• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Team Pinas brought its “GenZennial Tour: We Decide the Future” to Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) Alijis Campus in Bacolod City Oct. 2, engaging Negrense youth on West Philippine Sea disinformation and national government accountability.
Team Pinas, a multidisciplinary network of Filipino scholars, policy practitioners, educators, legal experts, and civic leaders, works to strengthen democratic participation by using programs, like its GenZennial Tour.
The pop-culture-powered roadshow featured short talks and interactive booths designed to promote active civic participation among young voters.
“The West Philippine Sea is being fought over on TikTok, one video at a time, and young Filipinos are the ones deciding what gets believed and what gets shared. Equipping them to spot manipulated content is not optional. It is national defense,” Dr. Sherwin Ona, core member of Team Pinas, said.
Bantay Senado convenor, Prof. Cleve Arguelles, and public interest lawyer, Atty. Race Del Rosario, meanwhile, discussed mechanisms for investigating public power and resources, including controversies over flood-control spending and impeachment trials.
“For citizens, especially young people, accountability begins with learning to distinguish evidence from accusation and demanding that the same standards apply to everyone,” Arguelles said in a statement.
The Bacolod event follows stops in Dumaguete, Siquijor, Manila, and General Santos as part of a nationwide effort to build civically engaged youth chapters across the country. | TMD
