Kuya Kim Atienza Speaks Out on Senator Robin’s Controversial Statement
KUYA KIM ATIENZA – Television host Kuya Kim Atienza has spoken up following Senator Robin Padilla’s controversial statement describing today’s youth as weak.
GMA Network trivia master and television host Kim Atienza, more popularly known as Kuya Kim, recently shared his reaction to remarks made by Robin Padilla describing today’s youth as “weak.”
Kuya Kim addressed the issue after Padilla’s statement during a Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media hearing held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. During the session, the senator criticized the current generation of children, claiming that they are weaker compared to those who grew up in earlier decades.
“Siguro naman ‘yong iba dito hindi ko man kaedad e naranasan n’yo ‘yong panahon ng 90s at 80s na tayo ay naglalaro pa, masaya pa. […] Ang mga bata po ngayon, sad to say, you are weak,” said Padilla during the hearing.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, Kuya Kim took to Facebook to express his thoughts on the matter.
“A little kindness (and understanding) goes a long way,” he began.
He further stated, “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.”
According to Kuya Kim, regardless of generational differences in understanding depression, one principle remains essential: support must always be present for those who are struggling.
“While views may differ on how depression is understood across generations, one thing is clear: support should always be available,” he emphasized.
He continued by explaining the importance of accessible crisis intervention services, noting that the availability of round-the-clock hotlines reflects the reality that many people need help today.
“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,” he concluded.
It can be recalled that Padilla also mentioned and cited Kuya Kim’s late son, Emman Atienza, along with other cases, during the discussion on depression. The senator also recounted incidents involving a 17-year-old student in Cotabato in 2023, a 14-year-old and 8th grader in Zamboanga Sibugay in 2014, and a Filipino-American teenager in 2013.