AlDub, Pope Francis top Google searches in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Popular split screen love team “AlDub” is the term most searched by Filipinos in 2015, according to technology giant Google. 

Google yesterday unveiled the results of the Year in Search 2015, which listed the top 10 searches made in the popular search engine this year. 

“Year in Search is Google’s way of looking back at the moments that captured the people’s interest throughout the year,” Google Philippines communications and public affairs head Gail Tan said. 

“Locally, the trending search terms of 2015 are a good reflection of the Filipinos’ increasing involvement and interest in the things that are happening around them, whether in national events or the breakout of a new pop culture icon,” she added. 

AlDub, a combination of the names of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, also known as Yaya Dub, broke Internet records this year after their accidental team-up in the noontime show Eat Bulaga. 

Mendoza topped the female personality category list and ranked third on the overall top trending searches in the Philippines. 

Richards, who is second on the male personality list next to Pope Francis, ranked sixth in the overall list. 

Following AlDub on the overall list is Pope Francis, who visited the country in January.

Following Mendoza is FIBA Asia 2015 and Dubsmash, a popular application that propelled her to Internet celebrity status even before she was discovered as the other half of the popular love team. 

Seventh on the overall list is the Fifty Shades of Gray book, which was produced into a movie this year. 

Completing the list are APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit, Paris attacks and Comelec (Commission on Elections).