Spilling the Tea on Generation Z

BY RAYE ANGELIQUE Y. BONGABONG

Let’s face it. Almost all of us, myself included, have been tempted and most certainly have bought items before on Shopee and Lazada on their monthly sales. Who wouldn’t be? After all, who could resist Korean heartthrob Lee Min Ho’s adorable “Add to cart now!” and the startling Shopee notifications starring the iconic Kris Aquino? We cannot deny how large the impact e-commerce has worldwide. Not only is online shopping very convenient and time-saving, but it also eradicates borders as customers can order from anywhere in the world as long as international shipping is delivered to their country. You can literally buy everything online nowadays which puts it a step above retail shopping. Being in an archipelagic country, online shopping is definitely an essential for Filipinos that purchase items that are not readily available in their areas. But online shopping has become an essential for Filipinos in an entirely different way during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quarantine has paralyzed the economy and retail stores suffered as protocols prevented customers to shop leisurely. Hoarding essential goods earlier in the pandemic posed a predicament to consumers as local stores ran out of supplies. Some had no choice but to depend on online shopping for their necessities since there was almost an unlimited supply online minus the fear of catching the COVID-19 virus. Others used online shopping as a coping mechanism for this difficult year by purchasing non-essentials that spark joy. Since then, online shopping has been patronized by consumers as Philippine e-commerce giants, Shopee and Lazada, hold monthly sales and amusing games where you can win cash prizes. To give you a better picture of the prominence of online shopping in the Philippines, Shopee reported that 200 million items were sold and Lazada reported that 3 million items were sold in the first hour on both of the platforms’ 11.11 sale. Many retail stores and brands observed the influx of online shoppers which caused them to amplify their online visibility with social media accounts and online stores. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have also established their online presence with GCash, Paypal, and bank transfers as their main mode of payments. Although business is slow, having a small following and visible social media presence can make or break brands in the pandemic.

Local MSMEs have higher expenses in sourcing, manufacturing, and marketing their products since they do not have enough resources. This leads to higher prices and limited stocks of goods which can potentially turn off prospect customers. However, as the economy of the Philippines significantly dropped, local brands and businesses suffered the bigger blow during quarantine compared to multinational companies. Big companies may easily bounce back and continue to produce products as customer demand is ensured but local MSMEs take greater financial damage and may experience the risk of bankruptcy in the unstable market. Buying from these local MSMEs have a significant impact on their income. A single purchase from your small local business can pay for their rent or their week’s groceries. Instead of buying from international companies, try purchasing from proud Filipino homegrown brands and make a creator or a business owner’s day. After all, local MSMEs are the backbone of our economy so we need to support them now more than ever.

Supporting local businesses is not enough but choosing them wisely should also be done. Nothing feels much better than supporting a business that aligns with your advocacies and that also brings important issues to light. Who would want to support a company with questionable practices and harmful stances on issues? It’s 2020 and social awareness and ethics should always be talked about, especially from visible local brands. With their visibility and influence, they have a responsibility to use it wisely and advocate for the greater good. Take Nina Ellaine Dizon, the CEO for Colourette Cosmetics, for example. Despite getting flak from DDS trolls from her vocal tweets criticizing the government, netizens stood beside her and were empowered to amplify their criticisms as well. Dizon then initiated a fundraising drive, pledging 100% gross sales from 5,800 units of their best-selling Colourtints and merchandise to donations for the victims of Typhoon Ulysses in Luzon. Colourette has raised P1.6 million from the drive and Dizon has released transparency reports on her personal Twitter account. Isn’t it good to support brands that use your hard-earned money for the greater good? Now that the holidays are fast approaching, e-commerce platforms are holding the biggest sales of the year. Buying gifts for your loved ones has never been so convenient, time-saving, and safe. Support local brands and MSMEs this holiday season and make their holidays a little brighter and happier. Check out brands that align with your advocacy and don’t be shy to tag them in your posts and stories! They will surely appreciate the visibility! Now you got it all covered, so add to cart now! (Wisely, of course).

BY JAMES HAMOY

Elliot Page is a name with many faces. He was a pregnant teen Juno MacGuff in the 2007 film Juno. He was the young mutant known as Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde in the X-Men Film Series. Currently, he plays Vanya Hargreeves in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. His portrayals of these iconic roles have most certainly made him a household name, albeit a different one from what it is today. On December 2, 2020, the Canadian actor took to his various social media accounts to declare his transgender identity and that he will now go by the name Elliot, writing: “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.”

