Nothing makes you feel older than listening to younger generations use their slang and having no idea what they are talking about.
Even when you’re just a couple of Generation Letters older 😀
Well Gen Z are the kids or those born from 1997 onwards, succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha (children of the millennials now do you really feel old?) Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years. Most members of Generation Z are the children of Generation X,[3] but some are children of millennials and they are colloquially called “zoomers.”
And NO! spending all those time in zoom meetings does not make you Gen Z.
They are the first social generation to have grown up with access to the Internet and portable digital technology from a young age, members of Generation Z have been dubbed “digital natives.”
Just when you thought you got the hang of LOL, OMG, you then see them typing “SKSKSKSK” like crazy in between emoji speak, or talking about cancel culture, wanting dank stuff, denying they’re hypebeast, afraid of being ghosted, and simply not an L.
So how can even try to relate to them if we couldn’t even understand their language?
Well, I got to spend an afternoon talking to some GEN Z’s last Friday and actually got to learn a bit more about this new generation of young adults.
ConferenZ: Gen Z Online Mediacon was a departure from the usual online media conferences as the event gave the press a chance to get a glimpse into the world of Gen Zs with breakout rooms with topics on self-love, social media, and the latest in pop culture discussed by the lead stars themselves. This one-of-a-kind event mounted by TV5 and Cignal TV was held today, March 5, 2021.
According to Melizza Jimenez, Kent Gonzales and Darwin Yu, three of the lead stars of TV5 new weekly drama aptly titled Gen Z, they describe their generation as “FREE,” an instrument of “CHANGE,” and “POTENTIAL. The three say they believe that they can be an instrument of change and that they have the potential to make things better.
I then asked Jane Oineza, and Jerome Ponce what is the best way to reach out kids these days and if they actually find it harder to talk to their parents than their friends. Both said they think they just want to be heard first and be given the chance to explain themselves, hoping that their family will be more accepting if they do make mistakes. “Sana lang kapag nagconfide kami at sinabi nila (parents) na di sila magagalit, talagang hindi sila magagalit sa amin.”
Completing the cast are Ricci Rivero and Chie Filomeno, as they take center stage with Gen Z, the exciting new Young Adult series set to premiere tonight on TV5.
Produced by Cignal Entertainment, Inc. with Regal Entertainment Inc., this family drama promises an inside look at how the younger generation navigates through the ins and outs of daily life and at the same time show the older generations how to connect and better understand them.
The story is a fresh yet fearless portrayal of the Gen Z’s struggles and aspirations. Tackling the lives of the brothers, Jojo (Ponce) and Kiko (Gonzales), as they enter the world of adulthood with their friends Matet (Oineza) and Rico (Yu). Part of their friend group are the rebellious wildheart Gina (Filomeno); and upper class sweethearts Migo (Rivero) and Michelle (Jimenez). The show will portray how each character deals with life’s struggles while striving to achieve their ambitions and its impact on their relationships with their family and friends.
Gen Z will highlight the diverse yet deeply interconnected stories of these characters as they take on bigger responsibilities while dealing with persons in society they may not fully agree with. Clouding the story of friendship are the individuals’ dilemma within their families, seeking to understand and be understood.
The series will likewise touch on the different dynamics of families and the characters’ perseverance in making their current situations better for themselves and their loved ones, which makes it even more relatable across diverse generations. Joining the young cast are veteran actors led by Joey Marquez, Angeli Bayani, and Teresa Loyzaga. Joining the young cast are veteran actors led by Joey Marquez, Angeli Bayani, and Teresa Loyzaga.
The show is a real-life depiction of the struggles and priorities of the Gen Zs and how they relate with their families, fresh from the point of view of its Gen Z writers, students from College of Saint Benilde under Direk Joey Reyes’ mentorship. With authentic portrayal of the kids’ shared values and individuality, it is definitely one of the more exciting shows to watch out for this year.
Get your weekly dose of the in-your-face and no-nonsense youth crew. Gen Z premieres March 7 and will air every Sunday, 9PM on TV5. Catchup episodes will also air every Sunday, 6PM, starting March 14 on One Screen Cignal TV CH.9 and SatLite CH. 35. Gen Z can also be watched LIVE and ON-DEMAND on Cignal Play App. You can stream every episode for free just register on cignalplay.com and download the app on Android and iOS.
