Youth empowerment boosted

Mang Inasal has partnered with news organization Rappler for a multi-city civic empowerment roadshow held across Zamboanga, Pangasinan and Metro Manila from September to October.

The initiative, titled #AmbagNatin: Engage for Change, aimed to encourage civic participation and address community issues such as governance, media literacy, and climate resilience. The roadshow brought together community leaders, local officials and youth participants to discuss public safety, education and the cost of living.

The first leg of the tour took place from 3 to 6 September in collaboration with Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Now You Know. The event featured a public forum and workshops designed to train youth participants as “Movers,” or volunteers focused on community journalism and civic engagement.

On 16 September, the roadshow moved to Far Eastern University in Metro Manila for an event titled “Lolo at Lola Laban Sa Scam.” Held in honor of Grandparents’ Day, the forum focused on digital safety and fact-checking, providing senior citizens and their families with tools to identify disinformation and online scams.

The final leg was held from 29 September to 2 October in partnership with Pangasinan State University and the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Activities included journalism workshops for students and a public forum in Dagupan City that addressed regional concerns such as fisherfolk welfare and transportation.

Mang Inasal president Mike V. Castro said the partnership aligns with the brand’s commitment to creating safe spaces for community interaction.

“By helping young people engage with local issues, promote civic engagement, and find their voice in telling the stories of their communities, we do our bit in contributing to meaningful change among our customers,” Castro said.