Chikiamco started #RP612fic in 2009, its birth marked by "about a hundred stories" having been tweeted by participants who were mostly associated with the Philippine speculative fiction community, and a number of Manila-based readers' clubs [5] Prominent participants and supporters in the first few years included prominent Philippine Speculative fiction writers Dean Francis Alfar, Adam David, Charles Tan, TJ Dimacali, Yvette Tan, and Eliza Victoria; romance writers Mina Esguerra, Ana Tejano, Anne Plaza, and Stella Torres; and graphic storytellers Gerry Alanguilan, Arnold Arre, Lyndon Gregorio, and Budjette Tan.[6][7]
On June 8, 2011, Chikiamco organized a special run for RP612fic in support of the "Blog Action Day to save Philippine corals" which was spearheaded by Save Philippine Seas movement in response to news stories about the extent of illegal coral and turtle harvesting and export.[8]
By its fourth regular run in 2012, #RP612fic was continuing to grow, and had started receiving mainstream media attention.[9] By 2014, it had grown into a global phenomenon, regularly becoming a top Twitter trend in the Philippines during independence day celebrations. It became a number one Twitter trend worldwide in 2014,[1] and again a global top trend the following year.[10] The 2024 edition of the trend was seen as the largest in recent years.[11]
