the Average Filipino Netizen

I was already on my way home inside an elevator when I began to think, what are the most visited websites or sites in the Philippines? What do most of the Filipinos do online nowadays? For what reason do we Filipinos go online? Which websites experience receive high Filipino traffic?

In this post, I will talk about the most popular websites in the Philippines as of September 2015. My source here is Alexa which is a commercial web traffic data and analytics provider. I will also give my own prejudice in defining what the online Filipino community does at this point in time.

But first, let me give to you the list of the top 25 (most popular) websites in the Philippines.

So, what is in it for me reading this post? What is the importance of this ranking? What does this list tell us about the average Filipino netizen?

1. Facebook.com 
2. Google.com
3. Google.com.ph
4. Youtube.com
5. Yahoo.comm
6. Gmanetwork.com
7. Amazon.com
8. Blogspot.com
9. Twitter.com
10. Wikipedia.org
11. Inquirer.net
12. Lazada.com.ph
13. Olx.ph
14. Rappler.com
15. Linkedin.com
16. Instagram.com
17. Ask.com
18. Abscbnnews.com
19. Kat.cr
20. Wordpress.com
21. Diply.com
22. Onclickads.net
23. Blogger.com
24. Paypal.com
25. Pinterest.com

Here are some points to ponder on. These are just my generalizations on what Filipino do online.

FIRST: Filipino netizens love to network with other people.

Deeply rooted within our culture of Filipino hospitality, perhaps it's not that hard to say that Filipinos love to let others people know what they are doing or even speak out their minds in the online world since the Philippines was known to be the text messaging capital of the world - the behavior of which is often exploited by telecommunication companies like PLDT, Globe, Smart, TalknText, TM, and Sun Cellular. What evidence must be needed when this list is topped by Facebook, shown with the inclusion of  Twitter and LinkedIn. Perhaps, the extent of social networking far reaches the negative side of the spectrum as more and more Filipinos nowadays are being lured to pyramid scams which are often proliferated by fellow netizens in these social networks.

SECOND: Filipino netizens love to write and share.

A lot of Filipinos love to share just anything from things they know to things they don't know he he. Clearly, there are a lot of bloggers who have established their niches through their blogs either via Blogger (or Blogspot) and Wordpress. I mentioned "things they do not know" because a few bloggers just gain popularity because they post hearsays, rumors, and scandals just to get more traffic - at the expense of celebrities and other public figures. 

Don't forget Instagram which is like the online super photo album of Filipino netizens and Kat.cr which I think is a torrent site for anything pirated haha. Posts on Diply.com are also some of the most shared online in social media networks, hence, its position in the top 25 list.

THIRD: Filipino netizens love to search, learn, and pursue things that interest them.

What could clearly prove this point is the presence of not one, not two, but four search engines in the top 25 list of high traffic websites in the Philippines namely Google.com, Google.com.ph, Yahoo.com, and Ask.com. This clearly encompasses all types of search from whatever type of Filipino netizen to whatever subject one searches about. It's not only that, Filipinos online love to refer to Wikipedia (probably because it's oftentimes indexed high in search engine results) as their library. It should be noted though that this practice of relying on Wikipedia should be guided as Wikipedia is still unreliable especially when it comes to student reports and assignments. Better stick with .edu sites.

Let's also not forget Youtube.com and Pinterest.com which clearly are for those who want to engage in their passion and know more about just anything which are interesting.

FOURTH: Filipino netizens love to transact online.

This is very true. Filipinos want to buy, sell, pawn, trade, and get paid for their services/products
online. I always thought that OLX is the leading buy and sell platform but I was wrong. Amazon.com and Lazada.comph rank higher than Olx.ph. Another proof for this is the presence of many online buy and sell groups in Facebook. You don't believe? Just type in Buy and Sell on your search bar in Facebook. The presence of Paypal.com and Onclickads.net also support this statement.

FIFTH: Filipino netizens love news.

When it comes to daily news, I always go to Inquirer.net to read about the freshest scoop on business/finance and politics (both local and international). I also visit Rappler.com often because their site is visually pleasant and easily navigable, add to that the fact that they make their own wRap of the hottest issues for the day. But I was shocked to find out that GMA News topped them all - Inquirer, Rappler, and ABS-CBN News.

