Donnalyn Bartolome is utilizing her online influence and prominence to make a difference in the world this year, and her efforts are reaping highly notable outcomes.
Donnalyn took home the title of Best Content Creator at the Septimius Awards in Amsterdam, which happened on September 3 and 4, 2025. The social media star, recording artist, and entrepreneur shared the stage with visionary storytellers and entertainers across all continents.
Photo: Donnalyn Bartolome/Instagram
Donnalyn’s presence at the prestigious show for actors, producers, and filmmakers was already a remarkable milestone for Filipinos in the creative industries. Her priceless winning moment became even more special with an acceptance speech that made a lasting impact on her kababayans all over the world.
Upon accepting her award, Donnalyn wholeheartedly addressed the extreme floods that had displaced Filipino families with insufficient aid throughout the past few months.
Donnalyn’s acceptance speech at this year’s Septimius Awards matters now, more than ever. Here’s how her winning moment teaches us that our efforts toward positive social change are more powerful than we think.
Influence on a World-class Scale
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When Filipinos win big at international competitions, their speeches hold years’ worth of inspiration and representation for future generations. This also applies to Donnalyn, whose success is that of her fellow Filipinos, too.
That night in Amsterdam wasn’t just about her widely recognized feat as a content creator. It was also her opportunity to address the pressing and heartbreaking issues back home with heightened urgency.
“Every year, communities are displaced and lives are lost [due to floods]. It’s a cycle we’ve been stuck in for far too long,” Donnalyn shared. As a firm believer in the principle that “prevention is better than cure,” she went on to advocate for improved flood control systems and solutions from the Philippines’ leaders and public officials. She ended her speech on a hopeful note, inviting everyone to “plant at least one tree in their lifetime” and do their part in restoring the world’s ecosystems.
Donnalyn’s Septimius Award was more than an influencer’s accolade. Beyond the gratitude and merit, it was a chance to stand her ground, and she took it without hesitation.
From Powerful Words to Concrete Actions
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Donnalyn said it best: “Influence means nothing if you’re not using it to make the world a better place.”
Beyond her impactful acceptance speech, she has been at the helm of various charitable initiatives that help Filipinos restore their homes. Upon celebrating her win on social media, Donnalyn shared that she’s been working closely with the non-profit organization Influence Us to plant trees and provide shelter for Filipinos in disaster-stricken areas. They’re still looking for volunteers to contribute to future flood prevention initiatives nationwide.
At the height of Typhoon Dante, Donnalyn and Influence Us also held donation drives in Quezon City for those affected.
Donnalyn’s environmental advocacies are living proof that influencers truly thrive when their words and actions align beyond the four corners of their vlogging cameras and phone screens.
A Case for Character Development
Before winning a Septimius Award, Donnalyn was under fire for her problematic statements and content a few years back. Her controversial baby-themed birthday photoshoot in 2022 comes to mind, as well as what netizens called the “toxic positivity” of her 2023 New Year’s sentiments on being grateful to dive headfirst back into work after the holiday season.
Naturally, this didn’t sit right with Donnalyn’s fans. Having built a solid support system of over one million followers across social media, netizens expected her to be more mindful of her posts, their implications, and the messages they conveyed. She apologized, took accountability, and grew from her mistakes amid the “cancel culture” that’s common in online spaces today.
Whether your views on Donnalyn and her social media presence have changed or not since then, her major win at the Septimius Awards reminds us that dwelling too much on the past won’t get us anywhere. There are more devastating dilemmas at hand that drastically affect Filipinos, with little to no signs of resolution. If she can grow from her shortcomings, speak up, and consistently strive to make a difference, then so can you.
If there’s anything new influencers can learn from Donnalyn, it’s that using your platforms to fight for Filipinos’ rights and welfare—regardless of your reach and follower count—makes all the difference.
She’s raising awareness in all the right ways, and that’s so “Kakaibabe” of her.
ALSO READ: Donnalyn Bartolome and JM de Guzman Are Officially in a Relationship
What are your thoughts on Donnalyn Bartolome’s acceptance speech at this year’s Septimius Awards? Share them with us in the comments below!
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