Matatapos na ung lote na hinuhulugan ko 26F and my mom urges me ma magpagawa ng house (i moved out) para daw yun sakin at di naman sila sasama sakin sa new house na ipapagawa.

Naisip niya ito kasi sabi ko gusto ko lumipat ng apartment with solo parking dahil gusto ko magka car dahil ayoko na mag commute, may motor si papa pero di siya dito nag wowork kaya wala naghahatid sakin kapag may errands ako.

Sawang sawa na ako mag tricycle at angkas lalo na kapag mainit or maulan. Ayoko magpagawa ng bahay dahil wala pa akong ipon saka di ko agad siya magagamit unlike sa car na ang alwan kapag gusto ko gumala, saka nag didiscover pa ako ng gusto ko sa buhay ko. Ayoko matali sa bahay. Kahit ung car malaking decision sakin mag loan since di sure ang lime of work ko.

I just want to share my thoughts since naiinis na ako kay mama

araw araw nalang akong umiiyak dahil I feel so exhausted. two months na akong walang work, pero di pwede tumigil sa support sa family. walang wala na 'ko. as in. zero. ang hirap kasi walang ate si ate. kanino ako lalapit?

Hi 26M panganay dalawa lang kami ng kapatid ko nanay ko solo parent kasi sumakabilang bahay tatay ko. Ako nag babayad ng tuition ng kapatid ko which is around 120-150k nalubog na ako sa utang wala ako emergency fund wala ako savings, I'm living pay check to pay check just to pay my debts which I didn't intend to or even used for myself for the sake ng kapatid ko. My mother is capable pa naman mag work nakukunsensya lang ako hindi mag bigay kasi 58yrs old na mother ko and maliit lang talaga sahod nya isang cut off ko 1 month salary na niya.

Now I'm planning actually to say na next year siya na muna bahala sa kapatid ko since shs ako na kasi nag papaaral and second year college na siya ngayon which is I'm proud naman tbh pero hirap. Gusto ko mag travel kaso hindi pwede nalubog na ako sa utang eh mag gusto ako bilhin damit hindi din pwede kasi guess what ipandadagdag nalang sa tuition ng kapatid ko parang nag trabaho ako para sa future ng iba at hindi para sa future ko. Araw araw nalang ako nag dadasal na wag ako mag kasakit kasi wala ako pang bibili ng gamot kapag nagkataon. Hindi alam ng nanay ko na lubog na ako sa utang. Tinatanong niya lang ako bakit nashoshort ka eh 22k na sahod mo like hello 15k a month binibigay ko for tuition fee I don't have any thing to buy for myself to the point na burn out na ako sa work pumapasok na ako ng 9am minsan, minsan ayoko nalang pumasok kaso kailangan eh kais may utang ako na need bayadan so far tapos na naman tuition fee nya this year kaso nag ka utang ako, na scam kasi ako sa online ng 40k pero anyways nawala na eh ano pa gagawin ko gusto ko nalang mabuhay ng ako lang nag papabili pa kapatid ko ng laptop???? Kasi si tito nag bigay ng 15k ako na daw bahala mag dagdag like ano akala nyo sakin mayaman ano akala nyo sakin 6 digits sahod bakit sakin kasi napunta to responsibilidad na to never in my life I imagined having this huge debt. Wala ako malabasan ng problema kaya dito nalang ako mang hihingi ng advice thank you

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I only have ₱300 left in my wallet. I spent so much time thinking about whether I should buy this because it’s literally the last money I have. But as someone who has always been a breadwinner and prioritized everyone else before myself, I decided to spend it on something I wanted, even just this once.

Maybe it’s just Potato Corner for others, but for me, it’s a little gift to myself for surviving all the things I’ve been through.

Happy birthday to me! 🥹❤️

Sana sa susunod, hindi ko na kailangang pag-isipan nang ilang beses kung kaya ko bang bilhin ang mga bagay na gusto ko. Sana dumating ang araw na lahat ng gusto ko, mabibili ko na nang hindi nag-aalala sa perang matitira sa wallet ko.

For now, laban lang. One day, all these sacrifices will be worth it. And someday, I hope I can give myself the life I’ve always prayed for. 🙌🏻

Hi everyone! I’m 25F, earning ₱33,000 a month. For the past three years, I’ve been helping support my family, including paying for my younger brother’s college tuition and allowance. He has now graduated.
I contribute ₱6,000 monthly for food, plus our water bill (around ₱1,000+) and Wi-Fi (₱600). My siblings also contribute, but my parents still feel that our contributions aren’t enough.

