First of two parts
The call to jail the crooks in the flood-control corruption scandal thundered above all others in a setting intended to highlight athletic excellence and school pride, not political defiance: “Ikulong na ’yan, mga kurakot!”
It was halftime during the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) basketball match between the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University on Oct. 19, 2025. The two varsity teams’ respective pep squad dancers stood in formation and shouted, “Ikulong na ’yan, mga kurakot!” Their bodies moved with intent as their message cut sharply through the enthusiastic audience. Meanwhile, Ateneo de Mania University’s cheering squad stood on the hardwood wearing spray-painted shirts that spelled “KURAKOT IKULONG.”
Soon after the transformation of that halftime performance into an act of protest, the chant would dominate similar protest activities in which the politically awakened demographic now actively takes part.
Who exactly are the Gen Z youth unafraid and, as they say, ngayon ay lumalaban (now fighting)? Those born between 1997 and 2012 have been shaped by a world defined by global connectivity. As digital natives, they grew up immersed in rapid technological changes that have become integral parts of their daily life.
With quick access to online information and platforms, Gen Zs have been exposed early on to social issues and shaped into highly opinionated and socially aware individuals. Many of them do not let their screens take over their actions and they take to the streets to join other sectors in protest.
They show up still wearing their school IDs, backpacks slung over one shoulder, and thrifted outfits carefully chosen to express individuality. Their appearance reflects creativity, self-expression, and a desire to stand out while signaling solidarity with their peers. Their placards carry their sentiments, their grief is expressed in witty slogans.
Even in mass mobilizations, Gen Zs’ style becomes a statement of identity and purpose. They are refusing to be silenced; they are showing that activism today is as much about visibility and voice as it is about conviction.
Classroom beyond the classroom
Gen Zs’ political consciousness was not formed solely within school walls but through parallel education in the digital world. In a time when lies are loud and truth is drowned out, the instinct of this generation is to challenge narratives. They are built from the realities of poverty, corruption and uneven justice, and are developing a political instinct sharper than what older generations think.
For years, Gen Z activism has been dismissed as “keyboard warrior” behavior, limited to hashtags, infographics, and online callouts. But as social issues worsened, the line between online frustration and offline organizing began to blur.
Having grown up with the technology right in their space, Gen Zs are mostly active on social media, consuming and/or making content. They are exposed to news either informative or falsified. Many engage in the difficult task of figuring out if a post is correct or merely AI-generated.
What sparked a fire in the minds of Gen Zs are viral photos and videos showing how government officials and private citizens are living in-your-face lavish lifestyles while thousands upon thousands of Filipinos are begging for the barest minimum wage. Gen Zs’ callout culture—or, as they call it, “cancel culture”—are their way of demanding that those involved in corrupt acts be held fully accountable. (The presence of social media in today’s political climate is important, particularly if one is politically aware, active, and participating in activities such as liking, commenting, and sharing.)
Words from the wise
It’s said that the youth are the hope of the nation, yet many criticize young people as a nuisance or just brainwashed by what they see in their gadgets. But the young people fighting for our rights are among the reasons why we have our rights. Activism is not entirely aimed at violence; it is aimed at fighting oppression and injustice, toward a beneficial life for all.
Egay Cabalitan, secretary general of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, said this negative mindset toward the young also prevailed during his college days at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. “Ang tingin sa atin ay bata pa tayo at marami pang kakainin,” he said in an interview, describing the dim view of youthful inexperience.
Cabalitan recalled that when he was involved in the school paper then, he called out the restrictions on student attire as irrelevant to getting an education. He faced difficulties, specially with the school administration, he said.
“The idea of changing times is now more acceptable than before. There is now great belief in the youth as the hope of the protest movement,” Cabalitan said in Filipino.
Carol Araullo, a former youth leader and now retired as chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said in an interview: “The student movement today has a wealth of knowledge and information, and the experiences of the early generation, to do the task that is in front of you now.”
Araullo was among those imprisoned during Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship. She recalled that when she was a student at UP Diliman, she would explain national issues to students from classroom to classroom and join street protests.
She said her parents originally did not want her to be actively involved in the protest movement, but eventually came to believe that it is her calling. “Kung hindi ako, sino ang gagawa?” she said, voicing the critical question: If not me, then who?
To this day, Araullo guides the youth involved in the struggle for justice, including the campaign against government corruption. CS
Alessandra L. Causapin and Church Dolatre are completing a bachelor’s degree in international studies at Miriam College in Quezon City. Causapin is majoring in global development and gender studies, and Dolatre is majoring in international politics and peace studies.
