Nivera, Ellerton Knoll M.

BSLM 4A

The Scars of Disinformation

A Reaction Paper on the Media Literacy Caravan

It has been since time immemorial, that the basic freedoms of the People are deprived by
those who are deluded with a false notion of power. In a democratic country such as the
Philippines, the right to information and expression are amongst those cherished by the
Constitution. Without these rights, a human being can simply be reduced to an apparatus
exploited by the State to assert its will. Though we may say that we are living in a society, where
the sovereign power is bestowed to the people, we should not forget that the shadows of tyranny
are ever present, and is continuously waiting for the right time to devour its prey. If we are to
observe, the approach of a despotic mind is evolving. It does not reveal itself to be evil. It hides
into things that we considered most valued and credible. It associates itself to places we least
expect them to be. It uses a weapon, not seen by the naked eye, a weapon we call as
disinformation.
Upon analysis to the matter at hand, I have realized that it is wrong to use the term “fake
news”. In the words of Ms. Inday Varona, “fake news” is an oxymoron often used to destroy the
credibility of legitimate media. It is a term which undermines the word “news” itself, as the latter
has undergone several processes only to achieve its credibility and truthfulness. If we are to
observe, the obligation to spread concise and veracious information has long been associated
only to journalists. We often justify our negligence in sharing untruthful statements, by the lame
reason that, we do not practice journalism and therefore must be excused from responsibility
However, what we do not realize is that, media affects public interest, and each and every citizen
has a responsibility to assure that every information is legitimate.
We must also keep in mind that, the responsibility to share legitimate and factual
information is never easy. Asking questions are very vital in the process of making a news story.
It is a key to spotting lies and minimizing the harm that they impose. It is already a developed
mentality amongst Filipinos, where we fear responsibility, and associate it to others for purposes
of evading it. We, as the future of this nation should assure that this thinking be diminished if
not completely dissolved. Furthermore, I was also inspired by Atty. Florin Hilbay, when he
mentioned that “factual opinions matter more than emotional and prejudicial opinions”. A
natural human being is always in the pursuit of finding something which conforms to their
biases. Because of this natural impulse, we sometimes neglect or refuse information which
although correct, runs counter to what we believe. Thus, we become easily deceived by our
emotions, and become as prey ripe for the picking.
Those who wish to disrupt the balance of democracy, knows that a direct attack would
never be effective against the sovereign people. Hence, instead of presenting themselves as the
enemy, they hide as wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. In the nature of things, a predator can
only capture his prey, if he dissolves the strength of the flock, and target those weak enough to
submit. In the political context, despots delude a small percentage of the population to false
information. As this plague infests the society, the sovereign people become weak and divided.
At the time where vulnerability strikes, the seat of government shall once again be claimed by
those who despise freedom and autonomy. As I was participating in this caravan, a question
popped into my head. Why does information matter? Why is it so valuable especially to a
democratic society? By being attentive enough, I was caught by the phrase that “Information is
power, but Disinformation is abuse of that power.” In the modern context, those who control
information are deemed as the most powerful. Totalitarian regimes such as North Korea value
information and propaganda so much, that they exercise significant efforts to assure that, their
people are not deluded by other voices. Information, specifically Media, shapes public opinion; it
modifies the thinking and perspective of the people. Because it is a power vast in its reach, it
becomes destructive when placed in the wrong hands.
Most Filipinos, as the speakers have testified, pay little to no attention on the growing
threat towards factual and genuine information. By having the privilege to participate in this
seminar, I realized that I can no longer sit idly and ignore what is already taking place. As
Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing." In times of crisis, we must never allow ourselves to be neutral. It is neutrality that
tolerates the oppressor, and it is our silence which hurts the oppressed. Refusing to take a side is
a character of selfishness. It manifests apathy and insensitivity towards those who are being
persecuted. It is time that we, the Filipino youth step up and shatter the stereotypes shackled
upon us. We should take this as an opportunity, as social media influencers, to advocate against
misinformation and be responsible to the resources we share online. Remember, we can only do
so much, if we begin to act upon ourselves instead of being acted upon.
It is also in this seminar where I begin to believe that the creation of a law which
prohibits disinformation provides a bigger avenue for despot minded leaders to take advantage of
it, and find ways to curb the freedom of the press. By incorporating the prohibition against
discrimination in the Philippine legal system, news or resources which although true, may be
smeared as false, simply because of being opposed to the current administration. Hence, the only
way to fight disinformation, is if we counter it with lawful and veracious information. We must
never concede to people who spread fake and fraudulent resources. The law is indeed not enough
in preventing such matters to take place. We must use the resources we have in assuring that the
people become more aware and sensitive to the things they share. As testified by our speakers,
education and media literacy is the most concrete solution in combating the oppression against
what is true and legitimate.