Members of the MMK Creative Team together with UPOU faculty, staff, students, and other online participants during the special screening event at the UPOU CCDL Auditorium.
More than 140 online and onsite attendees joined the special screening event, “Paglaya: An MMK Special Screening and Conversation on the Infodemic, Vulnerability and Media Advocacy”, held on 9 July 2025 at the Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). The event featured the Director’s Cut of “Sim Card” and “Bintana”, a two-part episode from the acclaimed local television series Maalala Mo Kaya (MMK), directed by UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) Assistant Professor Raz Dela Torre.
Spearheaded by Dr. Shari Eunice San Pablo, FICS Assistant Professor and Chair of the UPOU Committee for Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), Office of Student Affairs (OSA), and Office of Public Affairs (OPA), the event served as the launchpad for FICS’ Anti-Infodemic, Vulnerability, and Media Advocacy initiative. It sought to encourage critical reflection on the infodemic and digital deception, two of the most pervasive challenges in the field of communication today.
FICS Associate Professor and Assistant to the Dean, Dr. Myra Almodiel, warmly welcomed participants before handing the program over to Assistant Professor Roda Tajon, OSA Director and the event moderator, who formally opened the screening session.
The featured episodes told the true story of Nadia, a Dubai-based Filipina lured into a human trafficking scheme through deceptive online recruitment. Her harrowing experience, marked by exploitation and digital manipulation, was dramatized with sensitivity and depth, underscoring the psychological, emotional, and societal complexities of trafficking in the digital age. The storytelling emphasized both the systemic roots of the issue and the courage of survivors like Nadia.
Following the screening, the MMK Creative team, Director Raz dela Torre, Creative Manager & Head Writer, Arah Jell G. Badayos, Writer Akeem Del Rosario, and Head Researcher Jaenna Domingo shared insights on the creative process of adapting real-life stories for national television. They were joined by FICS Assistant Professor Benigno Agapito, Jr., and FMDS Dean Finaflor Taylan as discussants.
A central point of discussion was the ethical and creative responsibility in faithfully portraying lived experiences. Dr. Agapito, a film and media scholar, emphasized that authenticity is not just ethical, it preserves the emotional and social integrity of the narrative. The MMK team echoed this, stressing the importance of rigorous research, fact-checking, and empathy throughout the production process. “When we do their stories, we make sure to fact-check them.” Badayos noted. Director Dela Torre added, “We never shoot a scene without the consent of the letter sender agreeing to any revision or changes in the script that they approved. So in that way we preserve the integrity of the storytelling and the facts that we tell. I am here to accurately represent and give justice to this person’s story.”
The team also discussed the challenges of condensing complex realities into a limited runtime while ensuring that crucial elements are not lost or distorted.
The forum was further enriched by the virtual appearance of lead actress Bela Padilla, who reflected on her experience portraying Nadia. She shared how emotionally taxing the role was and highlighted how the media can help raise awareness on contemporary trafficking tactics like scam hubs, making the issue more relatable to the Filipino audience.
Dean Finaflor Taylan, drawing from her background in social work, emphasized that human trafficking is not a distant problem, it is a lived experience for many Filipinos, especially those facing poverty, limited education, and systemic inequality. She stressed the importance of recognizing layers of trauma survivors endure even after escape or rescue. Director Dela Torre responded, “That’s why it’s also important to have opportunities for academic discussions like this, because we have people who are able to articulate it.”
Toward the conclusion of the event, Badayos highlighted the impact of storytelling in catalyzing institutional responses. She shared that some MMK episodes have led to direct action from government institutions. “When social problems are brought up, government institutions are compelled to react, suddenly they’re forced to address the issue,” she said. Director Dela Torre echoed the sentiment, “You have to navigate all of this carefully, you can’t leave out any part, but at the same time, also giving credit where credit is due. Because you need to acknowledge and honor those who are doing good with regard to this social issue.”
This special screening served not only as a reflection of UPOU’s commitment to education, advocacy, and the arts but also as a resounding reminder of the media’s power to inform, empower, and inspire. As FICS moves forward with its communication initiatives, it aims to confront the growing threat of misinformation and champion digital literacy in the age of the infodemic.
Through events like Paglaya, UPOU continues to assert that stories, when told with purpose and integrity, can amplify the voices of the vulnerable, challenge injustice, and spark meaningful social transformation.
Written by Maria Andrea Bodaño and Joy Abigail Rebulanan | Edited by Emely M. Amoloza
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