Recently, I got frustrated and scolded my parents because it feels like there’s always another expense to cover. I want to help my family, especially since we experienced financial struggles growing up, but I also want to save money and eventually buy my own house.

I love my family, but I’m starting to realize that I also need to prioritize my own future. I don’t want to reach my 30s without making progress toward my personal goals. I want to help my family without putting my own dreams on hold.

I’d appreciate any advice from fellow Filipinos who can relate to this situation. Thank you!

today is my birthday, and I just needed to vent it out for me to move forward with my life.

I'm (24F) a firstborn child, have three siblings and my 2nd sibling is 19F. We were close when we were young, until pandemic happened and I don't know where her sentiment came from.

In our house, she rarely do chores, and she does only if it's for her own (clothes, food, storage, etc) which makes me somehow feel sick because as a parentified child, my parents would beat the hell out of me if I didnt do any.

She always ask our mom to get her things, buy something for her, and sometimes they would fight about how bossy my sibling is towards our mom, but kept going because my mother tolerated the way she is.

On my graduation, three guest tickets were given per graduate so I thought my mother, my father, and my youngest sibling will attend. But then weeks before graduation, my mother asked if my 2nd sibling can get a ticket cause she wants to attend. I said we can only have three, so my sibling got the ticket that was for my father, instead.

On the grad day, the ceremony started around 12pm-ish. By 3pm, I already got my diploma and went tha stage, they saw. by 3:30 pm my mother said she has headache, and gusto na nya umuwi. I said ma, hindi pwedeng lumabas ako kasi I need to finish the ceremony. It was my graduation. And ang disrespectful din kung aalis ako basta basta. I told her na punta ng medic, or mag aask ako papalapit sa kanila para di na umalis but she insisted na lalabas na sila. So I let them.

Wala na sanang problema sa akin, kasi nakapagmartsa na ako at nakaakyat ng stage, pero around 5:30 nagvivideocall ang mother ko, bombarding me messages na lumabas na daw ako dahil anokg oras na at kawawa naman yung binook naming driver na kakilala nya kung mag aantay ng matagal. 5:30, nagsasalita pa lang yung Magna Cum Laude.

Sinagot ko yung video call habang nagpipigil ng iyak. My mother said "labas ka na, para makakain na tayo." My classmates also noticed my phone. Sabi ko, wala lang. 6pm natapos ang graduation, pagpasok ko ng sasakyan, yung front seat na inupuan ko pagpunta namin sa MOA, kapatid ko na ang nakasakay, naka milktea, nakashades, na parang galing concert. Tapos sabi sakin ni mama, "dito ka na lang sa likod, tapos naman na. Hayaan mo na kapatid mo dyan".

I'm crying during the whole ride pauwi. Nag drive thru lang kami not even a celebration.

Kinaumagahan, nagsorry ang nanay ko kasi di naman daw nya alam na sobrang aga niya akong pauwiin. But I told her multiple times before grad na 6-7pm ang expected tapos ng grad.

Months later, my mother admitted na kaya sya nagmadali umuwi ay hindi pala dahil masakit ng ulo nya. Yun ay dahil gusto na umuwi ng kapatid ko. Nice.

And somehow I'm the bad daughter.

Happy birthday to me.

Hi! I'm looking for advice from people who have been in a similar situation, especially those who have helped a parent get out of debt.

For context, my mother has accumulated debts over the years (more than 300k) because of financial decisions. On top of that, my father stopped working to pursue farming, but unfortunately, the venture failed. Wala talagang consistent financial support na nakukuha si Mama from him, except for the monthly allowance he gives my sister, who's graduating this school year.

I'm currently working for our family business, but since it's a family business, I'm earning below minimum wage. Thankfully, my income is enough to cover my basic needs because I don't pay for household bills, but I barely have anything left to contribute to my mother's debts.

I'm genuinely worried about my mother. I can see how much this situation is affecting her health and overall well-being. Every time she tells me she doesn't know what to do anymore, I feel stressed and helpless, too. I want to help her, but I also know I can't carry the entire burden myself.

I applied for a government job about a month ago, but I haven't received any updates yet.

