Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) hosted the “Usap Tayo, Bayan Muna” Media and Information Literacy (MIL) campaign of Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on October 29, 2026, at the campus covered court.
The campaign aims to educate young Filipinos and the public about responsible media consumption, critical thinking, and fact-checking to counter widespread misinformation and fake news.
Earlier that day, a press conference was held at the College Boardroom, located at the Student Welfare and Development Center (SWDC) Building. NBSC President Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera, CESE, together with other College officials, welcomed Usec Castro and her team.
In her opening remarks during the afternoon forum, Dr. Ganiera reiterated her conviction that “At NBSC, every learner matters” as the College hosted the activity. Mr. John Kevin A. Artuz, MS, JD, Vice President for Administration and Finance, then introduced Usec Castro as the guest speaker.
During the forum, Usec Castro quoted the patriotic song “Pilipinas Kong Mahal.” She shared that every time she hears the song, it brings a “kurot sa puso at sa isip” (a pinch or twinge in the heart and mind). Reflecting on the song alongside the country’s current situation, she expressed, “Masakit dahil watak-watak tayo. Isa lang ang bansa natin.” She emphasized the need to safeguard the freedom of the Filipino people, alluding to the song’s lyrics: “Ang laya mo’y babantayan, Pilipinas kong hirang” (I will defend your freedom, my beloved Philippines).
She also rallied the audience to combat fake news prevalent on social media, particularly on issues concerning the West Philippine Sea. She urged students not to be quick to share information without first checking its veracity. She emphasized the importance of critical thinking before believing or sharing information and warned that, if people are not careful, they themselves could become part of the problem. She challenged the audience to “Maging mapanuri” (Be discerning) and to help defend the country against any encroachment on its freedom.
She ended her message with the statement, “Ang tunay na Pilipino ay may pagmamahal sa bayan, kapwa at may katapangan.” This was followed by a question-and-answer portion, during which students had the opportunity to raise their questions and receive responses from the Undersecretary.
In her closing message, Dr. Jovelyn G. Delosa, Vice President for Academic Affairs, reiterated Usec Castro’s message drawn from “Pilipinas Kong Mahal” about defending the country’s freedom. She thanked the Undersecretary for making time to conduct activities such as this, noting that these efforts help make the national government’s support felt by the College community.
Through its participation in activities such as this, NBSC reaffirms its commitment to promoting media literacy, critical thinking, and discernment among its students and the wider community. The forum also highlighted the importance of responsible information sharing and working with government agencies to help build a more informed and united citizenry.
Written by: Jan G. Soriano
Photos by: Public Affairs and Information Office
