Twitter has recognized its popularity among Filipinos, and so added the Philippines to its “local trends” feature. Since April 2011, people around the world were able to track trends in the Philippines, along with 30 other countries.

The microblogging site has evolved from being just a place for people to quickly post updates about themselves, to a resource and platform for news agencies, publications, non-government organizations, government officials, celebrities, athletes, and even people posing as celebrities and historical figures.

How has Twitterland been like in 2011? We reviewed the hottest stories covered by ABS-CBN News this year and pinpointed some relevant trends.

Celebrity showdowns

Celebrities went on the offensive this year. Francine Prieto, Charice Pempengco and Manny Pacquiao got into flame wars with fans and critics, which sometimes resulted in them deciding to close down their accounts.

Manny Pacquiao deleted his @CongMP account in March and reopened a new one in April, @MannyPacquiao, which will be updated by a staff member instead of by the boxing icon.

“Dati gusto ko sana ako [ang nag-uupdate ng Twitter account ko]… pero siyempre hindi lahat nasisiyahan (Back then I wanted to maintain [my Twitter account]… but not everyone is pleased),” he said.

Charice Pempengco meanwhile shot off a few choice words on Twitter for former fans who criticized her online, and shut down her personal Facebook page to avoid further flak.

"To all of you fake people saying great stuff in front of me, backstabbers, goodluck. :) Have a mentos! The fresh maker!! boo :P," Charice tweeted in June.

The most recent public fight on Twitter has been that of actress Francine Prieto with a few bloggers and supporters of President Benigno Aquino III who took offense to her calling Aquino “panot.”

The Professional Heckler had asked Prieto, as a joke, whether she would agree to date Aquino. The actress said, “Nope. Ayoko ng panot (I don’t like balding men).”

Breakups and shakeups

DJ Mo Twister and Rhian Ramos were very much talked about on Twitter this year, because of their supposed breakup and the scandal that ensued from a video of Mo Twister supposedly talking about the abortion of his and Ramos’ child.

Twitter also played a big role in the breakup of actor Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion, with netizens speculating on Piolo’s sexual orientation and supposedly saying what KC could not.

Other relationship issue that set the web ablaze was Derek Ramsay’s marital status. Documents unearthed by ABS-CBN News in June showed that he was still married to a Filipino-Indian. He is currently in a relationship with actress Angelica Panganiban.

Also worth mentioning is the speculation that went on in social networking sites about the innocence of Ramgen Revilla’s half-sibling Ramona Bautista with regards to his death.

Prayers and support

Twitter became a venue for netizens wishing to send their sympathy and prayers to the victims of natural disasters.

Though not initially a formal campaign, more and more people tweeted prayers for the victims of typhoons such as Pedring and Quiel. Recently, the hashtag “#PleasePrayforthePhilippines” was used by netizens in order to gather spiritual assistance for the victims of typhoon Sendong in Mindanao.

People also sent prayers overseas for the victims of natural disasters in countries such as Japan. Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March.

Political frenzy

Unsurprisingly, Twitter became a venue for people to talk about the most controversial happenings in local politics. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s election to the International Criminal Court became a favorite topic online, especially because of goodwill generated by the pick-up line jokes she made during her speeches, and the lavish celebration of her renewal of wedding vows.

President Benigno Aquino III’s conflict with the Supreme Court also was thrust into the limelight, with netizens brawling online about who was right and wrong. Interest only grew with the filing of impeachment charges against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Joke time

What would the Filipinos be without their humor? Several Internet memes became popular this year, but a few stood out because they actually trended worldwide. One such example was Melanie Marquez’s terrible grammar.

Marquez took people’s online ridicule of her English in good fun, appearing on TV and laughing along when comedian Vice Ganda would point out her mistakes. “Long legged” indeed.

The photo released in September by the Department of Public Works and Highways of officials inspecting the damage wrought by typhoon Pedring on the Roxas Boulevard seawall became one of the most epic memes in the history of local memes.

The badly Photoshopped image was adapted and built upon by creative Pinoys, who composited the three officials onto images of the moon, Abbey Road, Master Chef, the desert, and a White House conference, among others.

Admirable feats

This year became the year of the Azkals on social media, as they trended worldwide several times when they competed with the David Beckham-led Los Angeles-based football team Galaxy, and also when they beat Nepal in October. Individual players such as Phil Younghusband also became very popular online.

Singers were also thrust into the limelight—young Aeta Arjohn Gilbert’s vocal talents became the topic of much discussion, especially as he was singing songs by Justin Bieber. He was eventually nicknamed the Philippine equivalent of the American singing sensation, and even invited by Charice Pempengco to sing at her Manila concert.

Another feat worth mentioning that set the cyberworld on fire? Shamcey Supsup’s Miss Universe win.

Shamcey’s brave statement about womanhood, religion and marriage landed her the Miss Universe 3rd runner-up title, opening up doors for her and making her an instant celebrity – in the real world, as well as in the online universe of Twitter.