A Conversation With a Young Journalist from South Upi Maguindanao, Jobert Galvez

Jobert Galvez knows that speaking the real experiences of people in his community can carry risks, but he believes staying silent carries a heavier cost: the loss of hope for equal rights, dignity, and peace for youth and indigenous communities across the region.

Rooted in reality, fueled by purpose

Question: Can you tell us how your childhood and your experiences growing up in South Upi influenced the work that you do today?

Jobert: “I was born in South Upi, Maguindanao Del Sur – a place where Tri-People communities coexist – I witnessed human rights violations at an early age too. These harsh realities didn’t break me; they pushed me to find a way to confront injustice head-on. For me, community journalism became more than a tool; it was a bridge to amplify unheard stories, challenge fake news, and hold systems accountable for gaps in support for marginalized sectors.”

Corn fields atop the highlands overlooking South Upi, Maguindanao.

From youth activist to advocate for change

Question: Jobert, you were already an active peacebuilding advocate since your youth, how did all of these start?

Jobert: “I was just 17 when I dove into peace-building work across South Upi, Maguindanao province and nearby areas. I founded the Action Tri-People Youth Organization. I remember we partnered with NGOs and CSOs in the Bangsamoro Region to strengthen dialogue between communities and the government. I would say those efforts helped build trust where divisions once ran deep – but I always knew there was still more to do.”

Question: So what was it, what still needed to be done? For example, the advocacy strategies that you found helpful to the struggles of people in your communities?

Jobert: “By expanding my media reach to radio, I served as a broadcaster and news director, prioritizing investigative reporting that centered on people’s rights. I didn’t shy away from calling out government lapses in projects, services, and programs. This work earned me recognitions like the 2023 Most Outstanding Young Journalist award. But for me, accolades are not the end; they’re only there to fuel us to push further.”

Jobert in a discussion with a programme partner/ stakeholder in the development sector.

Empowering the next wave of voices

Question: What did you do to sustain the gains of your advocacies and journalism work?

Jobert: “To ensure that change lasts, I founded the PAGLAUM Campus Media Alliance (PCMA) in the Municipality of Lebak. The PCMA focuses on equipping campus journalists to tell their own communities’ stories. What started in one town soon grew: PCMA now operates under names like PAGINAWA (Municipality of Kalamansig) and SARIG (South Upi), reaching across Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City.”

Question: What are the priorities of PAGLAUM Campus Media Alliance (PCMA) and what does it stand for?

Jobert: “Today, as PCMA’s Secretary General and Director General for South Central Mindanao, I go into schools as a speaker – reminding young people that empowerment has no age limit: “protecting rights is a must”, and “social justice should never be up to negotiation”.

Question: When you look back at your journey as a peace advocate and a journalist in South Central Mindanao, what is the biggest lesson that you got out of all your experiences?

Jobert: “In a region often defined by conflict, the work that I do stands as proof that courage can grow from pain – and that one voice when paired with purpose, can spark a movement. I would like to believe that I am one of the new generation of Mindanaoans who are unafraid to break silence, and determined to build a future where peace and justice are not just ideals, but everyday realities.”

Learn more about the work of Paglaum Campus Media Alliance by clicking the button below.