#TUNAYNIBESH. Leaders of three student organizations — The Squire Publication editor-in-chief Maria Victoria Tenido, Xavier Ateneo Development Communication Society president Karlo Jess Abecia, and Senior High Student Government president Reneila Maureen Eguia — frontline the launching of "#SML: The Social Media Literacy Project: #TunayNiBesh." Supplied photo.

By Regina Arquiza

With the aim to educate social media users, particularly the senior high students on how to counter hate speech, promote responsible journalism, and how to spot and stop fake news, Xavier Ateneo's Development Communication Society (DevCom Soc) has partnered with the XU Senior High School student paper, The Squire Publication, and the SHS Student Government in "#SML: The Social Media Literacy Project: #TunayNiBesh."

The launching of the said project transpired at the DevCom Theater Lab on Saturday, July 21.

DevCom Society moderator Rechelle Ann Tolinero-Barraquias, in her opening remarks, emphasized the importance of the partnership in “bringing the changes [we] want to happen” and in coming up with “projects that matter; one that addresses real needs of the [Xavier Ateneo] community.” 

SHSSG president Reneila Maureen Eguia shared that this project targets to break the stigma or “barrier” between the SHS and college students who are holding their classes and activities in the Corrales campus.

Present in the launching were the staff members of The Squire (headed by editor-in-chief Maria Victoria Tenido and moderator Candy Grace Castanares), SHS SG officers with their president, and DevCom Soc officers (led by president Karlo Jess Abecia).

The project has also lined up activities for the months to come: workshops on social media management and social media literacy, SML info campaign, KAP survey, and "Fake or Factual Trivia Night."∎