Here's what I'm currently doing to help:

1. Going back to freelancing. I'm a social media manager specializing in the healthcare industry. I help healthcare professionals build their online presence and generate leads. I'm planning to find clients again so I can increase my income. (If you or someone you know needs a social media manager, feel free to reach out!)
2. Helping my father sell his land. I'm posting listings in Facebook groups and helping him process the necessary documents. Our plan is to use the proceeds to pay off my mother's debts as soon as we find a buyer. However, I know this could take time, and there's no guarantee of when the property will sell.
3. Using my savings when necessary. When my mother really needs financial help, I give what I can from my savings. However, I'm also trying to protect my own financial future. I don't want to deplete everything I've worked hard to save and end up struggling myself.

One of my biggest challenges right now is our family business.

It takes up so much of my time and energy that I struggle to focus on finding freelance clients, applying for other jobs, or even enjoying my hobbies. I'm grateful that I have a source of income, but I feel like staying in this situation is holding me back from improving my own financial circumstances.

I'm planning to leave the family business and move out once I secure a freelance client or get the government job. I want to become financially independent and be in a better position to help my family without sacrificing my own future.

Now, here's where I really need advice.

1. How do you help a parent get out of debt when you don't have the financial capacity to pay it all off yourself?

I want to help my mother, but I don't earn enough to take on her financial obligations. How do I determine how much I can reasonably contribute without jeopardizing my own financial security? How do I set boundaries without feeling guilty?

1. What should my mother do after her debts are paid off to prevent this from happening again?

Currently, nakasangla ang ATM niya. I'm worried that even if we manage to pay off her existing debts, she'll eventually borrow money again if her financial situation doesn't change.

How can she break this cycle? What practical steps can she take to manage her income, rebuild her finances, and avoid relying on loans? Are there financial counseling services or resources in the Philippines that could help her?

1. How do I get out of my current situation while still helping my family?

I feel like I'm putting my own life on hold because of our family's financial problems. I want to pursue better career opportunities, build my savings, and eventually move out, but I also feel responsible for helping my mother.

For those who have been in a similar situation, how did you balance supporting your family with building your own life?

I'm especially interested in advice from people who have actually gone through this, not just general advice like "work harder" or "earn more."

I love my mother, and I want to help her get through this. But I also recognize that I can't keep sacrificing my own financial stability, mental health, and future indefinitely.

If you've been in this situation, what practical steps helped you and your family get out of it? What would you do differently if you could go back?

Thank you so much to anyone willing to share their experiences and advice.

Hi, i'm an 18 years old, student. I'm writing this while nag aaway na naman sila as usual. So, my mom is a housewife while yung step father ko lang ang nag p-provide samin. Parehas silang lassingero at lassingera kaya every time my gin or red horse sa bahay gabi gabi. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, palagi silang nag aaway araw araw kahit sa mga simple o maliliit na bagay. Nakakapagod sa totoo lang. Mas malala pa away nila kapag lasing na yung step father ko kasi mag babasag na siya ng kung ano ano or magiging aggressive. Ang usually nag s-start ng away ay yung step father ko eh. I don't wanna sound like nang j-judge ako pero siguro ganon nga pero palagi na lang siyang highblood, galit sa mundo, at AYAW NA AMININ NA MALI SIYA. As in, sobrang yabang niya at never niya inaako pagkakamali niya instead i-beblame niya yon sa iba na kesyo ganyan ganon. Masyado rin siyang mayabang kahit wala namang maipagmamayabang. Mas inuuna niya tropa niya para uminom kesa samin kaya ang ending ubos na pera niya pag uwi sa pagiging bayabas at galante (wala na nga kaming pera). While my mom, mabait siya pero kaya niya rin naman lumaban kaso nga wala rin naman siyang magawa minsan kundi pagsabihan lang o magalit ng isang araw kasi yung step father ko nga lang yung nag p-provide.

