Cognizant of the power of Gen Z, Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga empowered communication students during a seminar at Far Eastern University (FEU) on September 29, 2025.
Zaldarriaga urged the Gen Z communicators to take the lead in championing truth and media literacy in the digital space, and emphasized their role in nation building as the next generation who will take the lead.
Speaking before communication students and faculty, Zaldarriaga an advocate of media literacy also emphasized the vital role of the youth in countering misinformation and disinformation online.
“Your voice matters just as mine matters. Your choices online matter. And together, we can make responsible communication trend again. We all need to collaborate because upholding credibility is everyone’s responsibility,” he said in his talk on Countering Misinformation and Disinformation in Digital Media.
The session was part of “FEUling PRide: Charging Ahead in Public Relations,” organized by the FEU Communication Society in partnership with the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), where Zaldarriaga also serves as a Board of Trustee.
He stressed that media literacy is no longer optional but an essential life skill. “Some schools have already taken steps to teach students how to spot fake news. With the right support, more young people, especially in vulnerable communities can gain access to this critical knowledge,” he said.
Zaldarriaga also expressed support for FEU’s initiative to collaborate with industry practitioners in shaping future communicators helping them sharpen critical thinking, discern credible information, and foster responsible digital citizenship.