Bianca Gonzalez: A Resonant Voice Who Inspires Youth and Women

This year, Smart Parenting Awards introduced its newest category: Smart Parenting Gamechangers.

Smart Parenting Gamechangers honors educators, experts, and advocates who uplift Filipino families with authenticity, passion, and purpose. Each awardee is a standout in their field, shaping the lives of parents and children through meaningful work and a commitment to our values. This series celebrates their stories and the impact they create every day.

From anchoring the long-running Pinoy Big Brother, among other television shows, to building a community through her hit podcast Paano Ba ’To?, Bianca Gonzalez-Intal continues to use storytelling as a tool for guidance and empowerment. She also co-founded She Talks Asia, a movement and annual summit that amplify women’s voices. Her work with the UN Women Philippines brings youth empowerment and gender equality into action, creating spaces where women and young people feel seen and supported.

Even with these roles, Bianca keeps her mission grounded. As a mom to Lucia (10) and Carmen (7), she draws from everyday moments to shape the values she champions. Her platforms may have evolved, but the work’s heart stays the same: using her voice to help move the country toward a future led by kindness and integrity.

Bianca sat down with Smart Parenting to talk about the advocacies closest to her heart, starting with her journey:

Bianca Gonzalez (BG): When I was in college and I started working, my advocacy really began as youth empowerment. Then, as I grew older and my life stage changed as well, it geared more toward women empowerment. I’m the co-founder of She Talks Asia, a women empowerment platform. We bring to light women’s issues through our community events as well as our social media posts.

I’d like to say youth empowerment and self-improvement is still a big part of my advocacy through my work with Paano Ba ’To? So, it’s a book that eventually turned into a video series and podcast. It’s still ongoing; basically a weekly drop of episodes on different topics to help young Pinoys figure out life.

Smart Parenting (SP): In your conversations with the youth, what are some issues that don’t get enough attention but need more awareness?

BG: Mental health now is being talked about more and more, so it’s very important. I would say something I’m extra passionate about is the responsible use of social media. Connected din siya sa mental health, e. Responsible use isn’t just about what you put out on social media, but what comes in as well.

And that’s important to me as a mom of young kids, na eventually, when they have their own social media, I’d like them to be responsible with what they post and what they consume, because that’s equally important—especially at a time na grabe ‘yung algorithms. It radicalizes us, divides us… Sobra akong believer sa thesis ng Anxious Generation (by Jonathan Haidt) na ‘we overprotect our kids outside and underprotect them online.’

I recently got to do a project with the World Health Organization (WHO). This year, the theme is maternal and newborn health, and something that is not so talked about that’s very important is teenage pregnancies in the Philippines—the rising cases and how there are really measures, ways, to lessen that number.

SP: What values are most important for you to instill in your girls, especially as they grow up in today’s digital world?

BG: Goodness and kindness. As parents—me and my husband—we just want our kids to grow up healthy, happy, finding what they want to do in life, as well as good and kind people, ‘yung naturally good-hearted. That’s very important to us.

Something I’m personally particular about is that I want them to grow up with a sense of service. Ngayon pa lang, I try to tell them already na whatever skill or talent you have—something that comes easy to you, maybe harder for others—that’s a gift from God, and you’re meant to use it not just for yourself but to help others in some way.

I also really value integrity as a person, so I hope that’s something both our girls live by as they grow up.

SP: You talked about teaching your kids a sense of service. How important is it to also raise children with a sense of country?

BG: I think raising this generation to have a sense of responsibility for community and country is so important. Kasi ito ‘yung generation na technically wala na silang pinagdaanan na kailangan natin ipaglaban ‘yung kalayaan natin. I was born in 1983, so I grew up with a sense of knowing what it means to fight for your freedom. And this younger generation—they didn’t have to go through that, unlike our generation, and even those older, ’di ba—those who went through World War II, Martial Law—they lived through it. So, it’s something I feel like parents need to be intentional about with this young generation.

Kasi sa kanila, everything has literally come easier—not just because of the internet and access to everything faster—noong nabuhay na sila, malaya na sila... Especially now that they’re growing up in a world where they can choose what they watch. Right now, everyone has their own screens. They can watch what they want, at their own time. They can choose not to be aware of what’s happening outside the confines of their home. As much as that is a convenience, it’s harder for them to understand kung ano ‘yung itsura ng mundo outside their homes, in their schools, and circles.

It’s a tough task, honestly. But for me and my husband, we try as much as possible to give them age-appropriate information about what’s happening in the world that hopefully will harness a sense of service in them, not just through awareness but through what we do as well.

SP: How do you use your platform to push for positive change without overwhelming the parents who follow you?

BG: The way I use my social media, it’s very much work, sometimes self, and then super little family. Ever since my husband and I became parents, we have been very intentional and aligned that we want to limit posting our kids on social media. I remember when my kids were babies, it was such a moral dilemma for me na, am I supposed to post them when they don’t have their consent? Now that they’re at the age where they understand, we actually ask them, ‘Is it okay if Mommy or Daddy shares this video or photo online?’ If they say no, then we honor that no. If they say yes, then we can post it.

I don’t post much about being a parent online, honestly. And I think that stems from what I said earlier that I’m such a trying-hard mom. I’m unnaturally motherly. The things I do in my career, I know I’m good at. But when it comes to motherhood, I second-guess myself and try so hard, which is why I don’t post about how I do as a parent. I like learning more from what I read from other parents, online, and from research, ganyan.

I feel like the way I’ve used it (social media) is just, as much as I can, being a responsible Filipino citizen. And I guess from there stems, hopefully, raising responsible Filipino youth.

Produced by the Smart Parenting Team

Editor-in-Chief: Ronna Capili Bonifacio

Asst. Managing Editor/Co-Producer: Em Cruz
Art Director: Mariella Lao

Videographer and video editor: Rolando Pingco Jr.

Associate Publisher: Bettina Santos

Photographs by: Jorem Catilo

Makeup by Gery Penaso

Hairstyle by Russell Gonzaga
Styling by Team RainxEm

Location/Special thanks to: