In a country where the majority of attention has become Manila-centric, Bea Evardone-Gothong of Republiq Group of Companies is finding a way to shine the spotlight on her beloved region
In the Philippines, where the idea of an imperial Manila often reigns, Bea Evardone-Gothong is pushing back. As creative strategy head and chief operating officer for Republiq Group of Companies, Evardone-Gothong is here to show the country the rich culture of her beloved Visayas. Aside from providing localised content on her platforms, Evardone-Gothong is also addressing Visayan misrepresentation and championing local talent.
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What I love most about the Visayas region is the fact that I live here. Where I’m from, I have the best of what a great life has to offer. I live in a creative, bustling city but I can enjoy the beach after a 30-minute drive. I can enjoy the mountains 30 minutes away, too. The food is great, the people are warm.
For the longest time, Visayan characters in mainstream movies and shows are always house help, “promdis” who have a hard time speaking Filipino but Bisayas are so much more than that. It’s a good thing that the internet empowered content creation which opened the door for Visayans to represent themselves better and for the Visayan audience to finally feel connected to the media.
If you follow and watch content created by Visayans on TikTok, YouTube and other platforms, you will see lots of stories and undiscovered talent. We currently have the largest network of VisMin (Visayas and Mindanao) content creators called BAI Social where we bridge brands to influencers. We are also currently brewing a children’s animated series called MUMU, which aims to connect the new generation of kids to the Bisaya culture as the series talks about the Visayan folk tales. Our goal is to put the Visayas region on the map when it comes to creativity, entertainment and content creation. We hope for brands to invest more and trust in local talent in pursuing hyperlocal campaigns. Finally, we aim for every Bisaya to have a platform to feel represented.
The media is one of the most important pillars of society as it has the power to inform, educate, entertain and spark positive change. But ultimately, its impact lies in how it’s used. I have come to accept that while the majority of legitimate media companies pursue responsible journalism, we are still plagued with disinformation and misinformation. Therefore for the media to have a positive impact on society, we must breed media-literate citizens.