As you see it, how are the values of today's youth different from those of the older generation?

Gigi Zulita, Zamboanga City: The youth before were conservative and reserved. Today’s youth is strongly influenced by new technology, becoming wild and having low morals. 

C. Gaspar, Laoag City: The values that our grandparents held so much in their time are now taken for granted by the present generation. Moral values have gone haywire.  

Poles apart

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: Today’s and yesterday’s values are far and wide. 

C.B. Manalastas, Manila:  Ang layo. The youth of yesteryears were more respectful of their elders. Kulang o wala nang paggalang ang maraming kabataan ngayon. 

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: It’s not just a gap, it’s a divide, abetted by, to name a few: permissiveness, advancement in technology and openly immoral celebrities that the youth simply idolize. 

June Cajucom, Tacloban City: Try talking to them about this yourself, then take note of their reactions. You’ll see how sharp the contrast has become. 

K.C. Ibañez, Ilocos Norte: We differ a lot from our views to our behavior. It’s just too bad that the older generation sees this difference in a bad way. Have they forgotten that the youth now is the product of what they themselves reared? 

Ruel Bautista, Laguna:The values of today’s youth have taken a steep dive, especially in the moral aspect.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: The youth of yesteryears was mostly pure, genuine and original, while today’s youth is mostly adulterated, plastic and counterfeit

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: While the youth of yesterday were generally timid, respectful and submissive, today’s young are daring, impatient and adventurous. There’s a whale of a difference. The older generation was respectful, humble, helpful, etc.

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: Today, save for some, wala silang paki sa kanilang kapwa, walang galang sa matatanda. 

We have to be more aware of society

Angela Santos, Metro Manila: The values of today’s youth differ very much from those of the older generation. Nowadays, a lot of youngsters are affected by peer pressure, the misguidance of parents, and family crises, leading to their inappropriate behavior. The youth of older generations were diligent and family-oriented; now, a lot of the old values have been destroyed. Many of today’s problematic youths point to family problems, like families broken due to early marriage, teenage pregnancies, and, sometimes, “home wreckers”. However a lot of these can be prevented if, and only if, we are aware of what’s happening in our society.

Not much difference

Jose Pacatang, Dipolog City: My youngest child and daughter Diza, who is 30 and getting married to Ray, 32, on November 8 is actually a generation removed from mine. I finished my course at Silliman University in Dumaguete; she finished her course at St. Paul Manila. I’m in law and political science, she is in business management and accountancy. But when it comes to values, there’s not much difference, except that this time, public morality is a thing of the past. 

Parents have to be stricter these days

Ube Wenceslao, Imus, Cavite: Their values are slowly sinking in the mud. Information in their generation is rapidly transmitted, unlike during our time. Nowadays, you have to be stricter in everything.

Digoy Coro, Batangas City: The youth of today are more aggressive and their morals are much lower because most parents find it easier to submit to their whims than to stand firm and teach values. 

Nap Cinco, Rizal: Youths today enjoy far more freedom than those of the older generation and that, quite surprisingly, is tolerated by some parents and elders. 

They enjoy more freedom

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: I guess the youth of today think and reason out more compared to the older generation. Fifty years ago, the youth didn’t have a choice; they just obeyed. 

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: In the early ’60s, when we teenagers were wearing cowboy jeans, dancing rock-and-roll and sporting long hair and sideburns, the elders would quip, “Iba na ang singaw ng mga kabataan ngayon.” But I can say we were milder and more responsible than the youth today, who hardly appreciate Filipino values and culture and don’t have good morals, idealism, patriotism and the bayanihan spirit. They are sexually liberated and live-in relationships are quite common. I am often confused when they talk either in Filipino or English, because they chew their words and use unnecessary words like “bale”. They participate in events like “walking long distance for a cause,” but will take the tricycle for an errand that will take them a short distance. They are too dependent on push-button technology. Their aspiration is to migrate abroad as they see no future here. The most unfortunate is their attitude of to each his own. Well, every generation has its own identity.

Nick Ocampo, Angeles City: The youth of the older generation always listened to their parents. Today’s youths do what they want. 

They are more materialistic

Edgar Artates, Parañaque City:Today’s youth tend to value material things more. They are quick to demand freedom and their human rights, while the older generation centered more on moral values, good manners and respect for others.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Yesterday, a man’s dignity was worth more than wealth in his life. Today’s young generation is living in a vicious cycle of pleasure, living life at the expense of dignity. 

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: The values of today’s youth are distorted, focusing only on the satisfaction of worldly desires. Those of the older generation were more righteous. 

Generation gap lang ’yan

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Our parents complained about how different we were, as their parents also complained about their generation. Now, we’re complaining about our kids. Nothing really changed; it’s the generation gap. 

Gone with the wind

Rey Onate, Palayan City: After completing more than 30 years of military service, I now work as a part-time teacher. In this stint, I have the opportunity of working with young people and I’ve observed many similar behaviors in seven out of 10 students. One, they’re very shy about singing the national anthem. Two, they have poor hearing, for they talk loudly even if they are just a nose away. Three, holding hands in public is natural dahil magnobyo. Fourth, they talk back, question or address old people like an equal. Wala nang po at opo, at kung meron man it is used sarcastically. Siguro epekto ito ng mga magulang na iresponsable, ng mga guro na di nagtuturo ng tumpak na asal, ng aktibismo na puro hinaing, intriga at paghahanap ng mali at ng isang lipunan na tuwang-tuwa sa mga TV shows na may halos nakahubad na mga sumasayaw at telenovelas na puro sigawan at angilan ang script. 

