Filipina vlogger and singer Donnalyn Bartolome made history at the 2025 Septimius Awards after being named Best Content Creator, using her international platform to spotlight the Philippines’ recurring flood crisis.
In her acceptance speech, Bartolome said the recognition was not just about content but also about creating meaningful change.
“I’m deeply honored to be awarded tonight. I create content to inspire. I love making people happy and to fund a lot of causes and prevention initiatives. I’m from the Philippines… and one of the most heartbreaking issues we face back home is the floods,” she said.
Bartolome lamented how flooding has displaced communities and claimed lives year after year, stressing the need for long-term solutions.
“Every year, communities are displaced, lives are lost, and it’s a cycle we’ve been stuck in for far too long. I’ve always believed prevention is better than cure. While we hope for and continue to push for our government to do better with regard to our flood control systems, we are also taking action into our own hands by planting trees and bamboo,” she added.
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The award-winning influencer also highlighted the efforts of her foundation Influence Us, which has planted over 1,000 trees to date. She urged people to take part in simple but impactful actions.
“If you take anything from this, let it be this: please plant at least one tree in your lifetime. So far, we’ve planted over a thousand trees, and each tree only costs one dollar, and tonight, a self-made agency pledged for one hundred more trees,” she told the audience.
On Instagram, Bartolome dedicated her win to Filipinos and vowed to continue her advocacy.
“This one is for you, Philippines… I’m coming home to plant more trees… and we need volunteers!” she wrote.
The Septimius Awards, held annually in Amsterdam, honors outstanding achievements in global film, television, and digital content. The prestigious ceremony is attended by Emmy, BAFTA, and Oscar winners.
Bartolome, who first rose to fame as a vlogger and later as a singer with hits like ‘Kakaibabe’ and ‘Happy Break Up’, now adds international recognition to her growing list of achievements.
