Imagine waking up, glancing at your phone, and being met by a flood of headlines, viral clips, opinion pieces, and sponsored posts. Some are clearly labeled as news, while others look suspiciously like fact but are actually rumor, conjecture, or deliberate misinformation. This is the daily reality for millions of Filipinos, and deciding what to trust has become a dizzying, exhausting task. It is no longer enough to simply have access to information; the real skill is figuring out which information deserves your attention and belief. That challenge was exactly what Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Meralco sought to address when it organized a media and information literacy forum on October 30 at the Meralco Mini Theater in Pasig City. The event brought together media practitioners and corporate communications professionals to talk about how ordinary people can evaluate information and respond more wisely to disinformation. Held in connection with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week, the forum was themed “Mapanuring Meralco” and promoted critical thinking and responsible information sharing. Joe R. Zaldarriaga, Meralco Vice-President and Head of Corporate Communications, opened the discussion with a simple but powerful observation: “Media and information literacy is increasingly important in this age when information is available at our fingertips. Nasa cellphone na lang halos lahat ngayon.” He pointed out that the problem is no longer finding information, but learning how to assess it, distinguish reliable sources from unreliable ones, and make informed decisions. Social media, he noted, has become the primary news source for many employees, which makes the need for discernment even more urgent. The company itself regularly deals with misinformation and negative narratives that spread quickly online, which is why credibility has become a central concern in its communications. As Zaldarriaga put it, “Trust is our most valuable asset. It takes years to build integrity, transparency, and accountability, but can be undermined in an instant.” The forum was part of Meralco’s broader media and information literacy program, one that aims to encourage employees to apply critical thinking in their daily lives, especially when evaluating claims about the company and other content circulating online.
The second major theme of the forum was information overload, and Ramon “Mon” R. Isberto, a communications consultant for MediaQuest Holdings and the founder of Thinkamuna Pilipinas, offered a deeply human perspective on why our brains struggle to cope with the digital world. He reminded the audience that understanding technology is only part of the equation. “It’s not only technology. We also have to understand our biology and our psychology,” he said. Our natural responses, emotional reflexes, and mental shortcuts often shape how we process information, sometimes leading us to accept things too quickly or reject things without good reason. Isberto described a media environment where users are confronted with countless sources of news, commentary, and analysis, often without having any clear idea of who produced the material or whether its claims can be trusted. “Sometimes you do. Very often you don’t,” he said, referring to whether people actually know the individuals and organizations behind the content they consume. He cited figures showing that Filipinos spend an average of eight hours and fifty-two minutes online every day. That is an enormous amount of time spent absorbing headlines, videos, posts, and messages, and Isberto warned that continuous exposure to this much content eventually leads to cognitive overload. “Our brains simply cannot process that amount of information,” he explained. When people are mentally exhausted, they become more vulnerable to misinformation because they lack the energy to pause, question, and verify what they see. The presentation was a reminder that the problem with disinformation is not just that lies exist online; it is that our natural mental limitations make it easier for those lies to slip past our defenses. By understanding how the brain reacts to stress, novelty, and repetition, people can develop healthier habits around checking sources, taking breaks from screens, and resisting the urge to react immediately to emotionally charged content.
Another important conversation at the forum centered on the responsibilities of corporations when it comes to communicating accurately and countering misleading narratives. Jose Roberto “Roby” A. Alampay, Vice-President for Public Engagement and Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT-Smart, addressed the relationship between journalism and corporate communications. He argued that corporate communicators share many of the same responsibilities as journalists. Both must be accurate, accountable, and transparent, especially when speaking about issues that affect public welfare. The values, he said, are the same: “It’s transparency, it’s accountability, it’s truth, it’s accuracy, and at the end of the day, we all fall on the same values of being empowered citizens and empowering citizens to make their own decisions.” Alampay used Meralco’s efforts to explain electricity rates as an example of why technical information needs to be made understandable to ordinary consumers. When people do not understand why their bills change, they become frustrated and suspicious, and misinformation can easily fill the gap. Meralco uses social media, traditional media, and other channels to break down complex topics and reach different audiences in clear and honest ways. This is not just about protecting a company’s image; it is about respecting the public’s right to understand the issues that affect their daily lives. The discussion underscored that accurate communication is a form of public service. When companies commit to transparency, they build trust not only with their customers but with the wider community. And when trust is present, false claims have a harder time taking root. But the opposite is also true. When organizations are vague, defensive, or slow to correct misinformation, they create space for rumors to grow. By placing truth and accountability at the center of their communications, corporations can help create a healthier information ecosystem and discourage the spread of disinformation.
