Redefining Strength and Masculinity in the “Iyakin” Generation

“Ang mga bata po ngayon, sad to say, wag kayong magagalit sakin. Naku, maraming batang magagalit siguro, pero pasensya na kayo…you are weak,”  (“Kids nowadays, sadly, please don’t get mad at me—oh, I’m sure many of you will get upset—but forgive me…you are weak,”) commented Senator Robin Padilla during a Senate hearing on February 11, 2026. This remark was made during a review of proposed bills regulating children’s use of social media, in response to rising concerns about internet addiction. In the same discussion, Padilla called the young people “crybabies” or iyakin, citing cyberbullying incidents to argue that social media has made today’s generation more emotionally vulnerable than Generation X, whom he described as more “street smart.” However, this perspective overlooks how social media exposes youth to constant pressure, revealing a lack of a deeper understanding of today’s mental health challenges.

With an estimated 7 million to 12.5 million Filipinos across multiple generations diagnosed with mental health conditions, the country currently confronts a mental health crisis that should not be reduced to mere weakness. Labeling today’s youth as “weak” oversimplifies the complications of mental health and reinforces harmful cultural ideals that equate emotional vulnerability with incapacity, particularly within traditional masculine norms that discourage emotional expression.

To begin with, stereotyping the present generation as overly emotional for expressing their feelings and struggles neglects the complexities of mental health. Padilla argued that “depression” was not a common term used during the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, the absence of the term does not mean the absence of struggle. It’s crucial to acknowledge that these challenges aren’t new; previous generations also experienced them, often without proper diagnosis, public awareness, or access to mental health services. In contrast, greater openness and mental health literacy today have proven to be beneficial in helping individuals develop healthier coping strategies and seek appropriate support. Conditions like depression and anxiety disorders are now widely recognized as legitimate clinical concerns rooted in biological and physiological abnormalities, and for good reason. 

Television personality Kim Atienza, whose daughter died by taking her own life on October 24, 2025, criticized Padilla’s statement and stressed the importance of support systems and crisis hotlines. Emman was a 19-year-old social media influencer who had spoken openly about her mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD-related issues, and often faced online harassment or cyberbullying as a result. Her experience is a testimony to the severity of depression and a lesson to never underestimate cases of mental health. “Hindi alam ni Robin ang sinasabi niya. Wala siyang alam sa pinagdaraanan ng mga kabataan. Kung kahinaan ang depression para sa kaniya, siya mismo ang mahina. Siya mismo ang problema,” Kim Atienza expressed. (“Robin does not know what he is talking about. He does not understand what young people are going through. If he considers depression a weakness, then he himself is weak. He himself is the problem.”) Atienza’s words remind us that careless language can invalidate lived experiences of grief and fail to recognize the nuanced nature of mental health challenges, making it harder for those affected to seek the help they so need. 

Underlying this debate is a traditional model of masculinity that equates strength with emotional restraint, which helps explain and contextualize why statements like Padilla’s frame vulnerability as fragility. In older generations, men who expressed vulnerability were often judged as weak, leading to the suppression of emotions. As a well-known action star in the ‘90s, Padilla himself portrayed tough male characters who embodied physical strength and an emotionally detached persona often associated with traditional masculinity. Many young men who grew up watching such depictions would eventually be influenced to believe that showing no emotion is a source of strength. Though traditional masculinity may appear to be harmless, it can actually promote emotional resistance that prevents individuals from seeking necessary support.

At the end of the day, calling today’s youth “weak” for showing their emotions dismisses real mental health struggles and keeps outdated ideas of masculinity alive. Mental health struggles are real, and they warrant understanding, not ridicule. From a Christian perspective, this also reflects a deeper moral calling to treat others with kindness, regardless of age, gender, or status. We never know what difficulties someone is going through, so as Emman Atienza said, “be(ing) a little kind” might just be the thing that lifts someone’s spirits from a place of darkness. By choosing empathy over mockery, our society can empower young people to face modern challenges with resilience and confidence.