Deepfakes, Disinformation, and the Elections
by SUMMER JANE TEMPLE
The threat of AI is real—and we do not need sentient killing machines to prove it.
Last April, a deepfake audio was posted online of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordering military action against China. The post was disproved by the president’s communication officer, which otherwise, would have aggravated tensions between Beijing and the Philippines. From this, it is clear that AI’s malign influence has extended into politics. But with little regulations on its use, what would become of the upcoming elections?
EDITORIAL | continued on page 5
Editor-in-Chief
Associate
RIONA YNA BERNABE
Managing
CZARINA RAZON
Broadcast
Power Play in Cagayan de Oro
The collaboration between former rivals, Moreno and Emano, is a surprising development in local politics. Voters question the motivations behind this alliance and the implications it will have on the elections.
NEWS | turn to page 2
Beyond Fame: Mikael de Lara Co’s Poetic Journey
Mikael de Lara Co wins 1st prize in the palancas for Filipino poetry. Having won a total of five times, he will soon be inducted in the Hall of Fame.
FEATURE | turn to page 8
SMS’ 38th Foundation Days: Celebrating Better Tomorrows
September 7-8, 2024 - St. Mary’s School (SMS) marked its 38th anniversary with its Foundation Day celebration with the theme “Building a Better Tomorrow in the Spirit of Collaboration”. Bringing in students, families, and staff for two days of celebration, for the highly anticipated Pop Dance Competition, to the community events and games. This year’s celebration lived up to its reputation as one of the school’s most memorable occasions.
On September 7, the festivities kicked off promptly at 8 a.m. with the ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Sir Chris Costello, the school director of SMS. This officially marked the beginning of the celebration. The ceremony was followed by invitational games where students of all year levels participatd in, as well as an indoor rock-climbing event, located just outside of the school was also held.
At 2 p.m., the celebration continued with the Family Bingo Bonanza, an event designed to “encourage family bonding and foster the spirit of collaboration”. This event allowed students to engage with their families in a fun and community-building activity. Aligning with the Foundation Day theme of collaboration. In the evening, the anticipated, POP ON TOP—The Asian Pop Dance Contest and Variety Show commenced with groups of contestants form various grade levels. The groups were divided into two categories, Category A’s contestants were from Grades 5-8, while Category B’s contestants were from Grades 9-12.
After the performances, the awards were presented to many deserving groups. For the title of Overall
Champion, in Category A, the group Tokkies, who danced to the song “Supernatural” by New Jeans, won. While Category B’s overall winning group, BINIyaan, performed to the song “Lagi” by the popular Filipino girl group BINI.
On September 8, the celebrations took on a more reflective tone, where in the morning a Eucharistic Mass was held as a holy tribute to Mother Mary. In the afternoon, the school held a Barrio Fiesta, which is marked by celebrations such as: holy mass, music, dance, and eating. Foods ranging from seafoods to meat and kakanin to cakes were layed down for the people to partake in the feast.
In the evening, just before the day ends, the final event was “Barndance”. Barndance is a tradition in SMS, a social gathering that features traditional or folk music and dancing. This is mainly a community-oriented school tradition, where each batch from Junior to Senior High School, choreographs their own dance to present. Several intermissions were presented. Finally, the day ended with the “Community Dance”. The dance was accompanied by live music from the school’s newly-formed band.
When asked to describe the SMS 38th Foundation Days, many claimed the day to be as celebrated as past celebrations. Stating both days to be “hype” and “entertaining,” each event had kept visitors and students alike cheering uniting the school community and making the 38th Fo undation Day another successful milestone for St. Mary’s. Despite some differences, the overarching theme of collaboration prevailed, proving that working
CMindanao gathered for SIBYA 2024: The Twelfth Northern Mindanao Student Communicators Congress, held at SM CDO Downtown Premier. This year’s congress, themed “Narrative Resonance in Creative Resistance,” brought together emerging journalists to explore the role of storytelling in addressing social and political issues.
Founded in 2012, SIBYA is an annual, student-led, and non-profit congress that continues to gather its participants from Northern Mindanao through invitations and promotions. SIBYA aims to pique the interest of journalists by covering various pressing issues and subjects of local, regional, and national journalism. It persists in spreading the importance of truthfulness and responsible journalism while examining historical and political issues through the lens of the media.
