The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) hosted a masterclass on understanding government and media titled, “Truth, Trust, and Transparency: Highlighting Thomasian Identity in Navigating Governance and Media in the Age of Disinformation,” at the Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom of the Bl. Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P., building on May 9, 2025. The event underscored the value of upholding the truth in a generation where disinformation is prevalent.
In her keynote speech, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro emphasized the need for a shared responsibility among Filipinos in combating misinformation, having seen how the Philippines has become a “hotbed for misinformation largely due to our people’s dependence on social media for news and entertainment.” According to her, such a concern has become a threat to the nation’s democracy as fake news continues to feed propaganda to people, “distorting public opinion and perception” on valuable matters such as politics.
Atty. Castro established that due to influencers being unbound from journalistic ethics and morals, they are able to create inherently harmful, albeit accessible, information unlike traditional media. To address this, Atty. Castro urged the audience to “cut through the noise with easily accessible and understandable communication,” similar to how “trolls” would use their platforms. Wrapping up her speech, she encouraged Thomasians to speak the truth, where others will not and to negate opinions – those rebranded as facts in an attempt to twist narratives – to the public.
Afterwards, representatives of the various facets of the University, namely, Graduate School of Law Regent Rev. Fr. Dexter A. Austria, O.P., S.Th.D., AB Department of Political Science Chair and academic staff Assoc. Prof. Dennis C. Coronacion, Ph.D., and Office of Public Affairs (OPA) Director Ms. Michaella O. Lagniton, M.A. gathered alongside Atty. Castro for a panel discussion moderated by AB Faculty Secretary Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict R. Ignacio, Ph.D., to discuss questions and dilemmas related to upholding the truth. During the panel, questions about fact-checking, propaganda, and the value of truth were highlighted.
The lecture and panel session paved the localized discussion on how truth is both devalued and valued in a society where disinformation increasingly persists. In the words of AB Dean Prof. Melanie B. Turingan during her welcome remarks, “Veritas in Caritate (truth in charity) is seeking knowledge and wisdom while acting with compassion and understanding,” encompassing the Thomasian identity as constant seekers of truth when truth has sometimes become an afterthought.