The forum also explored how coordinated accounts and misleading content can create the illusion that certain claims have widespread public support. Von Cruz, who leads The Nerve, a data insights organization, opened the audience’s eyes to the ways in which inauthentic online behavior can distort people’s perception of reality. Sometimes a hashtag appears to be trending, or a post seems to have thousands of supportive comments, but many of those voices may be automated or coordinated. The result is that false narratives gain an artificial sense of legitimacy. Cruz delivered one of the most memorable lines of the event: “Facts don’t lose because they’re weaker; they lose because they travel alone. So, Meralco’s 6,000 people are already a network. The question is whether facts show up when they matter the most.” This insight shifted the conversation from individual responsibility to collective power. One person sharing a fact can only do so much, but a network of people who value truth can amplify accurate information in ways that rival the spread of lies. Every employee, parent, student, and friend can become a node in a larger web of informed citizens. The challenge is to make sure that facts are not left behind while rumors race ahead. To do that, people need to be intentional about sharing verified information, supporting credible sources, and gently correcting misinformation when they encounter it in their own circles. Instead of simply ignoring false claims, individuals can help others by offering evidence, explaining the context, and pointing to reliable sources. Cruz’s message was a call to action for everyone in the room: do not let the truth travel alone. Build relationships and networks where accurate information is celebrated, where people feel comfortable asking questions, and where critical thinking becomes a shared value rather than a solitary effort.
As the event progressed, speakers turned their attention to the increasing dangers posed by digital scams and artificial intelligence. AI-generated videos, convincing fake images, and fraudulent offers are becoming more sophisticated every day, making it harder than ever to tell what is real and what is manufactured. The panel warned that many online threats are designed to trigger strong emotional reactions or pressure people into acting quickly. A message that makes someone feel urgent fear, excitement, or outrage is often a signal to slow down rather than rush to respond. Checking information against credible sources remains one of the most effective ways to protect oneself from deception. The forum also discussed the role of families in helping people of different ages navigate digital risks. Older relatives may be especially vulnerable to suspicious links, fraudulent offers, and AI-generated videos, but younger family members can help by demonstrating safe online practices and having patient conversations about how to recognize deception. These conversations can bridge generational gaps and turn the home into a place where media literacy is practiced naturally. At the same time, the panel noted that AI tools can also be used to investigate claims, but their outputs must be verified just like any other source. Technology is not a magic solution; it is another tool that requires human judgment. The best defense is not downloading the latest app or subscribing to the most advanced fact-checking website. The best defense is a habit of pausing before clicking, commenting, sharing, or believing. By creating a culture of questioning, people can reduce the chances that they will be manipulated by emotionally charged content. The speakers encouraged everyone to think of verification not as a boring chore but as a form of self-protection, a way to preserve both personal safety and public trust.
In the end, “Mapanuring Meralco” was more than just a one-day forum; it was a reminder that critical thinking must become a daily practice. Isberto’s presentation returned to the importance of stopping and taking a breather before reacting to digital content, particularly when people are exposed to more information than they can process thoughtfully. The advocacy of Thinkamuna Pilipinas follows the same principle, encouraging Filipinos to think before clicking, commenting, or sharing. “We must verify before we share, understand before we act, and think critically before we believe what we see and we don’t like,” Isberto said. “Let’s build a culture where truth guides our decisions, accountability shapes our actions, and integrity remains non-negotiable.” These words captured the spirit of the entire event. The forum did not pretend that solving misinformation is easy or that any single workshop will fix the problem. Instead, it acknowledged the complexity of the digital world while insisting that people are not helpless. Every Filipino has the capacity to pause, question, verify, and choose a more thoughtful path. By building habits of skepticism grounded in respect, by strengthening families and communities through open conversations, and by holding corporations and public figures to high standards of transparency, the country can move toward a future where truth does not have to travel alone. Meralco’s initiative serves as an example of how organizations can use their reach and resources to promote not just their own interests but the public good. When companies invest in media and information literacy, they help create an environment where citizens are empowered to make their own informed decisions, where fraud and manipulation have fewer places to hide, and where trust remains a shared foundation rather than a rare commodity. The challenge is now in the hands of everyone who attended, and by extension, everyone who encounters the information swirling around social media. The tools are simple: pause, reflect, verify, and share responsibly. The future belongs to those who choose to think before they click.