As more and more Filipinos look to social media as their main source of information, it’s never been more crucial to know who’s worth following.
There are several journalists who have built their platforms on social media. Whether they came from broadcast news or respected publications, they have gone independent, with the freedom to offer a more nuanced analysis of national controversies and anchor political discourse that traditional media may filter out. They brought their authority and depth into direct-to-reader or -listener spaces. We’ve highlighted a few worthy of your attention.
Natashya Gutierrez
Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / TikTok
Gutierrez is an award-winning multimedia journalist and correspondent doing investigative work for today’s audiences. She hosts the podcast On Assignment With Me, which breaks down in-depth reports into easy-to-digest pieces of information on her social media channels. In her recent podcast episode, she analyzed the corruption scandal related to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, breaking down the 104-page complaint. Before she went the indie podcast route, she previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of Vice News in Asia-Pacific and has contributed to media channels like Al Jazeera and Time. She was also part of Rappler’s founding team, where she served as the Indonesia Bureau Chief and Southeast Asia correspondent.
Christian Esguerra
Known for his fearless views, Esguerra is a veteran Filipino political journalist and educator. He goes live every day on Facts First, his own political podcast on YouTube where he tackles political issues, interviews relevant experts, and combats disinformation. He started his career with Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2000 before joining ABS-CBN as a correspondent and anchor in 2015. He was a vocal critic of the previous Duterte administration and remains critical of the current Marcos administration, often being condemned by government supporters for it. As his podcast’s tagline says, there’s no holding back for him.
jacque manabat
Manabat is a multimedia journalist and former ABS-CBN reporter. She left the channel in 2023 after 17 years of service to create her own path and establish a creative lab. As a content creator, she now focuses on solutions journalism and dedicates her time to training digital media startups, online content creators, and other journalists. She utilizes social media, specifically TikTok, to tell stories and share behind-the-scenes content of her work.
regine cabato
Cabato is a freelance investigative journalist who has worked for The Washington Post and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. She mainly utilizes her Facebook account to share the stories that she has worked on, mainly covering disinformation and influence operations in the Philippines. Beyond her own platforms, Cabato also contributes to other podcasts and joins panel discussions. She faced harassment from the Chinese embassy in May 2026, but remains dedicated to owning her space.
Michael Beltran
Another freelance journalist, Beltran reports on in-depth investigations about the country. His coverage spans human rights, labor, migration, climate, economics, tech, and foreign policy, with bylines in different outlets such as Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, and Pinoy Weekly. He has also authored a book, The Singing Detainee and the Librarian with One Book: Essays on Exile in 2023, where he shared lesser-known tales about revolutionary political exiles Jose Maria Sison and Julie de Lima, as well as the lives of the people around them.
frequently asked questions
Natashya Gutierrez, Christian Esguerra, Jacque Manabat, Regine Cabato, and Michael Beltran, to name a few.
She previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of Vice News in Asia-Pacific and has contributed to media channels like Al Jazeera and Time. She was also part of Rappler’s founding team, where she served as the Indonesia Bureau Chief and Southeast Asia correspondent.
Christian Esguerra is a fearless, independent journalist who is also a vocal critic of the previous Duterte administration and remains critical of the current Marcos administration. This results in him being criticized by government supporters for it.
Jacque Manabat resigned in 2023 after 17 years of service to create her own path and establish a creative lab, diverting to content creation instead.
The Singing Detainee and the Librarian with One Book: Essays on Exile, published in 2023. The book tells the lives of revolutionary political exiles and the people around them.
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