Millennials’ heroes range from Swift to Morales

They work hard, spend hard and are perpetually wired to their gadgets. But do millennials look for heroes the same way their elders do?

A week before the nation celebrated National Heroes Day on Aug. 31, the Inquirer asked millennials on Twitter: Who are their heroes? Whom do they admire the most?

“Taylor Swift. Obvs (obviously)” said netizen @TurtleWins17, referring to singer-songwriter and social media sweetheart Taylor Swift.

At 25, Swift is herself a millennial, having been born in 1989. She is also hugely popular on social media with 62.9-million followers on Twitter, 72.5-million “likes” on Facebook and 44.6-million followers on Instagram.

Media have described millennials as individuals born between the 1980s and the mid 2000s, who spent their childhood playing with computer games and did schoolwork with the help of the Internet. They are said to have reached adulthood at the turn of the millennium, thus the term millennials.

Millennials also use social media as a tool to communicate, post selfies or pictures about themselves, and engage with friends and followers on just about any issue.

Compared to student activists of the 1960s and 1970s, millennials may seem to be self-centered, a bit spoiled and lack a sense of purpose.

It’s all about them

Netizen @alphpicasso, in fact, pooh-poohed the Inquirer question about millennials and their heroes. “It’s the selfie generation,” @aphpicasso said. “It’s always about them and the eff about everything else. “

Maybe, as shown by the tepid response generated by the question. But apparently, not all millennials think the same way.

“I admire those people who give their own lives to let other people live,” said netizen @AguirreShara.

“I admire my parents,” said netizen @heyz_burac.

“Everyone is a hero in his/her own small way,” according to netizen @giasison.

Netizen @itsmesugarque meanwhile said she admires Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales because “she has NO FEAR.”

The country’s pride when it comes to basketball won the heart of netizen @Jemonator who posted: “@smartgilasph. Of course. Always willing to sacrifice everything for the Nation!”

Love of country remains strong among our younger generation, as expressed by netizens @adonismanguera and @zara_lyn lopez.

“For me, I admire Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo bec. he established a Philippine republic,” said @adonismanguera.

“My hero is lapu-lapu because of his bravery and dedication to love our country,” said netizen @zara_lynlopez. With reports from Ramon Royandoyan and Karl Angelica Ocampo