Sa totoo lang di ko na alam gagawin ko. Nakaka drain eh kasi araw araw na lang maririnig mo murahan, sigawan at kung ano anong masasakit na salita. Ang masakit pa don ay hindi ko naman kasing magawang umalis lalo na nag aaral pa rin ako, hindi ko rin naman maiwan si mama. Yung pag aaway din nila ang nag cause ng depression at pag drop out ko last year dahil sobra sobra na talaga hindi ko na kinaya kahit okay naman ako in terms of academic etc. Ayon din nag cause ng mga suicide attempts ko noon. Triny ko rin naman kausapin pero wala rin eh. Ganon pa rin talaga, bandang huli ako pa may kasalanan na kesyo pwede naman daw akong umalis, lumayas ganon ganyan. Nakaka frustrate sa totoo lang. Ang mas nakakainis pa is paulit ulit lang cycle nilang dalawa. Mag aaway ng malala, next day hindi magpapansinan tapos 2nd day okay na. Nakakainis lang din kasi alam kong hindi kayang iwan ni mama lalo na may anak silang dalawa, siya lang nag p-provide at baka kung ano pang magawa niya kasi when I tell you, aggressive talaga siya and nakulong na before pero buti na lang hindi niya pa sinasaktan si mama physically, pero emotionally oo. ANG NAKAKAINIS PA IS ANG WEIRD NIYA KAPAG NAG B-BRING UP SIYA NG MGA BABAE OR WHAT. NAKAKA BWISIT.

Sa mga nakakabasa nito, what advice can you give me? As an 18 years old na nag aaral pa at hindi pa marunong maging independent? I am actually thinking na mag apply mag call center kasi ni refer ako ng kaibigan ko and mag working student. Kaso not sure kung matatanggap nga ako.

Ps. May dalawa akong kapatid, yung isa mag 4th year na kaso yung personality batugan pa rin and mukhang may anger issue, hindi rin maka tulong sa bahay pero siya naman umaawat kapag nag aaway sila while yung isa naman is high school pa lang and bata pa.

Parang wala na akong gana sa buhay mostly kase para nakong tuod dito sa bahay na gusto kong alisan...

Ang papa ko walay trabaho sabay puro ideas na "para sa amin" pero inuubos sahod ng mama kong may actual na job para ma-save lang pride nya. Meron pa syang gana laitin work nya, sabi sabi ng "mag retire kana" eh yun na nga lang ang nakaka-buhay sa animnyang anak. A month ago, nagkaroon ako ng small babysitting job na sweldo 2k per week at solid na yung sakin pero kung nakuha ko talaga yung pera pero wala eh... Tangina dumadaan lang yung pera sa kamay ko at napupunta rin sa kanya at sa pamilya ko dahil wala nga kaming makain ngani. Sinasabi ko nlng sa papa ko na 1k lang ang kita ko para at least makaipon man lang sa pills NA KAILANGAN KO BTW dahil PCOS ako pero walay din! Napupunta sa family especially sa mga emergency, walang napupunta sakin at hinang-hina nako dito sa bahay na to. Minamaliit na nga, napapahiya narin! TAPOS KUHANAN KAPANG PERA KASI PAG HINDI MO BINIGAY MATIK DEMONYONG UGALI MO! Galing talaga...

Na-iisipan ko na kumuha ng trabaho kasi gusto ko na lumayas dito. Di naman ako pwedeng scholar dahil dropout ako after hindi ako maka-bayad ng tuition at uniform ng Nursing, di ko nmn ginusto mag-nurse pero nilagay parin ako dun kahit alam na walang ngang pera plus lahat pa ng kapatid ko nasa private. 3 samin, kasama ako, ay may braces(kahit maayos nmn ngipin ko) na hindi pa napa-adjust in a year kasi sabi ni papa para sa amin din daw yun pero ang kailangan lang nmn talaga ng braces is yung isa sabay sya pa galit dahil hindi kami dumiskarte ng pera para sa lintik na braces nato?? Ang ending lubog na kami sa utang, sakit ng matress ko, mahuhulog pa ngipin ko. I think because papa ko dating mayama, sya ang "uniko iho" ng papa nyang sergeant kaya sya ganito pero wtf nmn!?! Nakakahiya at nakakastress na dahil tanong sakin ng mga tito at ninang is "how's college?" "Kailan ka mag OJT?" "Happy ka ba?" like, no. I'm not fucking happy... Wla pa akong proper work nor a driver license para makapag work at pag-aalaga lang ang kaya ko ngayon. Dropout nako sa nursing at ang goal ko lang is to get through the holidays without kms-ing...

So yeah, I hate everything pero makikinig nalang ako kay Pitbull para hindi ako sad. thoughts??

