As false information becomes increasingly advanced, a new cadre of leaders is rising to equip Filipinos with the reality. The Center for Information Resilience and Integrity Studies (CIRIS), an independent entity led by emerging figures in governance and communication, stands at the forefront of the battle against disinformation, misinformation, and harmful influence (DMMI).
Established by Michel André P. del Rosario, along with co-founders Christopher Balagtas and Erik Chua, CIRIS demonstrates that millennials are not merely digital natives — they serve as champions of digital integrity.
Mr. Del Rosario, who formerly held the position of Assistant Secretary at the Presidential Communications Office and chaired the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea Information Working Group, witnessed firsthand how external influence campaigns manipulated public sentiment. Alongside Messrs. Balagtas and Chua, he founded CIRIS with a clear objective: to provide Filipinos with trustworthy information through truth-based storytelling and strategic communication.
“Disinformation is not merely an inconvenience — it poses a national danger,” Mr. Del Rosario stated. “Our generation cannot afford to be passive. We must ensure that the truth is not only conveyed but also acknowledged and felt.”
CIRIS emphasizes its independence as a core principle of its activities. “While we may have backgrounds in governance and communication, the organization is not affiliated with any political motives,” Mr. Del Rosario clarified. “Our supporters share our goals, but our mission is strictly guided by truth and the public’s welfare.”
Where propaganda distorts facts to serve authority, CIRIS does the contrary. They illuminate falsehoods, enhance facts, and assist Filipinos in making decisions rooted in reality. The organization collaborates with various partners in government, academia, civil society, and media, but maintains that its credibility remains intact. “Credibility means adhering to the facts, even when they are uncomfortable,” asserted Mr. Balagtas. “We don’t manipulate truth to fit a narrative — we craft narratives around the truth.”
CIRIS gained visibility through initiatives like Alon ng Kabayanihan — a recently revealed short film that united Filipinos to safeguard sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. The campaign represented a conscious choice to concentrate not on blame, but on verifiable actions and the real experiences of Filipino communities. “The struggle for the West Philippine Sea is, above all, a battle for truth,” Mr. Del Rosario emphasized. “Disinformation undermines our freedom to safeguard what belongs to us — our waters, our food, our communities, and our nation’s future.”
The organization’s mission extends far beyond the West Philippine Sea. CIRIS advocates against disinformation that threatens the country’s fundamental national interests, spanning elections to democratic systems. Its digital literacy programs aim to empower Filipinos to identify warning signs online, from AI-generated fabrications to coordinated troll operations. On a grassroots level, it aids “replicate” organizations in schools and communities that prepare the next generation to combat DMMI locally. CIRIS also collaborates closely with scholars and experts, embracing research even when it challenges preconceived notions — using it to fine-tune strategies and bolster credibility.
CIRIS believes that the fight against falsehoods is not won solely by facts, but by the method of truth delivery. Its strategy combines research, strategic communication, and emotionally impactful storytelling to make verified information more compelling than falsehoods. This approach has garnered international acclaim. CIRIS supported the documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, which received the Tides of Change Award at the Doc Edge International Film Festival in New Zealand — despite efforts by foreign entities to have it removed from the lineup.
For CIRIS, combating disinformation is not merely about amending the narrative — it is about fostering a culture of truth that will persist beyond today’s digital conflicts. This entails reaching younger Filipinos where they are: online. “Our mission is to cultivate digital resilience,” remarked Mr. Balagtas. “We want Filipinos to engage in critical thinking before clicking, liking, or sharing. To pause. To verify. To shield our democracy from within.”
CIRIS is organizing nationwide lectures and workshops on disinformation alongside partner universities and organizations, augmented by interactive resources to train the next generation of digital defenders. At its heart, CIRIS conveys a straightforward but pressing message: Truth is a national responsibility. By rallying leaders, creators, educators, and everyday citizens, the organization aspires to transform how Filipinos consume and disseminate information.
“Disinformation degrades trust, fractures communities, and diminishes the identities that unify people as a nation,” Mr. Chua stated. “However, if we embrace the truth — if we equip ourselves and each other with credible information — then no malicious influence can overcome us.”
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