In its “Year in Search 2024,” Google revealed the Philippines’ top trending searches, reflecting the nation’s growing concern for environmental issues. Leading the list was “heat wave” or “excessive heat,” followed by “climate change” at number six—an indicator of Filipinos’ heightened interest in understanding the environmental changes impacting their lives.
Searches for “heat wave” began to rise in early April, tripling by mid-month in areas like Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Western Visayas, Mimaropa, and Metro Manila. Similarly, “climate change” saw peak search activity during the same period, with high interest recorded in Soccsksargen, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Bicol, Davao Region, Metro Manila, Zamboanga Peninsula, ARMM, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas.
Record-breaking heat and typhoons
The surge in search interest coincided with a series of extreme weather events that marked 2024 as a year of environmental upheaval. On April 27, Metro Manila recorded its hottest day in history, with PAGASA logging 38.8°C at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Station in Pasay City. Other areas such as Occidental Mindoro, Leyte, Cavite, and Bukidnon also experienced record-breaking temperatures during April.
The year’s soaring temperatures brought significant challenges. Schools and universities shifted to modular or online learning to protect students from heat-induced health risks.
Adding to these challenges, November brought an unprecedented wave of extreme weather, with the Philippines hit by four typhoons in just 10 days—the most active November on record. Super Typhoons Kristine and Pepito, for instance, caused widespread devastation, wreaking havoc on coastal cities and displacing hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.
Growing awareness
The growing interest in “heat wave” and “climate change” reveals how Filipinos are increasingly connecting these extreme weather events to global environmental trends. This growing awareness has the potential to ignite important conversations about sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Awareness, however, is only the beginning. Both the private and public sectors are stepping up with initiatives like renewable energy adoption, improved urban planning, and enhanced disaster preparedness, to name a few. Yet, individual actions remain just as crucial—conserving energy, reducing waste, and making mindful consumption choices are small but meaningful ways to drive change.