Rather than being labeled as hard-headed, young actor Harvey Bautista believed that a more accurate term to describe today’s generation—Gen Z—would be strong-headed.
During a sideline interview of Star Magic’s “Spotlight Presscon”, the Zoomer star shared his thoughts when asked about the Gen Z stereotype of being hard-headed and difficult to work with.
“I feel like that’s the thing with our generation, in general. We’re very strong-headed especially when we’re faced with something opposing us,” Harvey told Manila Standard Entertainment. “I guess we’re just really strong and really stand the ground. I guess, in a general sense, I think my generation is very strong-headed.”
He then emphasized that Gen Z is simply strong-willed and knows what they want, which could be seen as a positive attribute.
“We sort of plant ourselves like a tree in our beliefs and we sort of stay there. Maybe that’s why they see us as hard-headed. I think it’s a good thing that we’re like that. It’s a good thing,” the actor added.
“We know what we want. We know what is right and wrong. And we will call out those who are doing wrong, which I believe is a positive aspect of our generation. I think that’s what’s been lacking in the previous generations. It was there. It was there before, but it hasn’t been as prominent as it is now, which is good,” explained Harvey.
He also highlighted that being strong-willed can be beneficial in one’s career, as it allows individuals to pursue their passions and stand up for what they believe in, citing that he himself is a strong-headed person when it comes to his career and where he wanted it to go.
“I’m stubborn when it comes to what I believe is right and what isn’t. Secondly, I’m also stubborn about my career and where I want it to go. I think, given where I am right now—and I say this all the time—I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I’m finally here. I’m in the busiest year of my life, and I really want to protect that,” added Harvey.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, Harvey revealed the challenges he faces with social media and its potential negative impact on his mental health, especially now that more projects had been coming his way ever since he returned to the entertainment industry.
“I deal with it every day. I deal with that weight every day because honestly, for me it’s very overwhelming because there’s so many people who are watching. There’s so many people who know your name,” he said.
“And sometimes, those people have good things to say. But most of the time, they have bad things to say. And sometimes, there are people online who you think you can sort of rely on. As your fan, it’s the same. They have like these very passive-aggressive comments online,” admitted Harvey.
To cope, the actor revealed that sometimes, he would deactivate his social media accounts and limit his usage to protect his peace of mind. He said that he believed that social media can be overwhelming and toxic, and it’s important to prioritize one’s well-being over online engagement.
“But I think at this point, honestly, I just want to do my job. I want to work on my craft. I love acting. I want to be a good actor. And I want to protect my mental health at the same time. So if that means having to deactivate my Twitter or logging out of my Instagram,” he added.
