MANILA, Philippines -  ABS-CBN’s Harapan: The Vice-Presidential Debate was the 6th highest trending topic on Twitter worldwide Sunday night as Filipino Internet users tweeted comments and questions to the candidates in the debate.

The debate, aired live Sunday-Monday over Channel 2, ANC, Studio 23, and abs-cbnNEWS.com, garnered 8,870 tweets using the hashtag #harapan during the event. Tweets using the term harapan - without the "#" prefix - were not counted.

At the height of the debate, #harapan became the 6th highest trending topic on Twitter worldwide as it averaged  27 tweets per minute from 10:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The event also garnered 2,229 posts from 897 confirmed guests on the Facebook Halalan event page. The Halalan Multiply site was also viewed 326 times by 199 people while 63 comments were posted.

The Halalan chatroom drew a total of 4,373 readers who sent a total of 9,311 comments during the event. Of that number, 2,326 comments were published on the Halalan chat page.

Six candidates participated in the debate namely Jejomar Binay of the PDP-Laban, Bayani Fernando of Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines, Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People's Coalition, Manuel 'Mar' Roxas III of the Liberal Party, Jay Sonza of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, and Perfecto Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas.

The 6 were also represented by official bloggers during the chat event. The bloggers were Jennifer Franco for Binay, Ramonchito Nocon for Fernando, Joy Belmonte for Rocas, Rex Gatchalian for Legarda, Marvin Marcelo for Sonza and Andrea Trinidad for Yasay.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice-presidential candidate Edu Manzano did not join the debate.

Roxas got the highest rating in the Harapan online poll with 54% of those who participated saying he was the most credible candidate among the six.

He was  followed by Binay (13%), Fernando (13%), Yasay (11%), Legarda (4%) and Sonza (4%).

Debate format praised

After the event, many of the chatters expressed their thanks for the lively and entertaining debate.

Reader sunshinicey said the debate served to educate the vice-presidential candidates on how to use politically correct language. "Moral Lesson: never use words such as "YAGIT" and "SQUATTER." Judgmental much?" she asked.

Reader ed_uy at RT @dbusdriver said the Harapan debate "was action-packed. Loved Mar's schooling of Loren, street slugfest between Bayani and Binay, and substance from Sonza Yasay."

One reader, besanti, posted on Twitter: "It's really good that we have debates now! Mabuting mamulat ang tao."

Reader pinoyfunds said: "Now I have new options for the VP post. Aside from Roxas, Yasay is IN. I included him as per tonight performance."

Ala_mariano at RT @iamsuperbianca said: "Both informative and funny! :p Congratulations to the whole #harapan team! :)"

Paulpcortes, meanwhile, quipped: "We should have more of this. Stop voting on the basis of name recall but issues and integrity! Nice show ABS-CBN!"

Loren scored, Sonza praised

Surprisingly, many readers scored Legarda's performance in the debate while giving high marks to some of the candidates such as Sonza, Binay and Roxas.

One reader, airizz, said:  "Loren should take notes from Freddie Roach. Focus on the mitts and avoid hitting the balls."

Another reader, saltndpeppa08, noted that: "Loren is just full of drama! She has better luck in showbiz than in politics!"

Still another reader, kevinraychua, said: "The more Loren speaks, the more people distrust her."

Legarda's official blogger, Rex Gatchalian, noted that Legarda has the longest track record among the vice-presidential candidates. He said Legarda was voted twice into the Senate.

"The majority of the country knows that she understands their plight because she comes from the working class. Her laws in the Senate reflects this. She has been consistently been with the opposition contrary to what her opponents are trying to depict. The facts and records do not lie. Let us not be swayed by the numerous black propaganda being thrown her way," Gatchalian noted.

Reader LetThereBeAndy said he liked "the way Sonza promoted himself. The candidates must all be that convincing."

Lyleatienza also gave high marks to Sonza and Roxas, saying that "Mar Roxas and Jay Sonza did well. Yasay & Binay tied on 3rd, // Legarda and Fernando, nuisance candidates."

Makemoneypinas, on the other hand, said he will now vote for Binay. "Binay ako bro. Sa napanood ko."

Edu's absence criticized

Some readers said Manzano's failure to join the debate could affect his chances in the vice-presidential election. A tweet on the Halalan live chat on Sunday said Manzano was unable to participate in the debate since he was in Pangasinan campaigning with Lakas-Kampi senatorial bet Raul Lambino.

Noted Paz Atienza: "It's a shame that Edu is not present. To think his presidential candiate is always present in all debates."

Another reader, Kalupindo, asked Manzano: "Bakit ka um-absent sa Harapan? Sumusuko ka na ba? (Are you giving up?)"

Ajpadama, meanwhile, asked: "Where's Edu anyway? How can people vote for him eh he's absent naman. Forum is very important."

Added rheyrecto: "Edu Manzano was absent in the VP #harapan forum..he lost his chance in proving why he deserves to be voted."

One reader, however, had a different take on Manzano's absence. In his message, reader anthonyrbls said Manzano's decision not to appear in the televised debate "is far better than [Loren Legarda's appearance/televised suicide."