The Power of an Informed Choice: YOUth Decide Seminar Gears Up Student Voters for 2025 Elections

By Kayrel Madlos


To encourage informed participation in the midterm elections, the seminar YOUth Decide: How to Make Informed Choices in the Upcoming 2025 Election was held on Tuesday, April 29, at MSU-IIT’s CHS Hall, aiming to educate and empower student voters.


Organized by the Policy Center for Governance, Public Leadership, and Management under the Institute for Policy Innovation and Leadership, in collaboration with the Political Science Department and third-year Political Science students, the event brought together guest speakers who tackled timely issues and led interactive sessions to prepare voters for the upcoming polls.


As members of the country’s youth sector, students from MSU-IIT, Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC), and St. Peter’s College (SPC) actively participated in the seminar, engaging in a series of lectures and activities. Recognizing their power and influence in shaping the country’s political direction, YOUth Decide was designed to equip youth voters with the knowledge and skills necessary to combat misinformation and disinformation, cast responsible ballots, and make informed decisions.


Kicking off the seminar, the morning session began with a short lecture by Elisha Grace Ramil, Election Assistant II of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). She covered key topics to help participants understand how the electoral process works. Her talk included a brief explanation of the Automated Counting Machine (ACM), steps in the voting process, and essential reminders for the election—underscoring that accurate information leads to sound decisions.


The first session, “Pili-pinas 2025: How to Choose the Right One in the Upcoming Elections,” was delivered by guest speaker Asst. Prof. Yasmira Moner, Associate Professor from the Department of Political Science, currently the GAD Focal Person at MSU-IIT, who also previously served as Acting Director of MSU-IIT’s Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao.


In her lecture, Asst. Prof. Yasmira Moner identified “red flags” in campaign messaging and guided participants on how to recognize better candidates. She walked participants through how to assess candidates more thoughtfully, emphasizing the growing influence of the youth, who are set to become a dominant voice in future elections.


The second session, entitled “Make Informed Choices: Fighting Disinformation and Fact-Checking for Fair Elections,” was led by Irene Narcisa Cañete, a 4th-year BA Sociology student at MSU-IIT. She currently holds leadership roles in ILAW Shared Community and KASAMA, and was a delegate of the Movers for Facts training by Rappler and DW Akademie.


In her talk, Cañete discussed the current media and information landscape and the dangers posed by misinformation and disinformation. She urged participants to start with self-awareness—checking emotions and caring before sharing, underscoring the importance of critical thinking in fact-checking. She also facilitated exercises that helped attendees practice verifying various sources.


Complementing the seminar was a Ballot Hub, located at the CASS New Building Lobby. This interactive booth featured informative displays, activities, a pledge wall, and other resources focused on voter rights aimed at promoting smart choices at the polls and countering misinformation and disinformation.


As the event concluded, students left with more than just new insights—they carried forward a stronger sense of purpose as voters. Armed with practical knowledge, they are now better equipped to cast votes that truly reflect the power of an informed choice.