A Nation Misled: The Cost of Fake News in the 2016 Election | Mar Roxas Uminom sa Plato
The Plate and the Presidency: How a Fabricated Image Shaped the Philippines' Fate In the lead-up to the pivotal 2016 national presidential elections in the Philippines, a seemingly trivial incident involving then-presidential candidate Mar Roxas became a lightning rod for a narrative that ultimately altered the course of the nation. A photograph surfaced, purportedly showing Roxas drinking water from a plate. This seemingly bizarre act was instantly amplified across social media, painted as evidence of his supposed disconnect from the common Filipino, his elitism, and even his mental instability. However, as fact-checking organizations later confirmed, the image was manipulated. It was a fabrication, a carefully crafted piece of disinformation designed to undermine Roxas's candidacy. Yet, the damage was done. The doctored photo resonated with a segment of the population already susceptible to narratives that painted traditional politicians as out of touch. This incident, seem...