MediaQuest CEO Calls for United Front Against Disinformation: ‘Media and Information Literacy Is Everybody’s Business’

November 6, 2025 — MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Jane Jimenez-Basas called on Filipinos to unite in defending truth in the digital age during her keynote speech at the Philippine Media and Information Literacy Conference (MILCON) 2025, held at SMX Aura, Taguig City.

Organized by THINKaMuna Pilipinas in partnership with UNESCO, the conference carried the theme “Truth Under Fire: Empowering Critical Thinking in the Age of A.I.” The event gathered leaders from the government, academe, media, and technology sectors to strengthen the fight against misinformation and disinformation, and promote critical thinking among Filipinos.

LIVE: TRUTH UNDER FIRE. THINKaMuna Pilipinas, in partnership with UNESCO, proudly presents the Philippine Media and Information Literacy Conference (MILCON 2025)

She underscored that the spread of falsehoods is exacerbated by the country’s learning and literacy challenges. “When we imagine placing a population that struggles with basic reading comprehension directly into an environment saturated with AI-driven falsehoods, the risk becomes profound,” she warned.

Highlighting the role of the private sector, Basas explained why MediaQuest launched its media and information literacy advocacy, THINKaMuna Pilipinas. “Fighting back begins with a single, powerful Filipino phrase: THINKaMuna. Think first, then decide, then share,” she said. 

Basas also stressed that media and information literacy is no longer just a soft advocacy but a national survival skill. “Our decision to pivot and lead this movement is rooted in the MVP Group’s deep commitment to nation building.”
 


Basas likewise reaffirmed the media’s crucial responsibility to safeguard truth and accountability in an era dominated by artificial intelligence. “As the Fourth Estate, we hold a sacred trust. Our primary role has always been to safeguard the truth and ensure accountability,” she said. “We must move beyond just fact-checking individual posts; we must teach our audience how to think critically about all media.”

In her closing remarks, Basas urged collaboration across sectors to sustain the movement. “MIL is everybody’s business,” she declared. “We must embed MIL into our organizations, our schools, and our communities, turning all of them into centers of critical thinking, so that there can be no victory for enemies of the truth.”

She challenged participants to transform the conference into a catalyst for long-term change. “Let us transition from conference attendees to a robust multi-sectoral community that ensures MIL is here to stay and continues to grow in the Philippines,” Basas said. “The war for truth has begun, and our road to victory starts with all of us here, today.”



Aside from Basas, the event was also attended by several prominent business figures, policymakers, and media partners, including MediaQuest Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, Senator Bam Aquino, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, News5 journalist Ed Lingao, and Maya Head of Corporate Affairs Toff Rada, among others.

THINKaMuna Pilipinas, the MediaQuest-led Media and Information Literacy (MIL) campaign, aims to equip Filipinos with the skills to pause, think, and evaluate information amid an increasingly complex digital landscape. Through initiatives like MILCON 2025, it seeks to empower citizens to think critically and stand strong against misinformation in the age of A.I.