BONUS: Filipino netizens don't watch porn that much?

If the top 25 list is to serve as basis here, yes, it's true. But if we'd take a look at the top 50 ranking, haha, you'd definitely change your mind. One almost reached the top 25 list. Just search it up or visit alexa.com. :))

LIST: What banks are open on the days of the Pope visit?

So what banks are open on the days of the Pope's visit. Here is a list of the banks and the schedule of their operations from January 15 to 19.

Asian United Bank
January 15: Some NCR branches, open from 9AM to 1PM; provincial branches (except Tacloban and Isabela) will have regular banking hours
January 16: All AUB branches (except Tacloban and Isabela) will have regular banking hours
January 19: Regular banking hours in all AUB branches will resume

BDO
Select non-mall branches will be open until 3PM.
Select mall branches will be open until 4PM.
Visit the BDO website or its official Facebook page, for more info.

Maybank

January 15: All Metro Manila branches, open from 9AM to 1PM

January 16: closed

January 17: Resorts World branches, open from 9AM to 1PM; Binondo main office, open from 11AM to 5PM

January 18: Resorts World branches, open from 9AM to 1PM

January 19: All Metro Manila branches, except the Villamor; Newport; and Legaspi Tower Center branches, open from 9AM to 1PM

ALL Maybank provincial branches will be open on regular banking hours, except for Tacloban (January 15, 9AM to 12NN, and closed on January 16)

Metrobank

January 15:

• Open until 12:00 NN – Greenhills North, Greenhills - Eisenhower, Ermita, J.Nakpil - Taft Ave., Midtown - U.N. Ave., Paco-A.Linao, Quirino Ave. - Leon Guinto, Roxas Blvd.-Vito Cruz, Taft Ave. – P. Ocampo.
• Open until 1:00 PM – Pureza-R.Magsaysay Blvd., Asuncion, Pasong Tamo-Javier, Pasong Tamo-Bagtikan, Sucat-Gatchalian, Alabang.
• Open until 3:00 PM – Salcedo Village and Pasay-Baclaran.
• Open until 4:30 PM – A. Lacson Ave. – Sampaloc, Morayta, N. Domingo – San Juan, V. Mapa, Annapolis-Greenhills, Greenhills-Promenade, Greenhills-Wilson Center, Sta. Cruz-Manila.
• Other branches – Roosevelt branch will be open until 12:30 PM while ADB Branch will be open only until 4:00PM.

January 19:

• Open until 12:00 NN – C3-A.Mabini, Farmers Plaza, Commonwealth Ave., Raon, A. Maceda, Bustillos-Sampaloc, España, UST-España, Zurbaran, Escolta Tower, and Intramuros.
• Open until 1:00 PM – Masangkay-Luzon, Lavezares, Nueva, Pasong Tamo-Buendia, Pasong Tamo-Metropolitan Ave., Head Office Center, Las Piñas-Pamplona and Madrigal Bus Park – Alabang.
• Open until 4:30 PM – Evangelista-Quiapo, Quiapo, Ortigas-Xavier and Addition Hills.
• Other branches – 999 Mall branch will be open until 2:00 PM, Sto. Cristo-C.M. Recto will be open until 3:00 PM, while ADB branch will be open until 5:00 PM. 

Source: Rappler

LIST: Winners of 13th Gawad Tanglaw Awards for TV, Radio, Film

13th Gawad Tanglaw Awards Highlights

For TV: 

TV5 earns reputation for news program, anchors, beats competitors in major fields

ANC, UNTV bag awards

Julia Montes, Angel Locsin take Best Performance by Actress (TV Series) award

Piolo Pascual, Martin Escudero, Coco Martin share Best Performance by Actor (TV Series) award

Forevermore, Ikaw Lamang win Best TV Series award

ABS-CBN is still TV Station of the Year

For Radio:

DZMM dominates, Yes FM is best FM station

For  Film

Nora Aunor, Angelica Panganiban take home Best Actress award

Allen Dizon wins Best Actor award

Here are the winners of this year's 13th Gawad Tanglaw Awards:

TELEVISION 

Best News Program 

Aksyon (TV5) 

Best News Program Anchor (Male) 

Lourd De Veyra - Aksyon sa Umaga (TV5) 

SPOTTED: Top 4 fake PH news stories of 2014

Some stories are worth sharing, whether they are true-to-life or just plain fiction, but when it comes to public understanding, not all should be shared, especially the fake ones.

