5 Things Gen Z Filipinos are Sick of Hearing from Adults

Filipino boomers think that Gen Z Filipinos are all just kids who are obsessed with TikTok or are still taking their first steps. That’s their first mistake — a handful of us are already in the workplace or are already living on their own.

While that’s perfectly fine, what we don’t appreciate are these labels old people love giving us to dismiss what we have to say. What they don’t know is they’re the ones who end up looking like fools because picking a fight with someone half their age just makes them look insecure.

Here are six of the worst things we keep hearing about Gen Z Filipinos that need to be put to bed.

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1. You don’t know anything.

While wisdom does come with age, it doesn’t mean that we don’t know what we’re doing or saying. Filipino boomers love to claim that we don’t know anything when we speak about something remotely political. But when our opinions are backed up with facts or simply consider basic human rights, then maybe they should listen to what we have to say.

It’s just a universal truth that you aren’t treated seriously the younger you are. So imagine how tired we are pointing out valid and research-based arguments but having them fly over people’s heads because we have a little less wrinkles on our face.

2. You get offended too easily.

I’ll be the first to say that this is true to an extent. Twitter and Instagram are a cesspool of eager Gen Z Filipinos cancelling people over the smallest of things. But most of the time, we are offended when someone does or says something which reinforces a culture of hate and oppression.

Trust us, we have better things to do than to tweet about what’s offending us for the day. But when activists are getting killed left and right for simply fighting for what we are owed, the worst thing a person can do is to sit back and watch things happen. Have you ever thought that maybe we wouldn’t be offended all the time if there’s nothing to be offended about?

We’ve already pointed out why calling us snowflakes is not a good idea. And if you don’t see anything wrong with what we’re ranting about, maybe it’s time to educate yourself.

3. You’re wrong because back in the day…

It’s hard to accept that the world has changed so much the past years. Filipino adults should realize that their values and traditions aged along with them. Not everything that was taboo back then is still taboo now. For example, same-sex relationships and premarital sex are more widely-accepted now than they were back then.

Being vehemently against children for supporting or engaging in these things because they didn’t fly in society back then is a lame excuse. Just say you’re judgmental and move along. The Philippines is still a country dominated by religious beliefs, and there’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of truly “accepting” these so-called taboos. But we don’t have to shun anyone just because of what society back then thought.

It’s 2020. If you have access to the internet, then you should know why it’s so easy for Gen Z Filipinos to accept people from different backgrounds. We are constantly exposed to diverse views from all over the country and world.

4. You’re overreacting.

This line can pertain to a lot of things, but let’s shine a light on how some older people just disregard mental health so easily. Depression exists and suicide rate is increasing in the Philippines. Yet there are those who still can’t get it in their heads that these issues do happen to more people than they think.

When you tell someone who is experiencing anxiety attacks or fighting a silent battle against suicidal thoughts that they’re overreacting, what do you think they’ll feel? Do you think they’ll be comfortable confiding in you next time?

It wasn’t an issue back then because people didn’t have a name for it; hell, I didn’t even know what mental health was until I was in college back in 2016. But now that there is more awareness around the idea of mental health, there is no excuse for someone who has heard about it to dismiss it completely. When a parent doesn’t believe a child who says that they may be depressed, it’s just blatant disregard on their part.

5. You have it easy.

Listen, we totally understand why you may think that everything is easy nowadays. The advances in technology from the moment we were born have been nothing short of amazing. We are appreciative of the fact that we can have a message sent over instantly, and be able to watch a show we choose anytime we want.

But it’s unfair to think that our life is sunshine and rainbows. Gen Z Filipinos face problems which are unique to a generation that grew up with the internet. Cyberbullying springs to mind as a prevalent example. Catphishing, sexual harassment in dating apps, and death threats sent through the internet are also things that some of us have fallen victim to.

Additionally, our late teens and twenties are supposed to be some of the best years of our lives, yet we are growing up in a world that’s doomed to fail. If you think we’re overreacting again, then you probably haven’t educated yourself about climate change even if its effects are staring you right at the face. The intense typhoons will kill us if not gunshots from policemen.

Guess which generation our current leaders are from. Now, guess which generation will have to clean up the mess in the future while taking all the blame.

So no, we do not have it easy. And even if we do, you are not a better person for having it harder.

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We have a lot to say about older generations looking down on Gen Z Filipinos. Read our open letter to boomers. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.