SU partners with GMA for 2022 elections; hosts forum
Silliman University (SU) hosted the third leg of the Kapuso Masterclass Series, a forum for students to engage in discussions relevant to the elections, as part of SU’s partnership with GMA Network, Inc. in preparation for the May 2022 elections.
Through the partnership, SU supports GMA’s goal of having comprehensive, all-media coverage of the local and national elections. Part of the partnership is to conduct activities that promote active participation among voters and citizens, such as the Kapuso Masterclass Series.
The forum, held February 24, 2022 simultaneously at the SU Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium and online via Zoom, invited students to learn from and engage with a panel of experts and media personalities who talked about various topics that were connected to voters’ education.
The SU College of Mass Communication (CMC), led by its dean, Dr. Madeline B. Quiamco, and its academic organization, the Kapunungan sa mga Mass Communicators (KMC), coordinated with GMA to spearhead the forum in SU. CMC was also supported by the SU Office of Information and Publications.
Quiamco said the forum gathered almost 500 online participants and 70 participants who were allowed to join the event in person at the Auditorium.
(Photo from GMA Regional TV News)
Masterclass
The speakers during the forum were Janus Victoria, director and writer for GMA’s award-winning documentary series, “i-Witness”; Joselito Natividad, a senior social media producer at GMA; Jose Sarasola, a celebrity chef and entrepreneur; Nikko Sereno, GMA Regional TV news correspondent; Rabiya Mateo, beauty queen and actress; and Raffy Tima, GMA’s senior news producer.
While the speakers shared their insights and experiences on different topics such as visual storytelling, social media consumption, and their career, each speaker emphasized in their message the importance of being an informed voter and the power of citizen participation in elections.
“I-normalize natin yung pag-verify. Ngayong election dapat tandaan natin na ang iboboto natin dapat totoo,” said Natividad. (Let us normalize verifying [information]. This election, let us be reminded to vote for what is true.)
“Use your power of speech, kailangan maging verbal ka. In terms of problems, relationships, in terms of political stand. Make your voices be heard. When you choose your candidates, do your research, and then you decide,” said Sarasola.
“Let us create the right atmosphere. It all begins with voting for the right leaders. Hindi natitigil ang ating responsibilidad pagkatapos ng eleksyon. Singilin natin ‘yung mga nanalo sa kanilang mga ipinangako,” said Tima. (Our responsibility does not end after the election. We should ask elected officials to fulfill their promises.)
The GMA Masterclass Series, held all over the country in different host universities, is produced by GMA Regional TV and Synergy to encourage students to be part of relevant discussions on local and national issues, and get insights from experts on a wide range of topics.
Partnership
Under the partnership of SU and GMA, SU can contribute election-related stories by its campus journalists and citizen journalists in its community.
SU will also gather student volunteers for GMA’s virtual or physical call and action center and social media hub for the election coverage.
In 2019, SU through the CMC had a similar partnership wherein student volunteers from CMC were assigned to GMA’s Election 2019 Help Desk at the Balitang Bisdak Studio in GMA’s Cebu Station.
