How Manila Became The Selfie Capital Of The World

Super-social Filipinos set a new record a few years back, beating other beauty- and celebrity-obsessed cities around the world to claim the title of “Selfie Capital of the World” from TIME Magazine. Anyone who knows the Filipinos knows the win didn’t quite come out of the blue. Here’s the story behind the Philippines’ selfie love.

Before selfies landed on the scene, Filipinos had already proven their eagerness to adopt any new technology that made communicating with each other easier. The country at one point held the title of “Texting Capital of the World,” with more than 400 million text messages sent each day. When social media came to the fore, Filipinos were early adopters – data showed 90% of all Filipinos used one platform or another. Today, more than half of the 98 million Filipinos alive are active on Facebook.

It’s not really a surprise, then, that in 2014 when TIME compiled a database of the cities with the most selfies on Instagram, the magazine counted more selfie-takers per capita (258 per 100,000 people) in the cities of Makati and Pasig than in any of the other 457 cities it surveyed. The closest competitor was Manhattan, which was comparatively worlds away at 202 selfie-takers per 100,000 people.

The selfie trend

Social and family ties

What makes the Filipinos take to social media so easily? The strongest underlying reason to why social ties have greater importance in the Philippines than they do elsewhere has to do with the country’s economic instability. In a country known for political upheaval and internal corruption, the Filipinos have come to rely on each other, rather than their government, for support.

The Filipino support system, which includes extended family and the barkada (a group of friends usually made up of people you’ve met at school or work), takes the place of the government and acts as insurance, a safety net, a money lender, and emergency assistance. The ties that keep these groups closely knit are the glue that holds Filipino society together. It’s no surprise, then, that any tools that strengthen social ties, enable groups to keep tabs on each other, call for help, and interact quickly take special importance in the Filipino context.

Another reason Filipinos produce so many images is to satisfy familial obligations. Independence is not a virtue cultivated widely in the country, and Filipinos live with their families for much longer than many young people in the West. Families are close-knit, and parents are often deeply involved in their children’s lives. Family photos and those taken to reassure family of their whereabouts and safety are extremely common in everyday Filipino life.

Filipino spirit

Beyond this, the Filipinos’ naturally exuberant attitude to life means a constant sharing of enthusiasm. Beautiful travel destinations and fun times with friends are classic motivations for selfies – and Filipinos have both of these in abundance. Finally, after 50 years of governance by the United States, Filipinos have assimilated a love of glamour, television, and the “Hollywood mentality” – all traits that play perfectly into the selfie’s appeal. Put the pieces together, and the Philippines has everything it needs to hold onto its selfie crown for a long time to come.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.