Page publicly came out as gay in February 2014 and was married to dancer and choreographer Emma Portner in January 2018, but it was only recently that he felt he has arrived at a place to pursue his “authentic self.”

Elliot’s statement also expresses his concerns regarding the harsh realities surrounding the trans community, including harassment, abuse, hostility, and the ubiquitous threat of violence. The Umbrella Academy star is no stranger to abuse, having alleged to being outed on the set of X-Men: The Last Stand back in 2005, nearly a decade before he would come out as gay. Now, Elliot is queer and is here, embodying the strength and bravery he has portrayed as the mutant who can walk through walls and as the notso-ordinary violin-wielding heroine as he sends a message of love and hope to trans people saying, “I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”

Past and present co-stars, as well as other celebrities, were quick to wave their pride flags for Elliot’s coming out as trans with supportive comments on his Instagram post, including X-Men co-star Anna Paquin and The Umbrella Academy co-star Tom Hopper. Celebrities were not the only ones who showed their support. The trans community invited Elliot to stand under their big queer umbrella after numerous news articles “deadnaming” the actor rained on Elliot’s transgender emancipation parade. Page unintentionally sparked a crusade against deadnaming or using the birth name or former name of transgender and nonbinary individuals. This action is offensive to trans-folk because it is seen as a rejection and dismissal of a person’s chosen gender identity. These news articles were almost instantly met with pleas by the LGBTQ community to stop using Elliot’s and any transgender or nonbinary individual’s former name as it is harmful and offensive.

Elliot’s name in film credits and other projects he is involved in has been updated across all channels, including Netflix where he will be returning as Vanya Hargreeves for the third season of The Umbrella Academy on an unspecified release date in late 2021.

by Jillian Renee B. Calo

Ever wondered what it’s like to be inside of a mind that has nothing but also everything in it? A mind filled with goals with voices saying “One day, I will get to make a name for myself and live life the way I want” but at the same time also echoes forlorn thoughts saying “what if I just jump out the window right now?” and while all of that is happening, the owner of the mind is still able to laugh at a video of a croissant dropping on the floor. It is a mind of ambition, sadness and humor in the most mundane things in life, that's Gen Z for you. People born in the years between 1997 and 2012 better known as “Generation Z” are what you would call a character- they are eccentric human beings with views that are ever changing as the world continues spinning. Also being digital natives, this generation grew up in a time where technology has started making a breakthrough which resulted in their personalities being birthed by trends and notable personalities that were discovered through the internet. Through social media, with just one simple click, you can easily be transported in their minds, for this is a generation that loves to overshare. From the simplest to the complex thoughts, it can be found broadcasted for everyone to see. And while everyone is doing that, it is not hard to subconsciously pick-up certain mannerisms and characteristics that we see people do online. This creates a storm of internet lingo and quirky hand gestures; using expressions such as “no cap”, “snatched”, “I’m gucci” - sometimes when the slang just doesn’t cut it, they turn to use a series of emojis. Not only that but Gen Z has multiple characteristics that other generations would find to be annoying and/or concerning like projecting themselves onto fictional characters that they relate with, obsessing over people that may or may not know them, creating alternate universes that they depend on with their happiness, the list goes on but as long as it is what makes them entertained and happy, they will continue doing it. They are innovative and creative, if they can learn to do something, they certainly will. They are also very liberated, they know what’s going on locally and internationally. Now you may be thinking that that’s not anything special because everyone is aware of what’s happening around them. However when it comes to Gen Z, they always have a knack of knowing what your soul is crying out. Their minds are open enough to have a moment to listen to anything you have to say which makes it easier for you to trust them because you are reassured that they will not judge you. As depressing as this may sound, this is a generation that knows how to make fun of their own personal trauma but at the same time also know how to respect other people’s trauma, and they learn how to bond with each other through that. But don’t you worry, that won’t ever hold them back from running towards the future that they have strong passions for and have held on for so long. This is because Gen Z knows how to fight and even better is that they fight together. Others may see this generation as people who are just crybabies that need a lot of attention but what they don’t see is that, this is a generation that has a hunger for change and they are not afraid of doing what they believe in in order to achieve that. Though everybody has gone through different things, they still somehow understand each other. Especially in this digital era, there are so many platforms for them to educate and see what others are going through. They were raised by so many point of views from all different kinds of people and as much as they get influenced by the childish trends, they are also growing away from ignorance.That is what separates them from the rest, they have the ability to observe, think, speak for themselves as well as amplify the voices of those who cannot be heard. The past may have been bleak, the present still is, but with Gen Z who possesses a flickering fire inside to create a change, the future is looking bright for not only them but for the generations to come.