Forum highlights youth’s role in fighting disinformation in the digital age
Amidst the proliferation of fake news online, the voices of the youth remain powerful in disseminating the truth. This was one of the core messages echoed during “Powerhouse 2024: The Power of Voices in the Digital Age.”
Held at the REDREC Auditorium in UPLB on November 14, 2024, the forum focused on empowering young voices to engage in discourses about responsible voting at a time when misinformation and disinformation continue to spread on digital platforms.
Marking its first face-to-face return since 2019, the event was joined by Mona Magno-Veluz, also known as Mighty Magulang, and Hon. Raoul Manuel of the Philippine House of Representatives.
Mighty Magulang serves as the National Spokesperson for the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) and is prominent for her TikTok videos, which highlight genealogy and facts about Philippine history.
Meanwhile, Hon. Manuel represents the Kabataan Partylist, advocating as the sole voice for the youth in Congress. He is an active member of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and Parliamentarians for a Fossil Fuel-Free Future.
During the event, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also delivered his opening speech through a video message.
“Our task is to make sure that we work our darnedest to make it (rising up against fake news and the abuse of power) happen sooner rather than later by ensuring that the information that we make available to our mga kababayans will help them make an informed decision… I’m certain in the end mananaig ang tama at mananaig ang katotohanan,” said Pangilinan.
(Our task is to make sure that we work our darnedest to make it (rising up against fake news and the arrogance of power) happen sooner rather than later by ensuring that the information that we make available to our countrymen will help them make an informed decision… I’m certain in the end, the truth will prevail…)
Powerhouse is an annual public forum of The Rhetoricians: The UPLB Speech Communication Organization, wherein experts in communication address a wide range of topics that recognize the importance of ethical communication and providing information to the masses. (Allane Desiree D. Arganda)
