The growing volume of information circulating across digital platforms has made distinguishing facts from misleading narratives increasingly important. Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, is addressing this challenge through Mapanuring Meralco, a new media and information literacy initiative designed to encourage employees and stakeholders to uphold truth and practice critical thinking in their consumption and sharing of information.
Launched in line with UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week from October 24 to 31, the program highlights the importance of responsible communication as misinformation continues to spread alongside the rapid flow of information. Meralco aims to contribute to a society that approaches information more carefully and places greater value on truth.
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Promoting Critical Thinking and Responsible Communication
Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said the initiative provides an opportunity to reflect on the changing media landscape and the responsibilities that come with it.
“We join the global observance of UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week, which reminds us of the shared responsibility we have in building a more informed and discerning society. Through this we hope to tell the story of how our communication has evolved, and how the changing platforms and mediums bring new challenges, especially in an environment where information travels quickly and misinformation can easily spread,” Zaldarriaga said.
The company also joined THINKaMuna Pilipinas earlier this year, a media and information literacy advocacy program led by MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., further extending its participation in efforts to encourage responsible information consumption.
The initiative's launch featured Mapanuring Meralco: Wired Through the Years, an exhibit documenting how the power distributor's communication methods have developed from print publications to digital platforms. It showcased Meralco's efforts to keep employees, customers, and the Filipino public informed across generations, while highlighting the need for critical thinking as media channels continue to change.
Meralco First Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Hans Montenegro stressed that responsible communication is closely tied to maintaining public confidence in the company.
“Trust is the foundation of Meralco’s relationship with its 8.3 million customers. As employees and communicators of important information, we all play a critical role in protecting that trust,” Montenegro said, urging employees to remain conscious of the information they receive and circulate.
Building a More Discerning Information Community
Meralco also held its first Media and Information Literacy Forum on October 30, gathering participants to discuss critical thinking and responsible information consumption. The event sought to encourage greater scrutiny of information shared in professional settings and everyday interactions.
Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho pointed to the growing influence of technology and digital platforms in shaping how people form opinions and understand events.
“Information can now travel across millions of screens in seconds through various channels. The importance of everyone’s ability to distinguish facts from false narratives has drastically grown. Technology, algorithms, and artificial intelligence have already transformed the way people receive or gather information and form opinions,” Aperocho said, encouraging employees and stakeholders to take an active role in promoting truth.
He also emphasized that protecting factual information requires people to speak up when misleading narratives emerge.
“Let us not be afraid to speak up when facts are being distorted. In today’s reality, truth is no longer just something we know. We must actively protect it. We should choose facts over noise, integrity over convenience, and truth over speculation,” he said.
As misinformation becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from credible information, media literacy remains essential not only within organizations but also in everyday Filipino life. The ability to verify claims, question misleading content, and share information responsibly can help protect communities from confusion and manipulation, making critical thinking a shared responsibility in building a better-informed society.
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