PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III and boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao are this year’s most-searched items in the Philippines, according to a report in Inquirer.net posted by correspondent Anna Valmero Tuesday, Dec. 8.

        The report also said that Facebook and Twitter, two of the most popular social networking site tools on the Web, grabbed the first and eighth spots in the top ten fastest rising search items based on Google’s 2009 year-end Zeitgeist report.

        Aquino, son of the late former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and late President Corazon Aquino, leads this year’s “fastest-rising politicians” category, and managed in four months to gain as much web search volume as other politicians have for the year, the report added.

        Interest on Aquino, which has been below other 2010 presidential candidates, spiked in August, peaked on September and continues to top other bets including Senators Richard “Dick” Gordon and Manny Villar, ex-president Joseph Estrada and former defense chief Gilbert Teodoro, according to Google search data.

        The fastest rising politicians searched on Google between January to December, according to the same report, include: Noynoy Aquino III, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Francis Escudero, Mar Roxas and Manuel Villar, ex-NEDA chief Ralph Recto, Teodoro, Estrada, local TV host Willie Revillame and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

        Also in the top ten is Pacquiao’s second round knockout of British boxer Ricky Hatton last May.