Kuya Kim Atienza utilized his platform to share his thoughts on depression.
His response was directed at a statement made by Senator Robin Padilla during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media concerning the proposed Children’s Safety in Social Media Act. Senator Padilla claimed that today’s youth is “weak” amid ongoing discussions about mental health and the increasing rates of suicide.
He said, “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. Hindi kayo katulad nung panahon namin na hindi kami iyakin. Natuto kami, natuto kami sa kalsada, natuto kami na huwag umupo, umiyak.”
Kuya Kim began his post by reminding everyone of the importance of kindness. He said, “A little kindness (and understanding) goes a long way.”
He added, “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.”
Kuya Kim emphasized that support should always be accessible and that there is a continuous need for assistance.
“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 has been advocating for kindness as a legacy in honor of his late daughter, Emman Atienza.
Emman passed away at the age of 19. Through her platform, she openly shared her struggles with depression and her experiences with self-harm in past interviews and social media posts.
