Here’s why Janina Vela, Macoy Dubs vlog about politics despite hate comments, threats

In the latest episode of “Quarantined with Howie Severino,” vloggers Janina Vela and Macoy Dubs shared why they still chose to discuss politics on their platforms despite the hate comments and threats they received.

Lifestyle vlogger Janina, who recently published a video on antiterrorism bill, said she was aware of the risks involved, adding she’s not doing it for clout or money.

The 21-year-old online influencer, who started creating beauty content at 15, has now delved into more serious topics such as political issues.

“I decided for myself 2 years ago that this was what’s important to me. Noong 15 years old ako, makeup po is important to me. And then when I was 17, it was women empowerment that is important to me,” she said.

“And now my priorities are different because to me it’s human rights that are important … it’s the Filipino people, the well-being of the Filipino people that’s important to me,” she continued.

Janina said she knew “it’s hard on the business side” but she would regret it years from now if she didn’t do what she wanted.

And what she wants now is to talk about political issues, senatorial candidates, and legislation, among other important and pressing topics.

“I wanna live my life without any regrets. And so I choose to speak up on things that I feel like need to be said and things need to be fought for,” she said.

For sharing those topics on her vlog, Janina had been called a “terrorist” by some of her viewers on YouTube.

The vlogger admitted that such comments discouraged and scared her many times.

“I’m not immune to it, yet. Slowly, I think. You ask me if I was a strong person, I think slowly I became one. Hindi ako nag-start na manhid or parang fearless or sobrang bold. It was something that was built up over the years,” she said.

In her 6 years in the vlogging industry, Janina said she knew people always had something to say.

“If you say what they want, somebody else will bash you. If you say what’s this side wants, somebody else will bash you. So, you say what you want,” she said.

Janina said she read and studied the antiterror bill because she didn’t want her opinions to be based on emotions alone.

“I strive for my opinions to be educated, to be as informed as I can be, also to my protect my credibility as a social media influencer, as somebody who shares their thoughts,” she said.

“I don’t wanna be just driven by what the trends are, driven by my emotions. But I really want to get to the truth mismo as much as possible without biases,” she added.

The vlogger said legal documents were important to her. She strives to “do my research as properly and as truthful as I can just to, again, to take care of my relationship with my subscribers because they listen to me and I don’t want to give them the wrong information or swayed opinions that have no actual backing.”

Vlogger Macoy Dubs, meanwhile, also shared that he experienced a similar incident.

Macoy Dubs creates short comedy skits and reenacts slice of life situations on the daily experiences of ordinary Filipinos, such as employees, call center agents, government workers, and fast food crew, among other roles.

After releasing a video which touched on the VIP treatment on mass testing, Macoy said Facebook took it down just two days after it was uploaded.

“Na-mass report siya. ’Yung mga ganoon to be honest, nakakatakot din maglabas ng ganoong klaseng content because siyempre social commentary, hindi lahat sa ’yo ay sasang-ayon kaya in-expect ko na rin na mate-take down siya,” said Macoy.

However, the video was not taken down on platforms where the audiences were younger, such as Twitter, according to Macoy.

That the video was taken down was worrisome, said Howie, since it was based on facts reported in the news and wasn’t libelous.

Macoy admitted that he was worried when the video was taken down because he also received personal messages with death threats.

“Ako rin talaga ay sobrang nag-alala dahil nga sa kritisismo na matatanggap ko in the future and bago ito, rito ko lang ito sasabihin: Bago ma-report, bago mabura ng Facebook ’yung video ko na ’yun, marami akong natanggap na death threat sa personal message na talagang sinasabi nila aabangan nila ako sa labas. Alam daw nila saan ako nakatira,” he narrated. “Alam daw nila kung saan nakatira ang aking mga magulang at aabangan daw nila ako.”

Macoy cited Facebook’s reason for taking the video down as “misinformation and hate speech.”

“At sobra rin akong nag-alala noong after niyang mabura because sa loob ng dalawang araw nabura ang aking post, wherein kapag magsa-submit ka ng dispute sa platform na ito, sa Facebook, usually it takes 5-7 days because thoroughly nire-review talaga nila ’yung content bago nila i-delete,” he said.

“But this time, nagtaka rin ako at nakakapag-alala dahil in just 2 days nabura ang aking video.”

Macoy said he asked his lawyer friends about the incident.

“Tinanong ko rin sila, eh. Makakasuhan ba ako rito sa in-upload ko? Libelous ba? Pero ang sabi naman nila, hindi naman daw dahil hindi naman daw full name ’yung mga sinabi ko,=.”

Macoy also pointed out that he didn’t threaten anyone or mention names in the said video.

Despite the incident, it didn’t stop Macoy from creating more content discussing political issues.

“Hindi pa rin ako huminto pero medyo nilagyan ko na ng medyo katatawanan. Dinidikit-dikit ko na siya sa mga kaunting scenario para lang maging safe lang din,” he said.

“That’s why itong mga nakaraan kong mga video rin, medyo may kaunting pahapyaw pero naroon pa rin ’yung comedy, kumbaga. Hindi ko pa rin inalis ’yung social commentary,” he added.

Macoy said as content creators he believed that they had the “responsibility to spread the information and the truth and at the same time [allow] the viewers to activate their critical thinking.”

Just the same, Janina, who’s considered a pioneer in the vlogging industry, said she hoped influencers would use their platforms to make a positive impact, stay credible, set good examples, and become role models. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News