INQUIRER.net’s most-engaging stories that defined 2025
“Mahiya naman kayo” may well go down as the most quoted—and most meme-ified—line of 2025.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s blistering remark during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July, directed at officials and contractors accused of profiting from flood-control projects, instantly went viral. In a political landscape where corruption stories are no longer surprising, the statement felt like a plot twist—and it delivered INQUIRER.net’s most significant social media engagement of the year.
The line opened the floodgates to heightened public interest in corruption-related stories. Netizens closely followed developments surrounding the resignation of the President’s cousin, Martin Romualdez, from the House speakership after his name was dragged into allegations of kickbacks tied to anomalous infrastructure projects.
Online audiences also zeroed in on Senate drama, including Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s quip about Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s “safety” after contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II claimed that no senators solicited money from him in exchange for securing government projects.
The controversy took on an international turn after reports that South Korea had allegedly canceled an infrastructure loan to the Philippines due to its “potential for corruption.” Although the Department of Finance swiftly denied the existence of such an agreement, the story nonetheless fueled public debate and heated discussion on social media.
What drove the highest traffic to INQUIRER.net’s platforms, however, was the surge of nationwide anti-corruption protests. These demonstrations amplified voices from across sectors, including celebrities such as Vice Ganda and Catriona Gray. Even journalist Kara David’s blunt 52nd birthday wish—calling for the death of corrupt officials—sparked massive online reactions.
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@inquirerdotnet WATCH: Celebrity Vice Ganda could not help but curse as he called for the return of the death penalty for government officials allegedly linked to anomalous flood control projects. | via Faith Argosino, INQUIRER.net #sept21rally #newsph #inquirernews ♬ original sound – INQUIRER.net
Business magnate Ramon Ang, president and CEO of San Miguel Corp., also captured netizens’ attention after volunteering to help address Metro Manila’s flooding problems at no cost to the government or the public.
Beyond corruption, 2025 unfolded as a year of sweeping political and cultural shifts—witnessed closely by INQUIRER.net’s audience.
The May midterm elections reshaped the political landscape, with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa emerging as top vote-getters alongside liberal opposition figures Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. Equally riveting was Duterte’s landslide victory in the Davao City mayoral race, won while he remained detained in The Hague—a result that drew intense scrutiny from both supporters and critics.
Globally, audiences marked profound moments of transition in the Catholic Church—from the death of Pope Francis on April 21 to the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States.
Showbiz stories, meanwhile, continued to drive strong engagement. From the engaged eras of best friends Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, to the passing of Superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor, the reunion of the “Peter Pan” cast, and BTS inspiring John Cena to embrace self-love, pop culture thrived online.
THE VOICE OF A GENERATION, KIM NAMJOON 👏💜LOOK: BTS’ RM delivers his historic keynote speech about the global impact and significance of Korean culture at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) CEO Summit Korea 2025 at the Gyeongju Arts Center in North Gyeongsang… pic.twitter.com/5efLBLLgVc
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 29, 2025
Celebrity love stories also kept netizens intrigued, including Liza Soberano officially confirming her breakup with Enrique Gil and James Reid defending his girlfriend, Issa Pressman, from “bitter people” who bombarded him with old photos of his ex, Nadine Lustre.
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By year’s end, it had become difficult to remember what a “slow news day” looked like.
One major development followed another: updates on Duterte’s arrest, the much-talked-about boxing match between former PNP chief Nicolas Torre III and acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, Martial Law anniversary observances, and the supposed International Criminal Court arrest of Dela Rosa.
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Through it all, audiences continued to turn to INQUIRER.net—not only for breaking news and explainers, but also for practical updates such as class suspension announcements, holiday memoranda, and pay guidelines.
Be an INQUIRER: Everyday stories that inspired
But behind the headlines and viral moments that dominated the national conversation, 2025 was also shaped by everyday voices—stories that sparked conversation, the triumphs that inspired communities, and the challenges that may have shaken our ground but never our faith.
Be An INQUIRER (BAI), the official citizen journalism online community of INQUIRER.net, served as an avenue for netizens to take a break from serious news and relax with light stories they could relate to. It offered a refreshing mix of engaging, inspiring content that allowed readers to find joy in everyday experiences shared by people from all walks of life.
Among BAI’s stories that made waves online were animal-related features that never failed to bring smiles to audiences’ faces—thanks to their overload of cuteness and amusing quirks, especially when pets displayed human-like behavior.
Beyond humor and charm, connection emerged as an unspoken yet powerful theme that netizens gravitated toward throughout the year. Audiences showed strong interest in evergreen stories centered on human bonds—whether through reflections of love, extraordinary twists of fate, or moving examples of volunteerism that tugged at the heartstrings.
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DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYO 🙏🏻💖WATCH: A medical volunteer expressed her gratitude for the two men who paved the way for them to immediately respond to the quake-hit communities in Bogo City, Cebu. 📹: sobranglathea8/TikTok | @edlyrandioINQ #BeAnINQUIRER #BAIxINQ pic.twitter.com/rnT0OzUzSE
— Be An INQUIRER (@BeAnINQUIRER) October 2, 2025
In 2025, the news cycle never slept—and neither did the conversations around it. These were stories that tested, moved, and united Filipinos in different but equally powerful ways.
As the year comes to a close, INQUIRER.net remains committed to amplifying narratives defined not only by controversy and change but also by resilience, kindness, and the enduring power of shared humanity.
