Meet Ryan Gabriel Suarez of the Ateneo de Manila University

Truth seekers. Truth speakers. Truth defenders.

Ryan Suarez wants to bring the narratives of the silenced and the disregarded to the mainstream discourse through journalism. 

He serves as the current Editor-in-Chief of The GUIDON, the official student publication of the Ateneo de Manila University.

To get to know him better, Republicasia asked Ryan a few questions about his journey as a student journalist fighting for press freedom in the country. 

Behind the Persona

Tell me about yourself as a student journalist and your life outside of publication.

I entered The GUIDON without much experience in student journalism, but throughout my life, my exposure to creative writing has strengthened in me the belief that storytelling is an empowering act that holds the power and potential for social change. Given the positionality of most Atenean writers, I emphasize within our Editorial Board the importance of emboldening our members to realize that we should engage with the realities of sidelined communities in our bid to stand with the truth.

Defining Moment

Tell me about that ‘defining moment’ that made you pursue journalism and continue to do so.

In my time in The GUIDON, I was able to interview a resident of a community without access to electricity. Mobile coverage and broadcast signals were also erratic, and newspapers were rarely distributed in their area. Their state of living thus hampered their access to information—even at a time as crucial as the campaign period of the 2022 national elections. My conversation with someone from their community during the whole writing process emphasized within me that so many stories of structural and social exclusion tend to get sidelined and ignored, especially in mainstream discourse. Countless people go through these harsh realities without sufficient platforms to voice out their concerns. What journalism can do is become a medium for these sidelined narratives to be more heard. To document these realities is a harsh refusal to the status quo of injustice, as these should not exist unacknowledged.

Generation Voice

What do you think is the most pressing issue that affects press freedom in the country nowadays? What do you think are the significant roles of young journalists in advancing genuine national press freedom?

The truth is being suppressed, whether through the silencing and censorship of journalists or the overwhelming disinformation that continues to plague our spaces of information. These threats to press freedom are mostly, if not completely, politically motivated. As youth journalists, we have the power and potential to combat the dominance of disinformation and harmful narratives from the ground up. Building trust and solidarity at the local and community levels proves to be important, especially in the ever-changing battlefield for truth and justice. Moreover, as storytellers, we have to continue evolving in the way we deliver our stories as we strive to impact the discourse in the most resonant manner.

Powerful Quote

Tell me about your mantra as a journalist. What message can you give to the aspiring journalist of the new generation?

Hope is our biggest power. Someday, the stories we tell will no longer be those of structural grief and unwarranted tragedy, but of celebrated victory and served justice. As journalists, may we all keep our eyes and ears open for stories. Together, we can help spark positive change, one story at a time.