Here are four of news stories that circulated rounds on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter by rumor-lover Pinoys.

1. Death of Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer

MYTH: It was rumored early in December that Cesar Millan, the popular Dog Whisperer, died of a heart attack. It wasn't true after all; you can even check out his Wikipedia (unreliable) page or search all throughout Google; you'll realize he didn't succumb to any disease. It was all plain BS!

[WHO] P-Noy Cabinet Members: Richest and Poorest

Only one out of 34 members of President Aquino's Cabinet is not a millionaire, as shown by their statements of assests, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2013. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro, with a net worth of P433,392.17, experienced a substantial drop from P739,006.14 (2011) and P550,651 (2012).

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario, on the other handt, remained the richest Cabinet member (net worth of P765 million) with an increase of almost P60 million from 2012.

Below is the list of secretaries and their net worth in descending order. Cabinet 2013 

1. Albert del Rosario (DFA) P765, 379,281.02 

2. Secretary Ramon Jimenez (DOT) P282,466,800 

3. Cesar Purisima (DOF) P278, 947,249 

4. Manuel Roxas II (DILG) P211,027,479.88 

5. Gregory Domingo (DTI) P150,641,395 

6. Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa P120,378,000 (Presidentiall chief legal counsel) 

7. Jose Rene Almendras P119,841,097.67 (Cabinet secretary) 

8. Jericho Petilla (DOE) P117,095,110 

9. Jose Emilio Abaya (DOTC) P112,080,897.55 

10. Enrique Ona (DOH) P93,692,345.56 

11. Proceso Alcala (DA) P90,772,754.10 

12. Rogelio Singson (DPWH) P83,844,373.25 

13. Mario Montejo (DOST) P59,968,806.39 

14. Joel Villanueva (TESDA) P49,772,955 

15. Patricia Licuanan (CHED) P45,477,803 

16. Francis Tolentino (MMDA) P40,722,000 

17. Butch Abad (DBM) P32,772,279.13 

18. Ramon Paje (DENR) P30,350,000 

19. Voltaire Gazmin (DND) P24,639,939 

20. Julia Abad (PMS) P22,360,000 

21. Arsenio Balisacan (NEDA) P21,615,100 

22. Paquito Ochoa P18,149,756.34 (Executive Secretary) 

23. Cesar Garcia Jr. P16,400,000 (National Security Adviser) 

24. Herminio Coloma (PCOO) P16,390,000 

25. Virgilio Delos Reyes (DAR) P14,589,967 

26. Edwin Lacierda P12,409,443.57 

27. Manuel Mamba P10,857,217.20 (Presidential Legislative Liaison Office) 

28. Mehol Sadain (NCMF) P10,422,270.12 

29. Ronald Llamas P5,693,378 (Political Adviser) 

30. Teresita Deles P4,712,506.86 (Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) 

31. Leila De Lima (DOJ) P4,586,742.20 

32. Rosalinda Baldoz (DOLE) P4,345,406 

33. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (DSWD) P3,680,000 

34. Armin Luistro (DepEd) P433,392.17

Source: Inquirer

Most popular car maker in the world: Toyota vs GM

This one's a pretty interesting topic especially for car owners out there. Which car maker sold the most cars? Which is the best-selling automaker in the world?

Image Stacked: MSN Money

Well, the verdict is finally revealed. Toyota outsold General Motors (GM) and every other car maker with 7.41 million car sales made worldwide. Toyota keeps its lead as the number 1 automaker in the world.

GM sold 7.25 million cars from January to September. Volkswagen came in at third with almost 5 percent increase in car sales.