Layout by: Cristian Tulisana
Published by: Francen Anne Perez
Date Published: October 2, 2025
Time Published: 3:35 PM
Hope. Youth. Country. These three words have great impact and importance to the Filipino people of the 21st century. It became more apparent with the recent senatorial elections. According to data from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), 18.3 million Gen Z voters have emerged in the 2025 Midterm elections, making up 60% of the total registered Filipino voters alongside the Millenials. Gen Z used this election as a chance to change for improvement, and the results did not disappoint but created hope for the country’s betterment.
Gen Z would embody these words nowadays by using their voices to whisper, to speak, and to scream louder than ever about what they want and what they need. They use their voices to amplify those who cannot be heard. They use these voices to ask for change, to ask for improvement, and to ask:
“Excuse me, what are you listening to?”
Youth these days will answer, “Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” an eternalized line from the 1879 Spanish poem “A la Juventud Filipina” or “To the Filipino Youth”. Since then this verse became a famous quote that describes the Filipino youth, whatever generation it is. For that reason, many people now think that it’s clichΓ©— like a broken record that keeps playing even if the people are already tired of hearing it. However, the more you listen to this old CD, the more you realize how fitting it is to describe society.
Generation Z or the so-called Gen Z are the new generation of youth, ranging from 13 to 28 year olds. Among these people, are the rising leaders that aspire to prove that the youth is indeed the hope of the motherland. From class projects, school organizations, youth associations, to local government positions or even higher, Gen Zs take these as a chance to display their leadership skills.
But what makes Gen Z’s leadership skills different from the other generation? What’s the secret that lies within the impressive method of authority? What kind of lyric can describe the growing influence of Gen Z leaders besides Rizal’s famous line?
I’M LISTENING TO “AWIT NG KABATAAN” BY RIVERMAYA
“Kabataan. Panahon. Kabataan. Ngayon na ang ating panahon.” Is something the youth say to themselves, especially the leaders of Gen Z. They tell themselves that now is indeed their moment to take control. However, the “now” is something that is honed from the “past”, similar to how the “young” is refined from the “old”.
What makes Gen Z’s leadership unique is that even though they take the effort to make progress, they still wouldn’t go far from the traditional values that they learned from home.
Gen Z leaders' effective actions to eliminate negative cultural values like “hiya”, “pakikisama”, “utang na loob”, etc. is what leads youth to be more productive than ever. It’s what makes the society progressive little by little with the help of Gen Z leaders’ challenging the norms. Some people would think that Gen Z are trying to deviate from every cultural value that many Filipinos have grown accustomed to— but no.
Filipino Gen Z leaders are leaders that are made by the homeland, Philippines. These leaders still retain the religious and family-oriented values they learned from home and incorporate it to their leadership perspectives; demonstrating a perfect example of doing something new while still maintaining things that have been there for a long time.
I’M LISTENING TO “‘HALL OF FAME” BY THE SCRIPT
“And the world’s gonna know your name,” A dream that many Gen Z have imagined. To make that dream plausible is to use social media as a tool for making fame. But Gen Z leaders are built differently because not only do they use it as a platform to gain popularity, they also use it for better causes such as awareness.
Facebook. Tiktok. Instagram. Who knows social media as much as Gen Z does? According to statistics, Gen Z spends an average of 4 hours daily using social media. Gen Z uses them to find entertainment and cure their boredom but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Gen Z leaders or Gen Z in particular use these platforms for awareness and communication. These young people are very aware of what's happening around them and spread them online. They prioritize awareness so much that they are very open minded and opinionated when it comes to certain issues. With social media, they can research stuff that is talked about online and know what’s right and wrong on things like politics and employ it in the way that they lead.
I’M LISTENING TO “ONLY THE YOUNG” BY TAYLOR SWIFT
“They think that it’s over, but it’s just begun,” It absolutely just began that people see progress in the old-fashioned society. People are now more accepting of differences. Nowadays, race, skin color, gender, and other distinctions are starting to not feel like a subject of shame but a sense of pride for uniqueness.
Gen Z leaders are the first ones to take steps into these great changes, influencing others to have an open mindset and not judge others by their physical appearance. That’s what makes their leadership skills unique. It’s because they don’t choose who they lead but choose how they lead instead.
So how does Gen Z lead? These leaders built their team with loyalty. They believe that open and honest communication is the key to great teamwork. They are ambitious enough to work hard in leading their people but confident enough to rely on trust.
These leaders of the youth shape their team in a collaborative way instead of being authoritative and based on hierarchy. They empower and support their people instead of commanding and building a high barrier from them. With these, it produces a bond within their team that is strong and harmonious.
I’M LISTENING TO “LIWANAG SA DILIM” BY RIVERMAYA
“At sa paghamon mo sa agos ng ating kasaysayan, uukit ka ng bagong daan,” It’s undeniable that these words are what Gen Z leaders constantly remind themselves when they are fighting to prove themselves to the society that they are trying to lead.
“Bata ka pa lang. Wala ka pang alam,” is what they always hear from those older than them. What could they possibly know if they’re too young to experience anything? That same question is the question that they’re trying to prove wrong to society.
Gen Z leaders face these hardships of generational gaps often, with people not crediting them for their work, naming them as too inexperienced to lead.
This leads to Gen Z leaders having to work harder to make their voices heard. Even with further challenges like mental health stigma and discrimination, they don’t let them stop in reaching their goals to make their team and the society itself to progress for the better.
These young voices that seem like the light to the dark, can be heard telling others that being young doesn’t equate to incapability. Experience may be the best teacher but it isn’t the only way to gain knowledge. You can lead and learn at the same time.
I’M LISTENING TO “VIVA LA VIDA” BY COLDPLAY
“I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin’, Roman Cavalry choirs are singin’” is the perfect feeling Gen Z leaders describe when they successfully achieve their goals, may it be for their team or for the society. Sure, there are still challenges to be faced and barriers to break but progress can be seen and voices can be heard.
Gen Z may be grasping the “now” and challenging the “past”, but what does the “future” hold for them?
One day, these young leaders will be the one leading the country towards improvement. They will take responsibility that may seem big at the moment but will be honorable once they hold them. They will transform the society into progressive one; a society that builds on trust, acceptance, and empathy— things that they can only afford to bring to their own small team, organization, or councils today.
Youth. Hope. Country. These three words are not only seen in the 1879 Spanish poem “A la Juventud Filipina” but also in the actions of every Gen Z leader who takes pride in what they’re doing, however small it is. Because a small ripple can create big waves and these big waves can change how we are as a society.
One day, we’ll be grateful to those young people that lead and influence us. And before we know it, the community that they created will be improved further by another set of young leaders.
We’ll be hearing the “Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” again and again like a broken record that plays continuously, telling you how powerful tiny voices can be. These tiny voices can either sing a melody that demands change like a leader or ask you right in your ear, “What song are you listening to?”
REFERENCES:
[1] Mateo, J. (2025, May 11). Millennials, Gen Z make up 60 percent of voting population. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/05/12/2442408/millennials-gen-z-make-60-percent-voting-population
[2] Content Science Review. (2025, January 2). Gen Z Content Consumption Fact Sheet. https://review.content-science.com/gen-z-content-consumption-fact-sheet/#:~:text=They%20make%20heavy%20use%20of,Related:%20Millennial%20Consumption%20Fact%20Sheet
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