PH ranks 8th in Ice Bucket Challenge participation

Bill Gates. YouTube screengrab

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines ranked number eight in the top 10 countries which participated in the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, Facebook said in a statement issued after analyzing the viral activity posted on the social media platform.

“The challenge has now reached almost every country in the world, here are the top ten countries in order of participation: 1. United States, 2. Australia, 3. New Zealand, 4. Canada, 5. Mexico, 6. Brazil, 7. Germany, 8. Philippines, 9. Puerto Rico, and 10. India,” Facebook said.

“The Facebook data team analyzed the viral activity seen on the platform related to the ice bucket challenge between June 1 – August 17. Over 28 million people have joined the conversation about the ice bucket challenge including posting, commenting or liking a challenge post. A total of 2.4 million videos related to the ice bucket challenge have been shared on Facebook,” it said.

Various celebrities and government officials in the Philippines have participated in the challenge including Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, Award-winning Broadway star Lea Salonga, Boxing champion Nonito Donaire, and  Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr.

“Public figures have generated a substantial portion of the engagement around the challenge since June, even Facebook’s own Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg participated and nominated friends,” it said.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge aims to raise funds as well as awarness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis disease, also referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”

The ALS Association defines the disease as “a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.”

The disease slowly takes away the brain’s control of muscles throughout the body leaving the patient totally paralyzed and eventually leading to death.