What Explained PH taught me about guiding young minds

The year was 2023, my final stretch as a journalism student. College graduation was the finish line I was sprinting toward, and my focus was sharply set on preparing for the professional world.

However, one ordinary August night that year, a Facebook post from a youth media organization caught my eye. “Explained PH,” the name of this random discovery, intrigued me enough to check out their previous work and advocacies. Seeing the startup efforts these young individuals had poured into since 2020 sparked a desire within me to be part of their journey. 

So a thought came, “Maybe I should join?” Initially, I felt hesitant. At that time, my final year of undergraduate studies demanded my full attention, and I was also heavily involved as an editorial board member in our college student publication. 

Still, the persistent pull to extend my advocacy beyond the familiar walls of the classroom kept tugging at me. This youth media organization felt like it could be the very avenue I was seeking. That small seed of passion found fertile ground at Explained, initially taking root on the science and news desks. In those early days, my goal was just to ground myself to ensure I wasn’t so immersed in the echoing chambers of university issues and the grand narratives of sociopolitical matters.

Then came the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) 2024 in Cebu City, the battlefield I knew well, having been a student journalist from a very competitive region that had a strong winning streak. This time, my role was different. And somewhere between the adrenaline of pushing out breaking news for Explained and leading the charge as the org’s Managing Editor, the idea of “passing the torch” finally caught fire within me.

In feeling that my skills could contribute to something larger than just my own trajectory, a satisfaction bloomed, which is akin to nurturing a kid, patiently guiding it to its fullest potential, and then witnessing it blossom into a capable and compassionate individual.

However, if I'm being honest with myself, I knew then, and still know now, that my own compass in the journalism field is still finding its true north. However, I also recognized the benefit of mutual discovery in this exchange. Mentoring, I realized, wasn't just a simple handing down of knowledge; it was more like two boats sailing in tandem. Their minds, eager to chart territories, and my own, needing the “winds” of their perspectives to refine my own course.

But “passing the torch” wasn't merely about handing over the tools. It was also about involving a strong sense of ethical journalism, fostering a resilient spirit, and instilling the Explained mindset: always grounded, always considering the marginalized, always pushing creative boundaries within ethical lines, and always going beyond the temporary stages of contests.

Now it's 2025. And so, my journey with Explained has become a testament to such a cycle—from seeking my own footing in community journalism to now helping others find theirs.

Even as individuals like myself naturally move on within the organization, the very core of Explained remains steadfast: bridging divides and creating pathways where young and aspiring journalists can step beyond the familiar and discover their potential.