Posted by ReyFort Media
Content Warning: This article contains discussions of mental health, depression and suicide.
Television host Kim “Kuya Kim” Atienza, who has spoken about his daughter’s mental health struggles, reacted to Sen. Robin Padilla‘s comments about the youth being “weak” nowadays and depression being “unheard of” in his time.
Kuya Kim reportedly commented on a news publication’s post featuring Robin’s remarks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on the Children’s Safety in Social Media Act.
“Ang mga bata po ngayon, sad to say, huwag kayong magagalit sa’kin, nako, maraming batang magagalit siguro, pero pasensya na kayo, you are weak,” the senator said on Wednesday, February 11.
“Hindi kayo katulad nung panahon namin na hindi kami iyakin. Natuto kami, natuto kami sa kalsada, natuto kami na huwag umupo, umiyak,” he added.
“Nung panahon namin, hindi uso ‘yung salitang depression. Hindi ko nga alam ‘yun eh, kung ano ‘yung depression. Ngayon batang maliit, sasabihin, I’m depressed. Magulo eh. Kaya sana po pag-usapan po natin ito,” Robin further said.
He went on to recall how the youth of the ’80s and ’90s spent their time.
“Siguro naman, iba dito, ‘di ko man kaedad, ay naranasan niyo ‘yung panahon ng 90s, 80s, na tayo ay mga naglalaro pa sa kalsada. Tayo ay masaya pa, alam pa natin kung ano ang camping, alam pa natin kung ano ‘yung pakikipagkaibigan, alam pa natin kung ano ang kalsada,” Robin said.
‘Not that simple’
Meanwhile, Robin’s comments about the youth being “weak” and depression being supposedly unheard of in his time struck a chord with Kuya Kim, whose youngest child has struggled with mental health conditions.
“It’s not that simple, Mr. Senator. It is not that simple,” he reportedly wrote in a comment.
Kim also shared a more detailed reaction on his social media account, saying that “a little kindness (and understanding) goes a long way.”
“On February 11, during a Senate hearing on the proposed Children’s Safety in Social Media Act, Senator Robin Padilla said depression wasn’t something they talked about in his generation, going as far as to describe today’s youth as ‘weak.’ The internet didn’t take long to respond — it’s 2026, after all,” the TV host said on Thursday, February 12.
“While views may differ on how depression is understood across generations, one thing is clear: support should always be available. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 24/7 crisis hotlines, because whether or not the word was used before, the need for help is real for many today,” Kuya Kim added.
The TV host had a 19-year-old daughter, late content creator Emman Atienza, who initially attempted to take her life in 2020.
He stayed by her side for days at a time when visitors were strictly limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kuya Kim also previously said that mental illness is “unpredictable,” adding that “anything can trigger” depression.
“Losing your phone, getting scolded, a small rejection. People with chemical imbalance, they can’t always choose correctly. It’s not about willpower. When you’re sick, your brain makes wrong choices,” he said.
“So never say, ‘She chose it.’ Because when you’re that sick, you’re not choosing the same way we are. You’re fighting a battle we can’t see,” the TV host added, referring to his daughter’s suicide attempt.
A spokesperson for the College Editors Guild of the Philippines also reacted to Robin’s comments about depression, saying it should not be considered a “taboo” topic.
Brell Lacerna, national convenor of Kabataan Tayo ang Pag-Asa, said the youth’s knowledge about depression and mental health should not be seen as a weakness but a way of addressing the problem, considering the topic is now more openly discussed than before.
Depression is a common mental disorder characterized by a persistently depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in activities for extended periods.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 5.7% of adults worldwide suffer from depression, with women being disproportionately affected compared to men.
Signs of depression include a loss of interest or pleasure in activities and experiencing a depressed mood, such as feeling sad, irritable, or empty. (J. Malasig/Interaskyon)
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