CALAPAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO, March 3 — Presidential aspirant Leni Robredo and vice-presidential aspirant Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan received a morale boost as residents here showed up during the grand rally held at the Divine Word College of this city.
But more than the on-ground support, two middle-aged women are continuously fighting disinformation and fake news peddled by other camps on social media.
“Nakikipag-argue talaga kami sa social media. For example, nagi-send talaga ako ng links ng credible sources to address fake news. Tapos dini-dare ko din sila to counter my points and to send me links. Kapag ganoon na ang labanan, tigil na ang usapan,” Imelda Neashang said.
While Neashang believes there is a need to be firm in disproving false claims online, she said this should be done in a diplomatic way.
“Kailangang diplomatic pa rin kaya kapag hindi na naniniwala, lipat na talaga sa ibang mga tao na kailangang paliwanagan pa,” she said.
“Iyong iba, nagigising naman pero iyong iba, matitigas talaga so go to the next na lang,” she added.
For Neashang, this is her as well as her other friends’ way to help the campaign of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem as the two are the most targeted candidates of character assassination online.
Neashang has now converted four of her neighbors previously misled by false information online.
“Ang palagi ko lang naman sinasabi sa kanila ay ang pagsasabi ng totoo ay hindi kabastusan. Idinidiin mo lang kung ano iyong tama using facts at hindi kung ano-anong creative memes online na binabaluktot ang katotohanan,” she said.
According to Neashang, ego is what keep these people from the dark: “There’s an ego dahil mahirap tanggapin na mali ako. Mahirap sa isang tao na umamin at tanggapin na mali sila at hindi totoo iyong mga pinaniniwalaan ko online na fake news.”
Marife Magkamit, Neashang’s friend, meanwhile, said that her family will support the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem and all the candidates under the duo’s ticket.
Magkamit said that the most important characteristic of a candidate is righteousness, which for her, is what keeps Pangilinan a viable choice for the vice-presidency.
“Siya pa rin since na lumalaban siya noon before talagang binoboto namin dahil maganda ang kanyang projects at ang kanyang record. Wala kang makitang pansarili kundi para sa mga Pilipino talaga,” she said.
“Nakita din namin na kung wala iyong righteousness sa isang kandidato, eh nandoon ang korapsyon. Kawawa talaga iyong susunod na henerasyon,” she added. ###