Following her ‘balik-trabaho’ post on January 3, social media influencer and content creator Donnalyn Bartolome trended on social media.
Bartolome wrote on her Facebook account, seemingly patronizing people who felt unhappy about returning to work after the holiday break. She posted, “Bakit may sad dahil back to work na? ‘Di ba dapat masaya ka kasi may chance ka na pagandahin buhay mo at ng pamilya? Trip ko pa nga may work ng January 1 dahil superstition ko may work ako buong taon pag ganun.”
The social media influencer continued, “Dapat grateful kasi may work. If work makes you unhappy, I hope you find a job that will…Yung pakikiligin ka and sheet (sic) Anyway, this is just a reminder that having a job is a blessing bessss change mindset, it’s 2023!!”
Most netizens called out the social media star for the insensitivity and arrogance behind her post.
Some slammed the content creator’s toxic positivity.
https://twitter.com/nipsteranne/status/1610627662741114880
https://twitter.com/jahshooahfox/status/1610485038151503873
donnalyn bartolome, u just have to sit pretty in front of the camera to earn millions. while the workers' u deemed ungrateful are doing way beyond one's comprehension yet only receive the barest minimum of wage. the audacity, rlly. amaccana accla, ur toxic positivity is bullshit
— ؘ# (@chwenotchew) January 4, 2023
Drag performer Eva Le Queen and other netizens criticized her for invalidating the Filipino worker’s struggles.
It’s arrogant and privileged to tell wage earners and anyone trying to make a living to just be grateful and that their grievances is just a matter of not being grateful. That is their truth and should not be invalidated. Focus on yourself. Wag mo na pakialaman ung iba teh.
— Ms. Eva Beteranang Aktres Le Queen (@eva_lequeen) January 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/_beguilingsepia/status/1610491219150503939
Donnalyn Bartolome is one of the example of what we called "feeling entitled" 'Di lang sayo umiikot 'yung mundo beh HAHAHAHAHA bago mag-bigay ng opinion tignan muna kung may ma-iinvalidate ba na ibang tao, 2023 na kayo parin yung naiissue, umay na, wala na bang bago? HAHAHAHAHA
— 루시 (@_lushii__) January 4, 2023
ang insensitive ni donnalyn bartolome. idc about her rags to riches story, that doesn’t mean she has the right to invalidate workers’ feelings… especially when her job is to be pretty in front of a camera ://
— bon (@cheolhaoist) January 4, 2023
Some netizens cited the everyday struggles of Filipino people, who aim to provide for themselves and for their families.
https://twitter.com/CallMeSebBaby/status/1610619513258790912
https://twitter.com/jill_amott/status/1610604174705852416
ms. donnalyn bartolome when will you learn?
alam mo ba na maraming manggagawa ang nawawalan ng trabaho dahil sa kontrakwal na trabaho at hindi sapat na minimun wage sa Pilipinas? Minimum wage is currently ₱490+ per day which is not enough to cover basic needs + pic.twitter.com/yPOEHHM7wK
— aj (@rebo1usyon) January 4, 2023
Earlier, Bartolome also encountered similar reactions from netizens for her problematic posts, such as her Kanto-themed birthday party.
As of 2022, the minimum wage for Filipino workers starts at P570 a day. However, as of December 2022, the inflation rate in the country reached 8.1%.
