What is AI to us Filipinos? — writing archive
Hello! It's been quite a while :-). I've been a bit busy with life, so a good chunk of my time has been taken.. Though, I don't plan to abandon this blog anytime soon! I'm slowly returning back into my writing roots and think this would be the perfect time to do so, now that I've recently entered back into school.
I want to share an editorial I wrote for my school organization published on August 21st; complimenting the "Buwan ng Wika 2026" event going here in the Philippines. This is my first ever editorial piece, and I'm very proud to have made it. I have a fascination with AI myself, so being assigned to write for this theme definitely felt like the stars had aligned for me. ^^
Currently, there is much controversy with the Philippines' affiliation with the Pax Silica project, and how it may host the first ever data centers here in the country.
Even if you aren't Filipino, I'm sure the contents of this editorial will still prove to be meaningful to you—especially considering the current state of the world, so please enjoy!
AI is everywhere. From posters, to videos, to even music. There’s no shortage of AI wherever you look, online, offline, at school, or at home—it seems almost impossible to escape from AI’s impact in recent years. Tech enthusiasts often remark that it is the future, while other parties, particularly creatives, fiercely protest against it.
To many, the concept of artificial intelligence is mostly synonymous with negative connotations: theft, laziness, unoriginality, and stagnation. But is that truly the case? And for us students, is there truly an ethical way to utilize AI? With growing concerns over Pax Silica and how it will affect our future as Filipinos, it’s important now more than ever to address this.
For the Buwan ng Wika 2026 theme—“Wikang Filipino at AI”, we focus on the relationship between us Filipinos and the current state of artificial intelligence: What is AI to us Filipinos?
AI, to us Filipinos, means growth, innovation, and assistance.
In recent years, the prevalence of AI tools in the Philippines have only grown as the international market demands skyrocket. To many students, AI helps in easing the weight of their academic requirements: it re-checks their grammar, creates mock-quizzes, and assists with researching. There is no doubt that the presence of AI in various fields has led to incredible achievements that would otherwise have taken years to accomplish.
While it is easy to criticize it, AI is able to solve real-world problems. This is evident in AI-powered innovations designed to improve communication, education, and scientific discovery, such as DeepL, an AI-powered language tool; Google's AlphaFold1, which has accelerated biological research; and even Gizmo, a learning application widely used by students of all ages, is powered solely on AI.
Each of these programs were actively developed with humans in mind, created to ensure the advancement of society and innovation. They serve as key examples of how AI can provide us opportunities of constructive growth and societal advancements. AI has the ability to pioneer tools and techniques that assist in the field of research, help manage our workload, and overall improve the quality of living. However, that comes with its own caveats.
Recently, the development of high scale AI trained on vast amounts of data known as Large Language Models (LLMs) have brought on new opportunities with its vast capabilities. These have become business staples in the wider AI chatbot trend, integrating an accessible user interface that can be used at any time for any situation, with all your questions answered at the behest of a simple prompt.
It is true that the recent feats of LLMs have inspired innovators to keep pushing the limits and create something extraordinary. However, innovation for innovation’s sake with no real application in mind does not help us improve, it only ensures the opposite.
AI, to us Filipinos, means theft, displacement, and corruption.
The AI market is incredibly oversaturated. Tech companies and businessmen seeking quick profits often overshadow the potential benefits of AI through their costly ventures. The country’s recent involvement with Pax Silica only brings more attention to how AI affects our livelihoods and what constitutes responsible AI usage.
The outrage drawn to Pax Silica is fueled by a multitude of worries, extending more than just environmental harm. There is no guarantee to sustainability, the jobs promised, and most importantly, there is no guarantee of success. President Bongbong Marcos Jr. claimed that an estimate of 190,000 jobs could be generated from the integration of data centers, but where is the proof behind these claims? Additionally, how can we ensure these jobs will be of good quality?
Filipinos who work in the technology sector deal with threats of displacement on a day-to-day basis, with the growing concern that LLMs will replace their jobs. Heavy AI integration has only made it more difficult for junior programmers to secure a job position, with even their seniors being laid off in favor of an LLM-assisted codex. Even creatives have had their work and careers stolen from them at the hands of profit-first companies. Stolen artwork, voices, and opportunities have been the core reason why many creators are largely anti-AI, and who could truly blame them?
Environmentally speaking, AI is also continuing to become a glaring issue. According to Rappler (2026)[^2], Pax Silica’s proposed semiconductor hub demands almost 19% of Luzon’s projected peak grid demand and even more so covers the entire Visayas Grid, a literal equivalent to the combined capacity of five 620-MW Bataan Nuclear Power Plants. These power plants have historically run on massive amounts of energy, ultimately being shelved due to safety concerns in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. The mere fact these data centers require a quintuple of the energy utilized for a power plant and covers an entire large energy area grid such as Visayas is concerning enough for many Filipinos to strike against the decision.
Pax Silica is not the only player in this ongoing environmental issue; all LLM data centers are notorious for their large energy requirements, draining massive amounts of electricity and requiring millions of gallons of water daily for cooling. The massive power demand, accompanied by the risk of pollution and electronic waste, all undermine efforts toward environmental sustainability. And in a country with such lush biodiversity such as the Philippines where many endemic species reside, the risks very much outweigh the potential benefits.
Filipinos deserve more than optimistic projections: they deserve evidence that these opportunities will be secure, equitable, and worth the environmental price it proposes.
AI, to us Filipinos, means change.
Change, whether positive or negative, is something we cannot fully control. The arguments drawn about AI are all valid in their own right, two truths can coexist with one another: it helps us—but it also takes from us. The current way AI is being thrown at our faces is something to be rightfully criticized: when it is used only for the pursuit of profit rather than the intent to grow and improve, when students start over-relying on AI and becoming cognitively dependent on it—that is when it becomes a concern.
AI is not something that should encompass our livelihoods, it should not take away from the ground that we walk on. At the same time, it is wrong to claim that AI cannot help us pave the way for a brighter future—which is why responsible AI usage is a must in today’s world where people use AI for even the simplest things. We must improve on what we already have, not set our sights for more and destroy the environment in the process.
Although some people may wish to return to the way things were, change is inevitable, and AI is no exception. The challenge lies not in avoiding change, but in adapting to it responsibly. Therefore, we must adjust to this change and choose to use AI in an honest and responsible way.
Ultimately, we must take into account the preservation and importance of humans, especially in the midst of an AI-powered world. Human effort, love, and passion cannot easily be replaced by machine-generated content. AI exists to assist us, to help us grow and achieve milestones, not to replace creatives and blatantly disregard the need for human minds. AI cannot and will not replace humanity in its current state.
An LLM is a tool first and foremost, not a crutch. Humans should have decision-making authority over an AI’s actions, and a tool is only as malicious as its user. It is us humans that choose whether or not to use these LLMs for the greater good or for morally corrupt purposes. Responsible AI usage does not just end with understanding the fundamental deficiencies and benefits of AI, it relies on honesty and equity just as much as any other practice. In the end, an AI-assisted future is better than an AI-dominated one.
If you have any thoughts on this editorial, please let me know! I'm quite new to professionally writing, so I'd appreciate any and all feedback.