As 2025 comes to an end, we’re looking back on the hilarious pop culture highlights that kept us going and helped us find a reason to smile every day. This year may have been a rollercoaster of emotions that had us “crashing out” and falling for “rage bait” on social media, but we’ve still shared tons of laughs amid the chaos.
This year has given us plenty of core memories and unforgettable moments that left us in stitches, most of which include the Filipino memes that took over our timelines and newsfeeds.
Photo: Darren Espanto, Toni Fowler, It’s Showtime
It didn’t take long for us all to become fluent in internet culture thanks to our favorite local memes. We all need a good chuckle from time to time, and these priceless moments never failed to put a smile on our faces.
From viral breakthroughs to resurfaced catchphrases, here are ten iconic Filipino memes that made this year’s pop culture scene one for the books:
Toni Fowler’s “fine-dining restaurant” monologue
Photo: Mommy Toni Fowler/YouTube
We’re starting this year-end list off strong with a lesson on Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) from vlogger Toni Fowler. This meme originally came from an episode of ToRo Family, her YouTube reality show, where she went off on a tangent about practicing proper etiquette and pakikisama at a fine-dining restaurant.
This year, the clip kept appearing on our timelines until we memorized it by heart. We couldn’t scroll through our feeds without hearing the phrase, “Tayo ay nasa fine-dining restaurant.” Numerous local content creators and celebrities also picked up on the trend, including Macoy Dubs, Bea Borres, and Pinoy pop (P-pop) boy group ALAMAT.
“Nasaan si Fyang?”
@vitakeratinph Nasaan si Fyang? Achieve ang gandang-salon-lasting hair kagaya kay Fyang with VitaKeratin! Boogsh! #GandangFyangVitaKeratin #VitaKeratinPH
We can’t have a conversation about Filipino pop culture without mentioning Sofia “Fyang” Smith, who became a breakout star this year after winning Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11.
After celebrating her achievements, Fyang’s fans looked forward to her new projects. They constantly searched for her in announcements for upcoming shows, films, and concerts, enthusiastically commenting, “Nasaan si Fyang?” Naturally, the internet turned the question into a viral catchphrase. It even became a tagline for some of Fyang’s endorsements throughout the year. Talk about striking while the iron is still hot.
Christopher Diwata as Taylor Lautner
In 2013, Christopher Diwata joined “Kalokalike,” a celebrity lookalike contest on It’s Showtime. He impersonated Taylor Lautner and delivered the actor’s famous lines as Jacob in Twilight. Over a decade later, Christopher’s performance earned him numerous blessings and opportunities that have changed his life for the better.
As Christopher’s “Kalokalike” segment resurfaced, “Wat haffen, Vella?” became the question on everyone’s minds. The viral moment even reached Taylor Lautner himself, who responded rather unexpectedly.
“Hot Maria Clara” by Sanya Lopez
We saw a new “main pop girl” in Sanya Lopez this year as her empowering single, “Hot Maria Clara,” took the internet by storm.
Whether we got hooked on the song’s catchy lyrics, its trendy choreography, or Sanya’s undeniable confidence, the anthem easily gave us Last Song Syndrome (LSS) all year long. We listened to “Hot Maria Clara” so much that the internet even endearingly deemed her “Asia’s Mekaniko,” referring to the song’s chorus: “‘Cause I’m a Hot Maria Clara, like a kotseng magara, don’t need a mekaniko.”
“The biggest beef steak”
In an episode of Sarap Diva, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid’s former talk show, actress and beauty queen Wynwyn Marquez hosted a pageant-style question-and-answer portion with the show’s guests. She then asked the first candidate, Adelantada, portrayed by comedian Ton Soriano, “What is your biggest mistake?”
Everyone erupted with laughter when Adelantada answered, “The biggest beef steak,” as if she misheard Wynwyn’s question. Though the segment dates back to 2017, you might have seen it several times on your For You Page (FYP) in 2025. The meme even reached international netizens, who also took a liking to Adelantada’s great wit.
The “Alden Pose”
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Alden Richards has had multiple meme-able moments in his career. But this year, his tongue-out pose from an old magazine photoshoot takes the cake.
The “Alden Pose” became a prominent representation of Filipinos’ “chronically online” humor, in which the simplest photos and videos can transform into viral moments. Filipino idols like Elisia Parmisano and Gehlee Dangca of UNIS, JL Gaspar of AHOF, and Sophia Laforteza of KATSEYE even sported the “Alden Pose” at fan meetings and South Korean music shows, making the meme go global.
“I-Abby Salle na ‘yan!”
@abbydomersalle Call me mother 😘❤️🥰
Content creator Abby Salle channeled her inner lifestyle reporter and talk show host throughout the “ber” months with her trending catchphrase, “I-Abby Salle na ‘yan!”
Filipinos recreated the catchy opening line everywhere they went, from universities to barangays and overseas attractions. It also reached a few local celebrities, such as Vice Ganda, Bianca Gonzales-Intal, and Cup of Joe.
Kween Yasmin’s “Kween Font” on Canva
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When Canva announced its new collaboration with internet personality Kween Yasmin, we knew we were in for a headline-worthy project and a successful marketing strategy. Sure enough, numerous brands and establishments used the “all-purpose kween’s” one-of-a-kind font to promote their campaigns and initiatives.
Darren Espanto’s Cover of “Maui Wowie”
@darrenespanto Ah gusto niyo ah HAHAHA Sasali na ako sa ginawa niyong trend! #DarrenEspanto #MauiWowie
December has been full of surprises for Darren Espanto, who unexpectedly went viral for his cover of “Maui Wowie” by Kid Cudi. Though he performed the hit song flawlessly, viewers poked fun at his “extra” vocals and dance moves.
Some netizens even thought that Darren sounded like American content creator and makeup guru James Charles. Not long after, the performance reached James himself, who almost mistook Darren’s voice for his own.
“Love, Joy, Hope”
@abscbn The collab we didn’t know we needed… 🤘🏻 #KapamilyaTrend #Kapamilya
For the second year in a row, the internet is spotlighting Coco Martin for his adlibs in ABS-CBN’s 2025 Christmas Station ID. It was a simple three-word lyric: “love, joy, hope.” But Coco made every second count as he delivered the verse with great enthusiasm. Netizens took it a step further, remixing the meme to the tunes of “Chanel” by Tyla and “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence.
ALSO READ: 11 OPM and P-pop Songs That Took Over Social Media This Year
What are your favorite Filipino memes and viral moments of 2025? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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