Ordinary citizens who went viral online in 2024

Memes and viral moments come and go, but some of them make their mark and define the year. 

2024 was intense—from natural calamities and political feuds to the cost of goods continuing to rise. In the midst of it all, memes have served as a breather from time to time. This year, some ordinary citizens have shown that you don't have to be an influencer or a celebrity to be a trendsetter. These personalities took social media by storm with their wit, meme-worthy phrases, and actions, or simply their funny content online.

From the Maybe This Time dance craze to the "very demure" catchphrase, here are the trendsetters who drew laughs and spread good vibes this 2024.

Carol Batay 

As lawmakers probed Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) and dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, who had two POGO hubs in her bailiwick, Carol Batay served as a live interpreter for resource persons.

Batay, a pharmacist-turned-host, first attended the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality's hearing in May. 

But her appearance at hearings is not her first time in the limelight. In case you didn’t know, she was a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother’s Double Up edition in 2009. Her batchmates include celebrity couple Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco (who became the big winner and third placer, respectively), singer-actor Bartolome Mott (who adopted the screen name Tom Rodriguez), and model-actress Sam Pinto. 

In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Batay shared that she joined the reality TV series in hopes of bringing home the P1 million cash prize to fund her medical school at the time. After she was evicted on Day 77, Batay opted not to pursue showbiz and has since found herself doing different jobs—from being a language instructor, and interpreter, to being an events host. 

After the Senate's last hearing about POGO wrapped up this month, Batay looked back on her journey, saying she couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. 

“This experience has humbled me and taught me lessons that I wouldn't have learned otherwise. It is indeed one of the most challenging projects I have handled, but also a fulfilling one. I promise to come back stronger and wiser as I continue to walk in this journey,” she wrote in an Instagram post. 

Querubin Llavore 

Tawag Ng Tanghalan alum Querubin Llavore made headlines in June for her random photos in a fancy red car during her stay in Dubai, which drew laughs on social media. 

In her Facebook post, she detailed the weird turn of events that led to the pictures. 

"Nasa ground floor ako, inaantay ko 'yung pinag-orderan ko ng pagkain. Nagtatanong siya saan daw yung location ko para ma-deliver niya 'yung food sa'akin," Llavore recounted. 

After taking a picture of the hotel, she did not notice that there was a red car outside. Because of this, the owner assumed she was taking a photo of the vehicle and told her, "Come here, take a picture with my car." 

While the local singer tried to explain that she was taking a picture of something else, the man remained persistent and said, "Come on, don’t be shy." 

“Edi nahiya din ako tumanggi. Imbes nag-aantay lang ako ng order ko, nakapag-picture pa ako sa mamahaling sasakyan," Llavore wrote. The post gained 160,000 laughing reactions at the time. 

Llavore also previously went viral with her ugly crying to wacky pose when she was announced as the winner in the talent competition in 2022. 

Ralp Xyrel Villaruz 

Ralp Xyrel Villaruz, a student from Zamboanga, took social media by storm when he popularized the Maybe This Time dance craze on TikTok. 

His playful dance to the ballad was a hit not just with social media users but also with the entertainment industry. 

Celebrities including Dennis Trillo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, BINI's Sheena Catacutan, and even Sarah Geronimo hopped on the dance craze. 

The viral moment brought Villaruz to It’s Showtime and ASAP, where he was joined by the variety shows’ hosts and their audience in doing the dance craze. 

In September, Villaruz was also given a certificate of appreciation by the City Government of Zamboanga “for being a remarkable source of inspiration to everyone.” 

"Your passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence has significantly impacted the lives of fellow Zamboanguenos," Mayor John Dalipe said. "Your impact will be felt for the years to come inspiring future generations to embrace their potential and pursue their dreams."