What Google Autocomplete Reveals About the Philippines and the Filipinos

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Hooray for the long weekend! Finally, I can get to spend more time for self contemplation, for more peace and quietness. Today I am inspired by another blog post and furthermore this news article to have fun with Google Autocomplete. Get the drift?

It’s simply that Google automatically completes whatever we type into its search field. The auto-completion is based on what most people enter on the web. Whatever are they really thinking on their own privacy? So as a little experiment, I’m going to find out what the online world out there thinks about Filipinos or the Philippines in general. As I’m typing now, I have not yet started with the queries and I don’t have any expectations set. From the outbound links above, though, most results hark to the negative end of the spectrum rather than the positive. The results can be as interesting as they can be offensive at the same time. Anyway, let’s begin.

What Google Autocomplete Reveals About the Philippines and the Filipinos

I typed: Why is the Philippines

Google continued: called pearl of the orient seas

Google continued: poor

Google continued: a third world country

I typed: Why the Philippines is

Google continued: a unique nation

Google continued: a poor country

Google continued: standing still

I typed: Why do Filipinos

Google continued: speak English

Google continued: work abroad

Google continued: celebrate

I typed: Why Filipinos

Google continued: are poor

Google continued: have flat noses

Google continued: should be proud

Google continued: are great nation

I typed: Why are Filipinos

Google continued: ugly

Google continued: poor

Google continued: happy

I typed: Why Filipinos like

Google continued: foreigners

Google continued: koreanovelas

Google continued: white skin

Google continued: to sing

I typed: Why Filipinos love

Google continued: kpop

Google continued: laugh

Google continued: basketball

Google continued: to eat

I typed: Why Filipinos hate

Google continued: Indians

Google continued: Americans

Google continued: Japanese

Google continued: Koreans

I typed: Why Filipinos don’t

Google continued: speak Spanish

Google continued: love their country

Google continued: look Asian

I typed: Why don’t Filipinos

Google continued: speak Spanish

Google continued: use chopsticks

Google continued: use toilet paper

Mash-up of the Findings

The Philippines, also called the “Pearl of the Orient Seas,” is a unique land. The country is quite poor. In fact, it’s a third-world country, but it’s standing still as it is composed of people who are poor but happy. Destitute, they continue to live and search for hope some place else. Many work abroad to support their families and celebrate with their loved ones when they get back home.

Filipinos like eating, playing basketball, singing and laughing. They like foreigners but not the Indians and the Japanese. Ironically, they hate the Koreans but like koreanovelas and love kpop. As well, they hate the Americans but they like white skin (maybe not for others but for themselves lah!). Filipinos are Asians who don’t look like they are Asians. They speak in English (and Filipino) but not Spanish. They don’t use chopsticks and toilet paper. They have flat noses but should be proud for they are a great nation.

My Take

I think the findings are mostly true except for the “hate Indians, Japanese, Americans and Koreans” part. Filipinos may hate the Japanese and Americans because they were once colonizers of our nation. But that was many years back. We have already built solidarity and friendship with these people. How about their surge for detestation for the Koreans and the Indians? I’m also not sure. You may want to search for the explanations yourself. For now, I’m just positive that…

Photo Credit: Mark Gosingtian

Comments

42 responses to “What Google Autocomplete Reveals About the Philippines and the Filipinos”

February 16, 2013

Teresa Martinez

This is quite an interesting way of finding about how Filipinos are perceived by others. I must try this method on my own search. I’m sure I will get interesting results as well.

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Yup, Google’s autocomplete search suggestions are funny and interesting. We may not know whether these are true as they vary astronomically depending on the user’s search history over the years. Try it and post the results in your blog. We’d be interested to know what results you come out with. 😀 You’ll surely see weird and wild Autocomplete suggestions!
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Archie de Lara

This is an interesting post. I also play on typing on Google search box to know which keyword I will use on my next blog. In this manner, I know my post will be on the search recommendation by Google.

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Aside from doing the keyword research the manual way, you can also use free tools to optimize your post. These apps can help you rank the “right” keywords to make your website.
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Franc Ramon

These are common notions on Filipinos. Some maybe true but harsh and yet some of course are not but I agree whenever the times get tough as it always is in the Philippines, the heart of the hero shines in each Filipino.

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Wow, I like what you said: “The heart of the hero shines in each Filipino.” I agree–Filipinos are brave, compassionate, committed to change, and we are a nation that can prove that a good deed can help uplift a million lives. Through our words, actions, and good deeds, we make a difference worth celebrating. 😀
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

nanardxz

Great! I’m getting ideas from this.. Google really knows almost everything.. 🙂

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Yup, it’s the biggest search engine we have after all. 🙂
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

special education philippines

I find the Google autocomplete funny and at the same time disturbing? It sounds like for every question there is something, hmmm, how would I say it, not so positive. As you said, these are “what most people enter on the web.” I hope they can put a number to it to make the search quantitative. I just think it would make a good research. 🙂

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  There are analytic tools available online like Google Keyword Estimator tool which can present the numbers you are looking for. Just type in whatever keywords and it will show you the competition and number of searches locally and globally. 😀
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

jane

i believe so we filipinos speak spanish words in our everyday life. For example. Salbabida/Salvavidas is a spanish word for floaty or lifesaver. Querida > kerida means lover. Fiesta > pista. Apellido > apelyido. Actually older people counts in spanish as well uno dos tres. There’s a lot more of spanish words we use everyday that i believe my fellow filipinos dont know about that. Or because we already change how it is supposed to be pronounce so we dont’t realize it anymore. I’ve got friends from mexico back in Singapore and I really learned a lot. I love using chopsticks too though, true that we filipinos use fork&spoon and using kamay only is very nice too =) Love this post Rockristin! x0x0 =)

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  There are a lot of words in the Filipino dictionary that were taken from the Spanish language. Mostly because this country had been colonized by the Spaniards and these guys influenced the nation massively.
  
