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.
About 200 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 and FICS Assistant Professor Raz dela Torre, 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.
The MMK special, directed by Asst. Prof. Raz Dela Torre from the FICS, tackled pressing social issues such as human trafficking, scam industries, sexual assault, and violence. The series served as an eye-opener, which shed light on the real-life experiences of victims trapped in scam hubs in different countries. It sparked a meaningful discussion on the media’s vital role in uncovering the truth, combating misinformation, and advancing social advocacy.
Following the screening, the event transitioned into a thought-provoking conversation featuring FMDS Dean Dr. Finaflor Taylan and UPOU Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies Program Chair, Assistant Professor Benigno Agapito Jr. as discussants. The forum was further enriched by the presence of the MMK Creative Team headed by Director Raz Dela Torre, with Writer Akeem Del Rosario, Creative Manager and Head Writer Arah Jeil Badayos, and Head Researcher Jaenna Domingo, who shared insights on the creative process of adapting real-life stories for national television.
The conversation tackled questions on scriptwriting, research, and directing, with the team openly discussing the challenges of handling sensitive narratives and ensuring authenticity in portraying the lived experiences of scam hub survivors. 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 discussion also featured lead actress Bela Padilla, who joined virtually via Zoom. She reflected on the emotional demands of portraying Nadia and emphasized how 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. More than just a film screening, Paglaya served as a platform for critical reflection and discussion. It encouraged attendees to recognize the realities of human trafficking and the broader implications of the infodemic, inspiring a collective call to action for media literacy, empathy, and social advocacy.
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, Dianne Cosinas, and Joy Abigail Rebulanan | Edited by: Emely M. Amoloza and Shari Eunice San Pablo