The event commenced with an introduction by The Crusaders Publication,
Neil Eco, who works for Altermedia People’s Alternative Media Network and strives to amplify the stories of the marginalized. The second speaker, Ms. Jaque Manabat, is a multi-awarded winning multimedia journalist recognized for her innovative storytelling methods. Lastly, the third speaker, Ms. Chiara Zambrano, is the Chief-Correspondent for Conflict and Defense AT ABSCBN Corporation. These experienced journalists were invited as speakers who dove into the theme “Narrative Resonance in Creative Resistance”. They tackled topics of historical distortion and revisionism, covered the importance of context, and told a story with compassion.
Aside from this, SIBYA held a photography and essay writing competition and the outgoing Editor-in-Chief of Blue Gold Visions, Daniel Christopher Galuna emerged as the Champion in the Essay Writing – High School Category with his award-winning essay that was entitled “The Truth Is Never Fully True”.
Overall, the congress emphasized that journalism must consider its audience and the tone of its delivery. According to Ms. Zambrano, journalism is not about fame or bravado, it is about the context in the story and the eye for compassion, highlighting whose voices need to be heard. In her words, “Tell your story accurately, unapologetically, and assertively, or someone else will tell it for you”.
Outrage Over Ticket Scalping Grows in the Philippines as Fans Face Soaring Resale Prices
MANILA — Ticket scalping has become a notable issue in the Philippines, affecting popular events and frustrating fans. On October 21, 2024, former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for an investigation into scalping practices and urged legislation to protect fans fr om price-gouging.
Pangilinan’s statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), decried the exploitative practices surrounding events like the upcoming 2NE1 concert in Manila, where ticket prices on secondary markets have ballooned. With high-demand events, like Olivia Rodrigo’s recent concert, tickets often sell out almost immediately, only to appear on resale platforms at significantly inflated prices—sometimes reaching ten times the original cost. This practice intensified by scalpers using ai bots that mimic human behavior and evade detection to buy tickets in bulk. This new discovery led to a widespread sense of unfairness among fans who struggle to purchase tickets at face value.
Attempts to curb scalping have largely depended on individual event organizers, as Philippine national law does not currently regulate ticket resales. However, some cities such as Quezon City, have local ordinances that criminalize scalping, though enforcement remains inconsistent. Organizers for certain events, like Olivia Rodrigo’s concert, have begun requiring tickets that match IDs for entry, making resales more difficult. Yet the effectiveness of these measures remains limited, and fans continue to demand stronger protections to prevent exploitation by scalpers.
A past bill aiming to prohibit ticket scalping stalled in Congress, but Pangilinan’s push highlights an increasing demand for a national law to address ticket resale abuses. With the entertainment industry booming, many are calling for comprehensive anti-scalping regulations to ensure fair access for Filipino fans.
Tell your story accurately, unapologetically, and assertively, or someone else will tell it for you
Unfair: The Reselling of Tickets Frustrates Fans Photo by: TERED
SMS 38th Foundation Days l Photo by MAEGAN SUAZO
Daniel Galuna with his award for “The truth is never fully true”.
Photo by Daniel Galuna
by EMMA SHERISE SETIER
by AALIYAH MIKHAELA MACATANONG
by RIONA YNA BERNABE
Deepfakes, Disinformation, and the Elections
by SUMMER JANE TEMPLE
The threat of AI is real—and we do not need sentient killing machines to prove it.
Last April, a deepfake audio was posted online of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordering military action against China. The post was disproved by the president’s communication officer, which otherwise, would have aggravated tensions between Beijing and the Philippines. From this, it is clear that AI’s malign influence has extended into politics. But with little regulations on its use, what would become of the upcoming elections?
Deepfakes are made using generative artificial intelligence to depict a person, doing or saying something that was neither done nor said. Another instance of deepfakes that had to do with Philippine politics occurred in June. A fake “TV Patrol” video of the 2028 elections emerged on TikTok, containing manipulated images and voices of a reporter, a news anchor, and of political analyst, Julio Teehankee. On a Facebook post, the real Teehankee described the video as “a chilling preview” of AI’s use in the elections.
