2 Filipinos Make It To Time Magazine’s Most Influential Teens Of 2017

Filipinos are making their mark in the global stage once again. This time, 2 Filipino teenagers join the 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017 according to Time Magazine. Activist Shibby De Guzman, 14 and beauty vlogger Bretman Rock join the ranks of other prominent teens like Stranger Things Millie Bobby Brown, siblings Willow and Jaden Smith, and Brooklyn Beckham, among others.

According to Time Magazine, they looked at how these teens created impact on social media, the accolades they received as well as their “overall ability to drive news.”

Shibby De Guzman, 14, Duterte Critic

Among the youngest in the list is Shibby De Guzman, a Grade 9 student at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. The young teen gained prominence when she joined a protest against the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos and the continuing extra-judicial killings. She was photographed and shown on social media, holding a megaphone and wearing a placard that said everyone can be labeled as a drug pusher.

She was criticized by netizens for being “brainwashed,” which she herself countered by saying: “Please do not underestimate the youth. We completely know and understand the injustice we are protesting against.”

In an interview with the Inquirer, she remains humble despite her inclusion in the list. She merely said that she was only doing what she thought was the right thing to do. She continues to believe that change “starts with youthful idealism.”

Larger Than Life Bretman Rock Sacayanan, 19

Filipino-American teenager Bretman Rock, 19, who is based in Hawaii, has been called many things, and “fabulous” and “larger-than-life” definitely tops the list. This fearless beauty vlogger shows off his makeup skills through his YouTube channel. He also boasts of nearly 9 million followers on Instagram, making him an Internet celebrity in his own right.

Time Magazine says that his impressive makeup skills can “give the Kardashians a run of their money.” In January 2017, he became the Miss Universe red-carpet preshow host. In September, he started his nationwide tour around the United States to see his biggest fans.