Be Juan Tama: The Campaign that Challenges Filipinos to Choose Truth in the Digital Age

By Allyanah Marielle T. Calinao

In a world where information travels at the speed of light and disinformation can spread even faster than the truth, the call for discernment has never been more urgent. On August 26, 2025, GMA Network officially launched its latest advocacy campaign, “Matuto, Matuwa. Be Juan Tama,” at the GMA Network Center. The initiative aims to empower Filipinos to embrace truth, knowledge, and values in an era dominated by social media noise.

The campaign, led by GMA’s prime personalities Dingdong Dantes, Chris Tiu, and Boy Abunda, is anchored on three beloved Kapuso programs: Amazing Earth, iBilib, and Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. Together, they champion the idea that learning should not only be factual but also enjoyable, purposeful, and transformative.

A Timely Response to a Global Challenge

The rise of misinformation and disinformation has created deep fractures in societies across the world. Falsehoods can spark fear, fuel division, and even incite conflict. In the Philippines, where social media usage ranks among the highest globally, the threat is particularly alarming.

GMA’s Be Juan Tama campaign responds to this challenge head-on. By leveraging television, digital platforms, and community partnerships, it promotes the values of critical thinking, responsible media consumption, and lifelong learning.

The campaign is backed by respected organizations, including the Anak TV Foundation, the National Council for Children’s Television, the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines, the Office of Civil Defense, the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph), and the Philippine Women’s University. These partnerships ensure that the campaign’s message reaches beyond entertainment and into schools, communities, and policy spaces through the upcoming GMA Masterclass series.

Dingdong Dantes: From a Driver’s Story to a National Call

For Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes, the advocacy became deeply personal after a candid moment with his longtime driver of 22 years, Kuya Jun.

Dingdong recalled:

“Last week, kasama ko si Kuya Jun. All of a sudden, sabi niya, ‘Sir, yari na tayo. Binomba na ng Russia ang Amerika.’ Apparently, it was a video game. Napaniwalaan talaga siya—kinabahan siya nang todo.”

The audience chuckled at the anecdote, but the story underscored a serious issue: how easily people can fall for misinformation.

From that moment, Dingdong realized the importance of introducing Filipinos to “Juan Tama”—a figure who represents the individual who chooses the right information, the right content, and the right behavior.

“Si Juan Tama, pinipili niya ang tamang impormasyon. Pinipili niya ang tamang content. Pinipili niya ang tamang asal,” he explained.

Dingdong stressed that the advocacy must begin at home but also extend to schools, workplaces, and communities. The goal, he said, is to replicate discernment on a larger scale so that Filipinos, especially the youth, can thrive in today’s media-saturated environment.

He further connected the campaign to his long-time advocacy on disaster preparedness through his partnership with the Office of Civil Defense under the project Panatag Pilipinas. He emphasized that when life-saving information is delivered in a clear, digestible, and non-intimidating way, it can empower communities to act decisively during emergencies.

Chris Tiu: A Father’s Digital-Age Dilemma

For iBilib host Chris Tiu, the campaign resonates with his role not only as a public figure but also as a father of two young daughters.

“I have two daughters, nine and seven years old, and I worry about them. Kids today are growing up in a completely digital world. Unlike us, we had TV, radio, and newspapers—social media came later. But for them, information, whether true or false, is everywhere.”

His concern goes beyond academic performance—it touches on emotional and mental health. In a world where viral trends and online content dominate children’s lives, the lines between fact and fiction often blur.

Chris emphasized that while misinformation endangers viewers, it also creates responsibilities for content creators, who now include almost anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection.

“This is why I feel passionate about this cause—not just for viewers but also for those producing content. With everyone now a potential content creator, discernment is needed more than ever.”

For him, Be Juan Tama is a movement that ensures children—and future generations—grow up with the ability to filter noise from truth and make responsible choices.

Boy Abunda: Conversations that Inspire

Known as the Philippines’ King of Talk, Boy Abunda has long been at the center of conversations that shape public discourse. With Fast Talk with Boy Abunda as one of the campaign’s spearheading programs, he sees Be Juan Tama as an extension of his lifelong mission: using dialogue to enlighten, challenge, and empower.

For Boy, the campaign is an opportunity to teach Filipinos how to ask the right questions, how to challenge unverified claims, and how to ground opinions in facts.

He noted that in the age of social media, speed often overtakes accuracy. People tend to share before thinking, react before reflecting. Through this campaign, Boy envisions a cultural shift—one that places truth, respect, and wisdom at the core of public conversations.

The Broader Impact: Education and Community

One of the most promising aspects of the campaign is its outreach to schools nationwide through the GMA Masterclass series. By collaborating with educators, students, and parents, the project aims to build a culture of media literacy and critical thinking from the ground up.

The involvement of the WWF-Philippines also ensures that environmental education becomes part of the advocacy, linking responsible information consumption with sustainability and responsible citizenship.

Meanwhile, the support of the Office of Civil Defense highlights the life-saving potential of timely, accurate communication. In times of disasters—whether typhoons, earthquakes, or public health crises—choosing the right information is not just a matter of values but of survival.

Why Celebrities Matter in the Movement

In a country where celebrities wield immense influence, the participation of Dingdong Dantes, Chris Tiu, and Boy Abunda is more than symbolic. Their involvement ensures that the message cuts through noise and resonates with audiences across age groups.

Celebrities serve as trusted figures who can model the behaviors the campaign seeks to encourage: fact-checking, discernment, and responsible sharing. When Dingdong speaks about misinformation, Chris about parenthood, and Boy about conversations, they embody how Be Juan Tama applies to different aspects of life.

The Call to Action

At its heart, Be Juan Tama is a call to action for every Filipino. It challenges individuals to pause before sharing a post, to reflect before reacting, and to prioritize truth over virality.

In a country where misinformation can sway elections, disrupt communities, and endanger lives, the campaign is not merely about awareness—it is about building resilience against deception.

As Dingdong urged during the launch:

“Kaya iniimbitahan po namin ang lahat na matuto, makisaya, at maging Juan Tama.”

Conclusion: Becoming Juan Tama

The digital era has made information abundant but truth scarce. In such a landscape, Juan Tama emerges not just as a campaign figure but as a cultural archetype—a Filipino who values wisdom over noise, facts over lies, and purpose over distraction.

By merging entertainment with education, and influence with advocacy, GMA’s Be Juan Tama campaign takes a bold step in reshaping how Filipinos engage with information. It reminds us that while the digital world may be full of “Juan Mali,” there is always the choice to be Juan Tama.