Rappler 2025 Fellowship wraps up with tales that drive change in communities

MANILA, Philippines – Eight campus journalists accomplished the fifth cycle of the Rappler Journalism Fellowship from June to October 2025.

Rappler, in partnership with the Journalism for Nation Constructing Basis (JNBF), supplied the fellowship completely underneath the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship Program.

Named in honor of the late investigative reporter Aries Rufo, who lined the church, judiciary, politics, and elections for Newsbreak and Rappler, this system carries on his legacy of coaching journalists in fearless and impactful reporting.

Focusing solely on campus journalists this 12 months, this cycle highlighted their position in bringing native points equivalent to governance, accountability, and group must the floor. Earlier than their choice, fellows participated in Rappler’s nationwide protection of the Could 2025 midterm elections.

Over the four-month program, the cohort produced over 75 tales, together with native information reviews, group options, reality checks, picture essays, movies, and in-depth/investigative tales.

Their closing longform tales are as follows:

Fellows shared how the fellowship program outfitted them to supply tales that drive impression and amplify native voices.

Reporting native points, difficult complacency

Throughout communities, the fellows’ tales turned catalysts for reflection and alter, prompting the necessity to confront points lengthy accepted as “regular.” 

In Caloocan Metropolis, fellow Eirene Mantalao wrote a narrative about native residents turning to Fb meme pages to report complaints on points equivalent to a avenue lighting mission, flooding, and rubbish woes. This report drew 1000’s of engagements and revived public discourse on accountability and transparency. 

“The story sparked dialogue about political memes and supplied a platform for customers to specific complaints worthy of consideration. I’ve seen the story being shared on Fb group pages and on Reddit threads. Each residents and non-residents of Caloocan turned extra conscious of the state of affairs in our metropolis,” Manatlao mentioned.

Her follow-up report on the metropolis’s flood management controversies additionally ignited heated on-line debates.

“Caloocan residents, who’re usually content material with the LGU and the reigning political dynasty, have begun questioning the standard of their companies,” she added. 

Additional south within the Visayas, Marjuice Destinado’s story on Cebu’s flooding disaster spotlighted how native journalism can drive group accountability. The piece drew messages of gratitude from residents, together with a lawyer who thanked her for giving visibility to long-ignored struggles. 

“When storytelling offers folks the language to demand accountability, that’s actual impression,” Destinado mentioned. 

This was echoed by Luzon fellow Roland Amdam Jr. who mentioned that the fellowship program not solely amplified native tales, but in addition expanded his sense of empathy and duty as a journalist.

“Imparting lasting change with one story isn’t simple, however I’d prefer to imagine I’ve made a big contribution to creating our metropolis extra livable,” Andam careworn.

Andam’s in-depth story on Tuguegarao Metropolis’s visitors disaster made residents revisit a long-ignored downside. “The difficulty was already the discuss of the city, however nobody had ever delved into it deeply,” he mentioned. 

When Rappler revealed his story, it shortly gained traction, sparking renewed discussions amongst residents, consultants, and coverage makers.

In the meantime in Albay, one other Luzon fellow Hershey Juan, who is predicated in Daraga, identified how marketing campaign occasions are turning right into a battle of the bands, a report that resonated extensively on-line and drew readers’ consideration to long-tolerated election practices.

“[Local residents] are glad that this situation was identified as a result of it has been happening for therefore lengthy that individuals already assume that it’s regular. I hope that I’ll have the ability to write extra tales like this that can spark conversations and discussions,” Juan mentioned.

Highlighting inclusivity, tradition, and resilience 

Past difficult the established order, Juan additionally featured the tales and raised the challenges and wishes of the weak communities. She lined the inclusive elections for individuals with disabilities, shared the story of a visually impaired magna cum laude from Legazpi, and reported how the aged are being left behind by know-how.

“There are nonetheless so many points that should be lined, however I’m glad I used to be capable of assist make clear this one. Till the voices of the weak are heard and actual change occurs, we shouldn’t cease writing,” she mentioned. 

Extra than simply exposing the issue, Baguio-based fellow Jose Emmanuel Thayer reframed Baguio’s rubbish disaster in his two-part long-form story. Whereas highlighting the struggles that Baguio faces with waste administration, his report additionally emphasised ayyew, an indigenous worth of aware consumption.

For Thayer, the story was distinctive as a result of “it not simply proposes an answer for the town’s rubbish disaster, nevertheless it additionally highlights the significance of Indigenous tradition.” His work went past outlining the issue, exhibiting how conventional knowledge can information trendy sustainability efforts.

In the meantime in Mindanao, Marawi-based fellow Abdul Malawani wrote about tales of hope, resilience, and rebuilding within the Bangsamoro area. His reviews on Lanao del Sur’s first strawberry farm and the revival of Lake Lanao’s commerce by a brand new port, captured native efforts to rebuild livelihoods after years of battle, whereas his characteristic on Palapa: A staple of Meranaw taste and identification mirrored the evolving satisfaction and tradition of the Meranaw folks.

“It made me understand why I ought to keep in Marawi and that’s so I can write tales from my group,” Malawani shared.

One other Luzon fellow, based mostly in Laguna, Leah Sagaad tackled each the quiet struggles and collective aspirations of her local people. Her report on the ‘trolley boys’ of Los Baños gave visibility to these within the margins.

Demanding accountability, tangible motion

Sagaad additionally wrote about Laguna city residents searching for protected housing amid yearly floods, amplifying the plea of communities craving for safety and dignity. Her report sparked discussions concerning the worsening floods, with on-line customers tagging native officers to specific their frustration over failed flood management initiatives, and calling out the inaction of the city mayor.

“This system pushed me to supply tales that I’d not have written about usually. I spotted that I can truly do it. Though little and never speedy, I’ve seen some engagements and modifications associated to the problems mentioned in my tales. It was really empowering,” Sagaad shared.

In Sarangani, Rey Mark Paran’s story appeared into how Alabel’s push for cityhood is hindered by flooding, unfinished infrastructure, and uneven growth. His report revealed how speedy development was outpacing correct city planning, whereas elevating questions on whether or not progress really advantages all residents.

Simply two days after publication, the city mayor ordered the prioritization of the long-delayed transport terminal mission. The story, later picked up by a regional outlet, additionally sparked public discussions on governance, inclusivity, and Alabel’s future. 

“The story turned a springboard for conversations about progress, governance, and the way forward for the municipality. Alabelians expressed each hope and concern, revealing a shared need to grasp what cityhood would really imply for Alabel,” Paran mentioned.

This 12 months’s Fellowship centered on native governance and data integrity. Fellows had been assigned a Rappler journalist or editor as mentor who guided them by their tales and different outputs. In addition they accomplished a hybrid studying course overlaying 14 modules on journalism within the trendy world and two modules on reporting about native governments and budgets.

As a part of the coaching, fellows had been additionally capable of journey to Manila for a four-day onsite studying session on the Rappler newsroom.

For the reason that program’s launch in 2021, it has up to now educated 21 Filipino group journalists, and 17 Filipino campus journalists by the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.

Apart from the Aries Rufo Fellowship Program, Rappler has additionally educated 10 Southeast Asian journalists by the #FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship.

In case you are to help extra journalists to permit them to proceed the work they do by Rappler’s Journalism Fellowship packages, shoot us an e-mail at fellowships@rappler.com. You may make an entire world of distinction in varied communities exterior the standard huge cities. – Rappler.com