For one night only, Probe and Word of Mouth will bring together journalists and storytellers to share unscripted personal stories on their own past betrayals, trauma, and attachment insecurities.
Comedian and content creator Macoy Dubs, drag performer and content creator Your Tita Baby, The Straits Times correspondent Mara Cepeda, University of the Philippines Professor on Broadcast Communication Data Canlas, documentary producer Lolita Lachica, brand strategist Victoria Ortega, and journalist-photographer Jay Orense lead the line-up of individuals who will swap tales in front of an intimate audience.
The evening will be hosted by diplomacy and lifestyle journalist Carol Ramoran Hamilton, who will guide audiences through the night’s conversations and stories.
While the stories that performers will share are personal and won’t necessarily be about their lives as media professionals, the night’s theme on trust highlights a growing challenge local journalists face as Filipinos’ confidence in traditional media continue to decline. Just this year, Reuters Institute Digital News Report revealed that Filipinos’ trust in news fell sharply by 10 points, the steepest decline among all the 48 countries covered by the report. Journalism has been under attack in the country amid growing political divide, shift towards online platforms, and the emergence of AI tools.
Founded in 2017, Word of Mouth is a storytelling event held in different venues in the city. Each night features a roster of individuals who share 5 to 10-minute real life tales based on that evening’s theme. Probe , through its Productions, Archives, and Media Foundation, engages with professional and aspiring media practitioners to create content and conduct training activities that promote responsible journalism through innovative and meaningful initiatives.
Word of Mouth: Stories on Trust Issues will take place at Good Intentions Books in Comuna, Makati on July 25, Saturday at 6pm. The event will benefit SIBOL, a community-based non-profit that supports the families and orphans of the victims of the war on drugs. Tickets are at P350 and include a drink. To register, visit Word of Mouth’s Instagram page wordofmouthph@gmail.com or click here.