Indeed, the use of AI-generated content in political contexts is unsettling. What is more concerning, however, is how these deepfakes become more lifelike by the day. As a result, people are being fooled. AI-driven disinformation could spell disaster in the 2025 Philippine elections and must be mitigated at all costs.
With the right tools and creative talent, anyone of ill intent can create convincing deepfakes. They can come from your average citizen who harbors grievances against certain politicians. The reason is simple: it is meant to deceive. And even if they fail to do so, doubt is cast. Reputations are tarnished to bring one party down or boost another. In President Marcos’ case, the deepfake was used “to revive old narratives and rumors,” said disinformation researcher, Jonathan Corpuz Ong. Ultimately, these fabrications intend to manipulate or sway public opinion.
Aside from the targeted persons, perhaps we are most affected by this type of disinformation. As a people, Filipinos are awfully susceptible to fake news. In December 2021, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that the majority of Filipinos find it difficult to spot fake news. This can be attributed to low tech literacy, especially among the elderly and those lacking formal education.
During the 2022 national elections, disinformation proliferated on social media and affected the election results. Researchers from the University of Philippines found that social media was, in fact, “critical in the production, transmission, and reception of election-related information,” including disinformation narratives that “fueled support for [a certain candidate] and undermined [others]”. Key findings also show that many voters were dependent on social media as an information source, and this is part of what makes us susceptible. Election-related disinformation is nothing new—so why the urgency to address AI-driven disinformation?
First, the speed of AI development. AI programs have become so easy to use and access, anyone can . Not only that, deepfake technology is becoming more sophisticated each day. Deepfakes started with harmless face swaps, then voice mimicry, and finally, moving, breathing pictures that are near-seamless. It is only a matter of time before they become indistinguishable from real life.
Second, the lack of regulation on AI-generated content. There is currently no law regulating AI in the Philippines. Although a few bills are pending in Congress, chances of them being implemented before the May elections is slim.
And finally, AI’s potential to cause disturbance in the elections is enough reason for concern.
All things considered, something can be done to mitigate AI disinformation . The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has already issued guidelines on digital campaigns, with regulations on the use of AI and social media. It requires political parties to disclose usage of AI-generated content and prohibits the spread of deepfakes. The COMELEC has even formed a task force to monitor and prosecute peddlers of disinformation. While this is a huge step in the right direction, will it be enough?
As mentioned, low tech literacy is the biggest hurdle we Filipinos have to face, caused by the lack of and even degrading quality of education. While waiting for government efforts to successfully improve the state of education in the Philippines, it is up to us— the well-informed, digital natives—to spot and curb the spread of disinformation. This is the responsibility we must carry in the coming elections.
The Philippines is not ready for the potential threats AI poses in the next elections.
FEATURE
by SABRINA ECHEM
Mobile Legends (ML) offers a dual experience for fans of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games. While it brings friends together for a fun, social experience, it can also foster a toxic environment with intense pressure to win. One player shared, “I’m just really mad about the fact that I helped them win 5 matches, and then [they abandoned me] on the last match for a wrong pick.” This highlights the importance of promoting respect and positivity in the gaming community.
As E-Sports grows, Mobile Legends, like League of Legends (LoL) and Call of Duty Mobile (CoDM), has become a staple for many students. These games provide entertainment, a social platform, and even potential career paths. Students enjoy the thrill of competition and the bonds formed in online communities. Especially in St. Mary’s School, these games help players build friendships and navigate social dynamics.
However, in heated matches, particularly ranked ones, players may experience or witness toxic behavior. Frustrations often boil over into verbal abuse or taunts, leading to a negative experience for everyone involved. Still, many players return, finding enjoyment in the friendly rivalry and challenge. As one seasoned player puts it, “I enjoy the challenge of mastering the game’s mechanics and finding ways to outsmart my opponents,” while another adds, “ML is a very easy game to pick up, and it doesn’t take up a lot of your time, so you can have fun with your friends.”