  Thanks for dropping by again, Jane! 🙂 It’s Kirstin, actually, not Kristin. Haha.
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Jason

i Typed You. : )

maybe sometimes words are not related. Some of the search are finding the high rank keywords.

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Yeah, but it is still interesting that a lot of people are using these keywords to find out more about the fact or topic about Philippines and the Filipinos. 😀
  
  What, you typed “You”? Sorry I didn’t get it, haha.
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Kim Francis

I can see the word “poor” occurring on your searches. It seems to show how we are so negatively seen by other countries. Nevertheless, I am still proud to be a Filipino citizen.

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  That’s great, Kim! We should not fall on negativity but stay faithful and hope for the betterment of our nation.
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Jerome Ibuyan

In addition on “Why is the Philippines” query, the auto complete gave me this as 3rd suggestion: “why is the philippines still economically poor despite its abundant and diverse natural resources”.
I think we just don’t know how to maximize these resources.
I guess, our country needs more “true leaders”.
Great take Rochkirstin! =)

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  I believe that we will get to that, in a matter of 5-10 years from now. 😀 Always think positive lah!
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Gigi Beleno

Agree that its interesting to know these information. I just wonder what’s the basis for Google’s autocomplete? is it the most common search topics?

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  This is to quote how Google explained it: “As you type, autocomplete predicts and displays queries to choose from. The search queries that you see as part of autocomplete are a reflection of the search activity of all web users and the content of web pages indexed by Google. If you’re signed in to your Google Account and have Web History enabled, you might also see search queries from relevant searches that you’ve done in the past.”
  
  Hope that answers your question.
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

papaleng

Those are stunning facts. But I agree much about the findings specially ‘Why don’t Filipinos use toilet paper’ LOL

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Haha. Why of all the facts laid you chose to agree most on that one? Don’t you also use toilet paper?
  Nah, just kidding, Papa Leng. 😀
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Dust

We can never blame google for this. The people who typed those searches are to be. Anyway, I’m so proud to be Pinoy, no matter what. 🙂

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Of course, Google is just a tool. It never can speak on its own hehe.
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

jsncruz

Interesting, how much people have searched those terms 🙂 Were you using google.com or google.com.ph? It may play a part on what results you get 🙂

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  When I search, the engine automatically detects my location therefore switching it to the one with the .ph. Can you try searching through google.com? 😀
  
  Reply
February 16, 2013

Rey

You can search just about any country or nationality and Google will have some auto complete. That’s how vast their data is. Everything that has been put on that search box has been stored ever since they began.

Reply
1. February 16, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Yup, but the interesting part is that the Google Autocomplete predictions are algorithmically determined without any human intervention.
  
  Reply
February 17, 2013

Tess

Quite interesting facts revealed by google auto complete. Lol on this but true, “Filipino’s don’t use toilet paper”.

Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Really? Haha because Filipinos use water noh?
  
  Reply
February 17, 2013

Francis Balgos

hate is such a strong word, but it something that can be taken into context.
depending on how you deliver it..
I find this curious, and ultimately fun
Im already thinkng of doing the same when I get bored at the office. hahahaha!

Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Yeah you can search for whatever phrases and let Google complete them. 🙂
  
  Reply
February 17, 2013

RonLeyba

Yay to Google autosuggests. I mean, not only it can serve something for entertainment, but for internet marketing/SEO/keyword research/PPC as well 🙂 .

Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  You’re right at that point. I also use AdWords to know which keywords are “more demanding.”
  
  Reply
February 17, 2013

mimi

in every google search, there’s only one positive thought and the others remains to be negative in any way we shouldn’t be affected by such since they just generalizing what is specific.. we should go, do our best for the betterment of our country! 🙂

Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  YES. Hooray for that high spirit! 🙂
  
  Reply
February 18, 2013

Justin

it’s a sad reality that search engines generalizes Philippines as a poor country.. but I guess that is a mean to truly empower us to prove why our country is still the best! 🙂

Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  That’s right! In other news, we may be financially poor but are rich in our natural resources and good-natured people.
  
  Reply
February 18, 2013

Mark Morfe

Seems very interesting. I wonder if Google knew us Filipinos that well. 😀

Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Google has just opened its office in the Philippines. I wonder how that affects the Filipinos. 🙂
  
  Reply
March 15, 2013

Rolf Landberg

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Reply
1. November 9, 2013
  
  Rochkirstin Santos
  
  Thanks, Rolf! Enjoy reading my posts. 🙂
  
  Reply