Viral joy immortalized: Igorot Stone Kingdom builds statue for 'Hep Hep Hooray' tourist

• The Igorot Stone Kingdom in Baguio City has unveiled a statue honoring the tourist who went viral for his 'Hep Hep Hooray' cheer
• The monument captures the visitor’s signature pose, celebrating the joy and positive energy he brought to the popular cultural park
• The statue has become a new focal point for tourism, with visitors flocking to the site to recreate the famous viral moment
• This unique tribute marks a rare instance where a fleeting social media trend has been transformed into a permanent physical landmark

In a unique fusion of digital virality and physical artistry, the Igorot Stone Kingdom in Baguio City has immortalized a simple moment of joy by erecting a statue of a tourist whose infectious "Hep Hep Hooray" cheer recently took the internet by storm.

The life-sized monument, unveiled this January 2026, serves as a tribute to the "Hep Hep Hooray Man," a visitor whose spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm became a symbol of the lighthearted spirit of Philippine tourism.

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The man, identified by his high-energy antics in a viral video, was filmed leading a crowd in the classic game cheer while touring the expansive stone-walled park.

The clip resonated with millions, capturing a rare, unscripted moment of pure fun that boosted the park's visibility online.

Instead of letting the trend fade as most memes do, the management of the Igorot Stone Kingdom decided to honor the visitor.

The statue depicts the tourist in his signature "hooray" pose, with arms raised high, capturing the exact second of his viral peak.

According to park representatives, the monument is more than just a novelty; it is a celebration of the happiness that tourists bring to the Cordillera region.

Since its unveiling, the statue has quickly become a "must-see" attraction within the park.

Visitors are now lining up to take photos alongside the concrete figure, often recreating the famous cheer for their own social media posts.

"The Igorot Stone Kingdom has always been a place of culture and history," noted a local tourism blogger. "By adding this statue, they are acknowledging the modern history of the park, which is the digital era where one person's joy can invite thousands more to visit."

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The decision to erect the statue has sparked a conversation about the power of positive social media.

While many viral trends focus on controversy, the "Hep Hep Hooray" moment was purely wholesome.

The park management shared that they wanted to reward that positivity, turning a fleeting digital moment into a permanent fixture that honors the "human connection" found in travel.

While some traditionalists question the placement of a modern "meme statue" in a cultural park, most visitors view it as a charming addition that bridges the gap between ancient Igorot craftsmanship and contemporary Filipino pop culture.

In other news, emergency responders in Zamboanga City successfully extracted a massive 10-foot python discovered coiled inside a parked car, an event documented in a viral Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) video. Wildlife officials in Aurora successfully repatriated a Northern Luzon giant cloud rat to its natural habitat, ensuring the survival of this endemic and timid forest-dweller. Residents of Libon, Albay, were left in awe after a five-meter oarfish—often referred to in folklore as a "doomsday fish"—was found lifeless along the shores of Barangay Pantao. While the appearance of the deep-sea oarfish sparked local superstitions regarding seismic activity, marine experts are examining environmental factors that may have led the creature to shallow waters.

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Still in other news, a 46-year-old traffic enforcer tragically died on January 18, 2026, after his motorcycle was involved in a head-on collision with a car in Barangay Barra, Opol. Police investigations suggest the victim was attempting to pass another vehicle on his way to Cagayan de Oro when he struck an oncoming sedan driven by a 33-year-old motorist. The initial crash caused the car driver to lose control, resulting in the vehicle plowing into a nearby parking zone and damaging five stationary motorcycles. By Monday, January 19, the sedan driver was released from police custody after reaching a comprehensive amicable settlement with the enforcer’s family and the owners of the damaged bikes.

Source: KAMI.com.gh