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.

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.

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.

The post 5 Things Gen Z Filipinos are Sick of Hearing from Adults appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

We can all agree that growing up with Filipino parents isn’t easy. Of course they’ll always hold a special place in our hearts with the sweet things they do for us. Sometimes though, they just do crazy things that drive us up the wall!

Here are some signs that you lived in a house with Filipino parents. Warning though: some of the things here may be too real.

1. You were scolded because of perfectly good grades.

Filipino parents are just obsessed with grades! Like their Asian counterparts, a passing grade isn’t enough. And they won’t pretend to hide their disappointment if you don’t get an A+.

Sometimes we wonder if they’re pushing us to study harder just so they could share our achievements in their news feeds! But thankfully, their obsession with our grades seems to go away once we’ve entered college.

2. You eat indoors because “there’s food at home”.

You know the famous saying: Filipino parents will tell you they know a place, and then take you to the house to eat. When we were younger, it was annoying to hear that you were just going to eat at home especially when you wanted to dine out in a nice place.

Now that we’re older though, it’s just funny; we are thankful that we even have food in the first place. We now realize that eating at home is just more practical especially now that we’re more financially-conscious. So parents, you win this round.

3. You were told not to talk back.

Dear parents reading this: what do you want us to do when you’re being so aggressive towards us? Do you expect us to just sit down and take your harsh words? As the wise PBB winner, Beatriz Saw, once said “ang respeto, hindi yan iniimpose Maricris, ine-earn yan!“

When we keep quiet, you want us to reply. But when we give you an explanation, you don’t want to hear it.

We know that when you tell us something along the lines of “aba, sumasagot ka na ngayon“, it just means that we made a fair point that you don’t want to listen to for the sake of your pride. And honestly, that makes us even angrier at you.

Your desire to win the argument will not get us anywhere.

It also sets a precedent that we should never talk back to authority even if it’s clear that they’re the one in the wrong.

4. You hid your significant other from them for too long.

When we hear our friend say that they have a boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s not uncommon to ask if their relationship is “legal”. This means that the parents of the couple know that they’re dating.

Whether jokingly or not, our protective Filipino parents have always been pretty vocal about not wanting us to engage in any relationship with anyone.

Growing up with Filipino parents means carrying a lifelong fear of being reprimanded for falling in love. We’re so scared of them that we’ll get engaged one day and not tell them until the actual wedding!

5. Your first drink was with them.

Filipino parents can be fun and they’ll let you experience your first taste of alcohol… as long as you’re with them. Going out with relatives probably means there’ll be some booze around.

And when your parents feel that you’re of age, they may be in a good enough mood to let you drink with them!

Our take: it’s the right thing to do because everyone eventually tries out alcohol anyways. So why not avoid all the inevitable sneaking and lying by letting us try it out when they’re around?

6. You got weekly sermons for going home late.

For the college kids out there, we know how you feel. Friday nights just aren’t the same without your mother nagging at you the moment your half-sober ass shows up at the door.

Most of the time, nothing really comes of it. We end up being stuck in a loop of going home late and pissing our parents off (we’re sorry!). We do admit that we still get war flashbacks from our mother asking us where we are while we’re still out.

7. You aren’t able to follow a diet.

Growing up with Filipino parents means growing up in a house where empty stomachs is a no-no! They will do everything to feed us until our stomachs become so bloated, they show through our shirt. Which is weird because they’re also the first to criticize us when we gain even the slightest weight.

This spells bad news for someone attempting to lose some pounds or try out a new diet. The more you resist, the more they’ll insist on serving you a tempting cup of rice. If you’re that stubborn, they’ll place food in your plate themselves!

8. You have titas who know everything about you.

Man, do Filipino parents love gossip! Family gatherings wouldn’t be complete without a tita you barely know asking a question that’s just too personal. You don’t even have to ask where they got their tea about you, because it’s always from your mom and dad.

However, we do appreciate all their supportive comments in our Facebook posts even if they may bring up details that do not need to be seen by our friends.

9. You had to dispel fake news in Viber.

Despite insisting that they are smarter than us because of their age, Filipino parents are more susceptible to being victims of fake news. It’s become a common occurrence for them to forward a chain message in the family Viber chat that has no inkling of truth to it.

These messages can range from political propaganda to ridiculous headlines meant to spread unfounded panic. And unfortunately, we have the responsibility of calling them out.

10. You had to take up pre-med, law, or engineering.

Our dreams can wait. It’s a universal truth that parents force their children to take up courses that will lead them to financial success. But for Filipinos, it’s often courses related to medicine, law, and engineering fields since the people who work there are highly regarded in society.

This is an unfortunately reality for many of us who want to pursue a career that we are passionate about. Such is life in a capitalist world.

11. You had thought about them in your future.

No matter how much they drive us insane, we can’t let them go. And that means always thinking about where they fit in our plans for the future. Living in such a family-centric culture means that our parents will always be in the picture whether we like it or not.

They may have caused some emotional scars and a tainted relationship with you. You’ve probably reached a breaking point where you thought how amazing it would be to move out. When you’ve stayed under their roof for so long, it can be mentally draining to have them control your life and not treat you like an adult.

But for some of us, it’s difficult to hate them for too long. They always worm their way back into our hearts.

It’s definitely an adventure growing up with Filipino parents. They have some quirks and ways of doing things that we may never understand until we hit their age. On some days, you love them. On some days, you hate them.

But one thing’s for sure: you’re in for a ride.

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Featured Image: Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

The post 11 Signs You Grew Up with Filipino Parents (That are Too Real) appeared first on Zoomers Corner.