These Gen Z actors have heard it all before
With every turn of a generation, the older guard looks at its younger counterparts, shakes its head, and says, “Kids these days.” The generational pissing contest is alive and well—and perhaps never more so. And over the past couple of years, the punching bag has been Gen Z.
They have been called lazy, entitled, easily offended, or even uneducated; the supporting cast of the youth-oriented series “You’re My Favorite Song” has heard it all before. But if there’s one stereotype they’re determined to reject, it’s the idea that they will simply take it.
“I always hear or read that Gen Z is more sensitive. I think that’s true. But that’s just because Gen Z is more aware of their emotions. They’re more vocal about what they want or what they don’t want,” Waynona Collings, 19, says. “They’re not caged.”
Braver and more open
For the actors, being more in tune with their emotions also means being more willing to discuss topics that others might consider taboo, such as mental health, identity, and setting healthy boundaries.
“I think we’re more open and understanding of what’s happening, perhaps compared to previous generations where some things weren’t tackled as openly,” Andrei Fajardo, 18, says. “Kahit na hindi socially accepted ‘yong topic, that doesn’t stop us from speaking up. I think that’s a positive step and progress toward having a more accepting society.”
This willingness to speak up doesn’t end at personal well-being; they also aren’t afraid to lend their voices to social issues and even politics.
Lee Victor says that contrary to how others paint them Gen Z isn’t “uneducated” or “walang alam.” If anything, he says that it’s their engagement—and the knowledge that comes with it—that probably ruffles some people’s feathers.
“We’re super educated. We have a deeper understanding about those things,” says the 17-year-old actor. “Dati parang takot ang mga tao mag-speak up kasi baka malagot sila. Pero ngayon maraming matatapang na teenagers. At mas sila ngayon ang natatakot sa knowledge we have.”
Bridging generations
What they hope for isn’t to have every misconception about them dispelled—they simply want to be understood a little better. “You’re My Favorite Song,” they say, could well serve as a bridge between generations. While this afternoon series by GMA Public Affairs is primarily a romantic drama, it also depicts the highs and lows of teen life today.
At the fictional Brighton Bay Academy, the young actors play students navigating academic rivalries, crushes, friendships, and parental pressures. They come from different backgrounds and upbringings, but the series shows that they still grapple with many of the same struggles.
“It highlights the importance of understanding others despite our differences. Every character represents a real person in real life, and it’s beautiful to have the opportunity to portray that for a wide audience,” Fajardo says. “The more we study our characters, the more we begin to realize why they act the way they do.”
Shared responsibility
For Princess Aliyah, that desire to be understood hits close to home. “My mom would say, ‘Sometimes, I don’t understand you anymore,’” relates Princess Aliyah, 17. “So it feels good to be part of a project that shows how teenagers handle their problems, and I hope that helps others understand how teenagers think.”
Victor adds that, after all, bridging generational gaps is a responsibility shared by young people and those who came before them. “The show also reminds us to teach our children the right stuff before it’s too late,” he says. “To secure the future, teach them right, raise them right.”
“You’re My Favorite Song” may not answer every question or change people’s minds overnight, but for these young, emerging talents, the conversation continues.
And they hope to keep “learning, questioning, and using their voices along the way.”