Therefore, promoting netiquette is critical to lowering hostility in ML and building a healthier gaming community. Netiquette, or respectful online behavior, makes the game more entertaining to players of all skill levels. This includes avoiding insults, valuing others, and maintaining positive interactions, especially during intense competitions. Players can help develop a more inclusive community by recognizing the game’s appeal and stress, as well as focusing on ne- tiquette. This approach improves the gam- ing experience by fostering a polite and entertaining atmosphere for everyone involved.
Kickstarting Success with Ma’am Laizel –Flexibility and Balance Outside the Court as a Student-Athlete
by KEVIN CARL CHING
Laizel Angela Abucay, an alumnus of St. Mary’s School, is a highly decorated Philippine Taekwondo athlete consistently winning golds in national tournaments, and has even competed in international competitions. She is a nationally acclaimed black belt, currently a 4th year college student at the University of Santo Tomas, grabbing the gold medal and MVP title for the school in the UAAP Season 86 last year. From 2022-2023 alone, out of nine tournaments that she joined, she managed to place eight golds, a silver, and a bronze. Despite rigorous training, practicum duties, academic demands, and being so far away from home, she continues to excel in competitions without compromising her academic performance.
Before college, she was already an accomplished Taekwondo athlete. She was a consistent medalist and was a part of the Junior Philippine National Team at just 13 years old. She even managed to place in multiple “Palarong Pambansa” and “Batang Pinoy” competitions, both of which are significant competitions nationwide. Though, the most defining moment according to her was when she chose UST to be the school she would represent in college, and stated, “It was the start of multiple opportunities when I chose my dream school.”
However, amidst the academic struggles and being a thousand kilometers away from home, preparing for the acclaimed UAAP competition proved to be a challenge, in her words “nakakaiba”. Their training was programmed so that they would be at their peak during the UAAP compe-
tition proper. To quote her, “We could experience the gradual increase in our training load and intensity as the days went on, it was super frustrating and draining to balance everything on top of losing pre-season and in season competitions.”
So, how did she manage to balance everything? In her words, time management and discipline. For her, when it came to balancing training and academics, it had come naturally because Taekwondo and being a student-athlete had been part of her routine for more than half of her life at that point. These values had always been instilled in her and athletes in general. Any sport in fact is a discipline. This taught her what to prioritize, what to make time for, and what to sacrifice.
Despite all her successes, triumphs, losses, and challenges, she is humble and is a model of what any student-athlete aspires to be. Ma’am Laizel has never forgotten where she came from and still visits the gym where she first started Taekwondo. Not only to train, but to foster the next generation of Taekwondo athletes. She also attributes her successes to anyone but herself, and instead to her community. In her words, “I attribute my successes to my family as they have been with me through it all. My coaches and teammates, as they have served as my second home far away from the province.” Ma’am Laizel added, “Despite all the physical and mental stress, I continue to entrust all to God. He is the reason as to why I am here in the first place.”
What’s next for her? Aside from graduating this year with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (BSND), she will play in the highly anticipated UAAP Season 87 to defend her title as champion and MVP. Ma’am Laizel is a well-respected and a beloved member of her community, bleeding blue and gold as she conquers the court with humility and passion.
St. Mary’s Clinches Title in 35th Milo Best Center Tournament, Defeats Corpus Christi
On November 10, St. Mary’s School (SMS) faced off against Corpus Christi in an intense matchup, ultimately ending with a 49-47 score in favor of SMS. The game, held in Pagadian City, was a highly competitive match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Each team fought hard to become the champions, with SMS looking to defend their 5-0 record.
Over the course of an hour, SMS and Corpus took turns in scoring, with each player making astonishing plays which propelled the game forward. Corpus took the early game lead, but SMS quickly caught up. The score was tied 47-47 with time
● 2022 National Interschool Taekwondo Championships - Gold
● 2022 Carlos Palanca Jr. National Taekwondo Championships - Gold
running out fast. With a few seconds left on the clock, Jihoo Actub weaved past defenders and scored a buzzer-beating floater that went in just as time expired, securing the win for SMS.
This win against Corpus Christi was more than just a game for SMS—it was a way to show the time and effort spent on practicing a sport they are truly passionate about. Each play and shot shows the talent and dedication of each and every player on the court. This game against a longstanding rival of SMS marks an important achievement for their players.
