"Empowerment is not about standing above others but lifting them up alongside you."

Gabriel Matthew Lopez is a Filipino youth leader, public servant, and advocate for media and information literacy. He currently serves as the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson of Barangay Kanluran Kabubuhayan and the National Convener of the Model SK Network. He is also employed as an Analyst I at Northern Trust.

Lopez is widely recognized for his work on promoting responsible media use, transparency, and youth development. He is a member of the Philippine Association of Media and Information Literacy and the International Association for Media Education based in Brussels, Germany. He actively supports the Freedom of Information (FOI) movement through grassroots lobbying and public awareness campaigns.

In 2024, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized Lopez for his contributions to youth governance and public service. The same year, he was named one of the recipients of the Benilde Trailblazer Startup (BTS) Awards, receiving a ₱500,000 grant during the PBED JobsNext's NEXTGEN Hackathon. The grant aims to help develop skills relevant to Industry 4.0.

As a legislator, Lopez authored and sponsored several key ordinances, including:

1. Comprehensive Youth Welfare and Development Ordinance

2. Freedom of Information Ordinance

3. An ordinance prohibiting individuals aged 18 and below from consuming alcoholic beverages, using vapes, or tobacco products in public places, and regulating their sale and distribution to minors.

Lopez is the proponent of the first Model SK Youth Code in his barangay and later drafted its provincial version for broader implementation.

He has represented the Philippines in various international conferences, including the DCN Global Forums in Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, where he spoke on youth media, digital literacy, and democratic transformation.

Speaking Engagements

• Malabon Freedom of Information Caravan, Malabon City University (March 29, 2025)

• Youth Awareness Campaign on Anti-Insurgency, Terrorism and Criminality, Cultural Center of Laguna (March 4, 2025)

• Building Resilience of Young Leaders, Laguna University (January 24, 2025)

• UNA KA: The City of San Pedro Youth Convention 2024, San Pedro City (August 26, 2024)

• Leadership Seminar, Barangay Wawa, Lumban, Laguna (August 24, 2024)

• BANYUHAY Leadership Training Camp 2.0, San Francisco, Nagcarlan, Laguna (August 24, 2024)

• Leadership Training 2024, Calumpang National High School (August 23, 2024)

• Linggo ng Kabataan, Barangay Sinipian, Nagcarlan, Laguna (August 25, 2024)

• Seminar on SOGIESC, Barangay Bambang, Nagcarlan, Laguna (August 18, 2024)

• Academic Assistance and Youth Week Celebration, Barangay Bukal, Liliw, Laguna (August 11, 2024)

• KK: SOGIE Awareness Seminar 2024, Barangay Poblacion 2, Nagcarlan, Laguna (September 7, 2024)

• KULAYdoscope "Queer Premier" Pride Month Celebration, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City (June 29, 2024)

• Youth Volunteers Camp, PULSO, Pagsanjan, Laguna (June 29, 2024)

• Pagtatalaga IV: National Leaders Congress, San Fernando, Pampanga (June 27, 2024)

• Youth Talk (27th Episode), Youth Development Affairs of Laguna (June 21, 2024)

• Global Youth Summit 2024, SM City Santa Rosa (June 15, 2024)

• Pagsanjan Youth Development Orientation and Election, CLA Events Center (March 23, 2024)

• Leader Generator: National Service Reserve Corps, LSPU San Pablo Campus (March 10, 2024)

• Laguna Youth Parliament 2024, Youth Parliamentarians of Laguna (February 24, 2024)

• Information Integrity in the Digital Age, DCN Global, Sydney, Australia (October 16, 2023)

• Ano ang Totoo? Grassroots Dialogue, San Pedro City (August 26, 2023)

• Information Integrity Crusade, Technological University of the Philippines, Manila (June 9, 2023)

• UDM Grassroots Dialogue, Universidad De Manila (May 15, 2023)

• AMMUEM Seminar, Isabela State University - Ilagan Campus (May 13, 2023)

• Debaten: Timbangin ang Kaalaman, Xavier Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (January 7, 2025)

• Senior High School Leadership Training, Marist School, Marikina City (December 2, 2022)

• Capacity Building Training, Isabela Youth-led Network for the Right to Information (December 22, 2022)

• Unraveling Misinformation: Safeguarding Democracy in the 2024 Global Elections, DCN Global (April 12, 2024)