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: Today’s youth rarely holds values as character education, GMRC and Civics are no longer taught. Inane TV shows, vapid celebrities and peers dictate “values.” 

Elpidio Que, Vigan: By and large, today’s youth seems to take for granted Yahweh’s 10 Commandments. They are face to face with the cheating, lying, stealing and decadent living of the high and mighty in politics, religion and business, influencing them to follow suit. The values of the older generation have almost gone with the wind. When they get old, these youths will have nowhere to go, but into the boulevard of broken dreams. I am lucky because, despite my being unable to follow in toto the values that my father and mother taught me in my youth, I am blessed with children who are upright. Mannanga-asi ni Apo Dios. 

Ric Vergara, Calamba: Respect for elders is gone. 

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The morals of today’s youth are heavily influenced by Western culture and media. An example is respect for parental authority which has waned considerably.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: The values of our youth have declined. Before, we were afraid of and very respectful towards our parents and elders. Now, palaban na sila and when they are scolded they answer right back. I myself suffer at present. I gave my only girl the best of everything, supported her in whatever she wished to acquire and/or achieve. But when she had her own job, her company or circle of friends have changed her. Mas may pagpapahalaga sa kaibigan kaysa pamilya. My only wish is for her to have a good and peaceful life with somebody who will give her happiness and contentment. 

Today’s youth is more liberated

June Deoferio, Cavite: The youth today is more liberated. They practice premarital sex at younger ages and they are more aggressive. No more “Mano po”. 

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: The Maria Clara inhibition of yesteryears is fading. Today, some girls even visit their boyfriends at home. The “Mano po” is gone. 

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: The youth today is so Westernized. Many of them have forgotten Filipino values. They don’t respect their elders and they indulge in premarital sex.

The legacy of the older generation

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: That question reminds me of the story of a very self-important university freshman who took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen standing next to him at the bus stop that it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation. “You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one,” the student said, loud enough for the other passengers nearby to hear. “The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing and …” When he paused for breath, the senior took advantage of the break in the student’s litany and said, “You’re right, son. We didn’t have those things when we were young, so we invented them. Now, you arrogant little prick, what are you doing for the next generation?” Don’t you just love senior citizens? 

Imee Aglibot, Rizal: Truly, it’s a glaring fact that today’s youth is a far-cry from the youth of yesteryears. But how will they survive in this sophisticated, modern world without leaving behind some traditional values? Yes, they may have lost some, but they also gained many, which help them cope with the present lifestyle. I must admit, I also belong to the newer generation, but it’s no reason for me to be remiss as ilaw ng tahanan. It is even a welcome challenge. Seeing my kids to be the way I’d wanted them molded is a triumph. Well, not even once would I say something that would boomerang on me. 

Some values go with the times

Rodolfo Capili, Caloocan City: The values of the older generation are still in most of today’s youth. However, there are values that go with the times and this is often misunderstood by the older generation. 

Technology has changed people

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: Values never change. It’s how people see things that’s changing. Ultimately, technology brings out the good and bad in everything. People nowadays have more access to basic information. What was once taboo may not be taboo now. At any rate, values never change but people do. 

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Today’s youth is hi-tech while the older generation is “antiquated.” However, the latter is a rarity, unlike the former, which abound like pirated DVDs on sale. 

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: If you’re referring to the Filipino youth, I say that their values now are much different from those of the older generation. Our youth have now been influenced badly by modern lifestyles, brought about by what they see and learn from movies, cable TV and the Internet. They are more carefree now and more prone to peer pressure. Because of access to gadgets like cellphones and CD/DVD players, they get to hear and see things that were unknown and never existed before. 

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: They are poles apart, for the values of today’s youth are now inflicted by a virus called modernization. 

The older generation acted more responsibly

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: The older generation is passive and conservative while today’s youth tend to be abrasive, thrill-seekers and adventurous. 

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: The older generation was more responsible with their actions, unlike now, when some youths are very reckless in their moves and actions. 

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: The older generation’s values are much more intact, conservative and strong. They really serve their purpose of guiding wayward youth. The values of today’s young generation are so loose you would even doubt if there’s still any ounce of values left in them. Much of their rampant immorality can be attributed to their poor value system. 

They no longer know the value of hard work

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: The youth is technology-oriented, which creates the notion that everything can be had at the click of a mouse or the push of a button. Values developed by hard work have waned. 

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Today’s youth have a different mindset compared to the old-school baby boomers of yore. For the sake of comparison, I still remember when we respected our elders: Teachers and grudges were squared-off at the nearby la gota de leche with fistfights. Now, most youths are disrespectful, they don’t value hard work and they think the world owes them a living. As my professor said in 1972, “El tempo, el mores!” As The Who sang in 1969, talk about my generation. 

On religiosity

Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan: The younger generation now, and that includes my children Eugene, Euclid, Eunice and Mark, are less religious and pious. They seldom go to church. 

Delfin Todcor, Mt. Province: I believe that the values of today’s youth who have a relationship with God is better than those of the older generation, who had no real fear of God. 

Everything evolves

Leonard Villa, Laoag City: There’s a big difference because culture is evolutionary. That is, as years go by, the more liberal the values of a nation become, and the more older generations seem ultra conservative. 

Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa City: Times are now high-tech. Change is the only permanent thing in this world. 

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

NEXT INBOX QUESTION: Do you believe that the raging financial crisis hitting world markets, primarily the US, will eventually lead to a global recession?

To send your views and comments to INBOX WORLD:

If registered, text philstar<space>fb<space>your message and send to 2256 (all networks)

To register, text philstar<space>reg<space>name,gender,birthdate,address and send to 2256 (all networks)

You may also email your views to: [email protected].