● UAAP Season 85 - Senior Women’s Champion (Gold), Individual Event - Silver
● 2023 Smart/MVP Sports Foundation National Taekwondo Championships - Bronze
● 2023 Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships - Gold
● 2023 National Interschool Taekwondo Championships - Gold
● Philippine Taekwondo League 2023 - Gold
● UAAP Season 86 - Senior Women’s Back to Back Champion (Gold), and Season MVP
● Philippine National Games (PNG) - Gold
Photo by Neo Garcia & Laizel Abucay
St. Mary’s School’s under 15 varsity team receiving their award as champions during the 35th Milo Best Center Twin Tournament.
Photo by Ian Zapanta
by ETHAN JOSH CASTRO
AI’s Role In Tracking Viruses
by MIA KAITLYN T. DESCALLAR
The world has made various technological advancements, with artificial intelligence being one of the more notable developments. AI’s applications branch out from simple tasks, like finding recipes, to more complex roles, like summarizing large amounts of information. In healthcare, AI has become invaluable, particularly in virology, where it has helped discover over 160,000 new RNA viruses.
RNA viruses consist of the genetic material of a singular ribonucleic acid (RNA) strand, referred to as the vital tool that recognized RNA viruses stored in databases of genetic material across ecosystems. According to a research conducted by Dr. John Barr and Dr. Rachel Fearns, “Despite having very limited coding capacity, RNA viruses are able to withstand the challenge of antiviral drugs, cause epidemics in previously exposed human populations, and, in some cases, infect multiple host species.” Familiar examples of RNA viruses are the common cold, Influenza viruses, HIV, Rabies, and Coronaviruses.
Virologist Eddie Holmes and his colleagues introduced the LucaProt system, characterizing it as a breakthrough in deciphering the ‘dark matter’ of genetic material. The team started with ‘metagenomic’ samples of genetic material, which contain information from plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and ‘non-living’ material like viruses. Among the known fragments of DNA, lines of unknown code were found in these databases. Researchers called these pieces of unknown code ‘dark matter.’ LucaProt was trained by researchers to estimate which of the genetic information in dark matter came from viral RNA species. With the help of LucaProt, the scan analysis led the team to more than 10,000 similar metagenomic samples, which further led to the uncovering of 161,979 new species of RNA viruses and 180 RNA virus supergroups.
Not only can it prevent new-coming viruses, but it can also pinpoint the traits, causes, and reasons for the spread of infection.
AI has greatly contributed to the discovery of new RNA viruses, but this is not the first time it has played a crucial role in the tracking of viruses. During the infamous COVID-19 outbreak, the medical field looked for technologies to potentially monitor and control the spread of the pandemic. There were discussions about how AI could hold vast potential in addressing the major challenges faced by the outbreak, as it could easily track the status of the virus and could support the controlling of infections in real-time without fail. The continuous support from AI allowed medical professionals to identify high-risk patients and predict the potential fatality risks based on the data from past patients. All of these claims strengthened the belief that AI has the potential to track viruses, which provided services to the medical field, and lessened the hardships on the world as a whole.
So, what will the tracking of viruses using AI mean for humanity? AI has had an influential effect on both the present and the past, and as technology continues to advance, artificial intelligence holds great promise for preventing future viruses and diseases by utilizing past data and information collected over time. Not only can it prevent new-coming viruses, but it can also pinpoint the traits, causes, and reasons for the spread of infection. Looking ahead, AI will become a crucial technology in fighting against viral outbreaks. All things considered, AI is fully capable of tracking viruses and will continue to reach exceptional lengths.
In the Shadows of a Winner
Carlos Yulo winning the Olympics was a grand feat—a dream for every Filipino athlete. Yet instead of celebrating, the country turns their attention to his family drama. A shadow looms, dulling the gold medal.
SPORT | turn to page 12
SpaceX Catches Booster: Opens New Possibilities for Space Travel
“One small catch for humanity.” SpaceX has successfully developed a reusable rocket booster, marking a pivotal moment for the future of space travel.
SCI-TECH | turn to page 14
