It’s that time of year again! While the rest of the world was busy obsessing over their top artists and genres, you were deep in the heart of the Manila news cycle. Your 2025 WhenInManila Wrapped is a bold, dynamic “visual mixtape” of the stories that defined your year—capturing that perfect tension between the chaos of the city and the clarity of the headlines you couldn’t stop sharing. From heart-wrenching goodbyes to the “tea” that kept the group chats buzzing, you spent thousands of minutes staying connected, informed, and uniquely Filipino.
In 2025, your WhenInManila Wrapped was a journey through the heart of the Philippines, beginning with a collective moment of grief as the nation mourned the passing of 19-year-old influencer Emman Atienza in her Los Angeles home—a loss that sparked vital conversations about mental health and the intense pressure of a life lived in the public eye. You also felt the weight of the literary world’s mourning for Baek Se-hee, author of the best-selling memoir I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, who passed away at 35, leaving behind a legacy of radical honesty that resonated deeply with readers navigating their own mental health journeys. You stayed glued to your screens for the year’s wildest “plot twists,” such as the viral revelation that world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay and Filipino actor Derek Ramsay actually share a family tree through a 19th-century Scottish explorer named Benjamin Ramsay. This was joined by the viral “President” moment when Nadine Lustre was spotted in intense pasarela sessions with international pageant coaches; though she was simply preparing for her role as Mara de Jesus in the film Call Me Mother, her poise had everyone ready to crown her in real life.
Your reading habits reflected a “survival guide” mentality as you navigated the practicalities of a changing city and a shifting economy. You bookmarked the 2025 Philippine Passport guide for its updated digital filing tips and carefully tracked the NAIA terminal fee hike that saw international charges jump from ₱550 to ₱950 to fund major airport upgrades. You even noted the “Untouchable” policy, where NAIA security personnel are now barred from touching passports to prevent accidental damage or “punit” schemes that have worried travelers in the past. In the world of finance, you looked for clarity on the 20% tax on bank interest income under the new CMEPA law, realizing it was a measure to ensure fair tax treatment across all income levels rather than a hidden fee. Amidst these changes, you prioritized well-being, learning that the “ngalay” and “manhid” (numbness) common in work-from-home setups are often symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency or neuropathy, which you countered with lifestyle shifts and medical advice from local success stories like the “Doctorney” who mastered both medicine and law.
As the year wound down, you looked toward the future of the city and its culture, finding excitement in the massive Metro Manila Subway project as it finally began to take physical shape across the metro. You navigated the EDSA Rehabilitation, which moved at a surprisingly fast pace with a revised ₱6 billion budget and round-the-clock holiday construction to minimize traffic. For entertainment, your calendar was packed: you joined the massive waitlist for the Les Misérables 2026 World Tour extension at Solaire, prepared for G-Dragon’s “Übermensch” tour at the Philippine Arena, and scouted for ₱60 bargains at the Big Bad Wolf book sale in its new Greenhills home. Between the heavy news of Ellen Adarna’s separation from Derek Ramsay—marked by her viral “Malaya” sign from the universe—and the heartwarming reveal of Tom Rodriguez’s baby boy, Korben, you balanced the “tea” with a sense of adventure, seeking out 10 hidden historical spots like Paco Park and the Chinese Cemetery to find quiet moments in the busy heart of Manila.
Whether you were looking for a life hack to beat the “ngalay” or keeping a watchful eye on the rising costs of your next flight, your 2025 reading habits prove that you’re more than just a casual scroller—you’re a true Manileño navigator. You balanced the heavy with the light, moving from the profound loss of local and global icons to the high-energy buzz of world tours and viral family trees. As the Metro Manila landscape continues to shift—both in its physical infrastructure and its digital culture—you’ve shown that staying informed is your ultimate “vibe.” Thank you for making WhenInManila your top-streamed source for anything and everything. Here’s to more headlines, more “tea,” and more adventures in 2026.