Kapagod na itong buhay kong itong. Taena n'yo lahat

Nakakapagod. Nagtrabaho. Gumawa ka naman ng mga bagay na makakapagpapasaya sayo pero parang kulang. Paulit ulit na lang. Mga taong nakaalala. Mga taong di mo akalain na makakaalala pa. At mga taong inaasahan mong makakaalala pero mukhang malabo. Ang lungkot pala nang mag-isa at malayo. Pero paano kung ang pamilya mo mismo ang dahilan ng iyong kalungkutan? Ang hirap nang walang masasandalan. Hay ewan basta. Kelan kaya aayon sa atin ang kapalaran? Sana malapit na.

Masama ba akong anak kasi sinabi kong pagod na ako sa mama ko?

Madalas akong maka-receive ng messages mula sa mama na nakaka-anxious, gaya ng: “Malapit na akong mamatay,” “Hindi ko na kaya,” “Sobrang sakit,” at “Wala namang tumutulong sa akin.” Parang simula bata pa ako. The earliest I could remember ay kahit 7 pa ako, sinsabi niya na sa akin iyung ganito. Imagine, paano ididigest ng bata ang ganitong statements from a parent? Eh, ngayong matanda na ako, ang hirap pa ring hindi maapektuhan emotionally.

For context, ilang beses nang nagpatingin ang mama ko sa isang private hospital malapit sa amin dahil sa vaginal infection/UTI. Pero sa kahit ang daming consultations, parang wala pa ring malinaw na diagnosis sa kung ano talaga ang problema niya.

May suspicion din tungkol sa kidney issues niya, pero hindi rin naipapaliwanag nang maayos sa kaniya kung ano ang nangyayari.

Isa sa mga posibilidad na naisip ko ay baka may kinalaman sa sexually transmitted infection. Nagkaroon kasi siya ng partner, at hindi ko alam ang sexual health history nun. Before that guy, decade na walang naging partner ang mama ko. Kaya alam kong may basis ang naiisip ko kasi ngayon lumitaw ang ganitong sakit ng mama ko. So, gently at sensitive kong tinry na ipaliwanag sa kaniya na na kapag sexually active ka, may mga health risks na kailangang i-consider talaga, at hindi lang naman sa kaniya ang pinagmulan ng infection. Puwedeng sa partner, puwedeng sa ibang dahilan, at kailangan ng tamang tests para malaman.

Pero na-offend siya at ipinagtanggol pa ang partner niya.

Ang nakakapagod, hindi naman ako doktor. Hindi ko sinasabing tama ang hinala ko, at hindi rin ako nag-a-assume na iyon talaga ang dahilan ng sakit niya. Ang gusto ko lang ay magkaroon siya ng malinaw na diagnosis at tamang treatment, sa halip na paulit-ulit na consultations at tests na hindi naman malinaw at ayaw niya magpasecond opinion. Nung nagpacheck up ulit, hindi naman saw STI. Puro antibiotics binibigay, hindi naman nag-iimprove ang health niya.

Mahal ang ospital na pinupuntahan niya. Na-confine na siya roon dati, at umaabot ng ₱20,000–₱30,000 kada araw ang gastos, hindi pa kasama ang antibiotics.

Sa totoo lang, base sa naging experience ko rin sa ospital na iyon, mas sulit pa sa ibang ospital gaya ng St. Luke’s, kung saan mas comprehensively na-eexplain sa pasyente ang kondisyon at treatment options. Gagastos na nga lang ng mahal, hindi pa sa better option.

Kaya noong nag-message ulit si mama at sinabing hindi na niya kaya ang sobrang sakit ng private part and sikip ng dibdib (heavy smoker kahit bawal, kumakain and iniinom din mga ipinagbabawal sa kaniya), naghanap ako ng solusyon. Syempre nanay ko. Hindi ko rin naman pwedeng pabayaan kahit nasa ibang lugar ako.

I suggested na pumunta siya sa ospital. Ayaw niya dahil mahal. I suggested a public hospital. Ayaw rin niya dahil matagal ang proseso, na naiintindihan ko naman dahil alam natin na pangit ang health care sa bansa. Tinawagan ko kapatid ko para mag-asikaso at samahan. Pati ang lola namin.

So I offered to pay.

Sinabi kong tumawag ako ng ambulance para maprioritize siya sa public. Pero nagalit pa rin siya. Parang nahihiya siyang makita ng ibang tao.
At doon ako napapagod.

Umiiyak ka na sa sakit, masakit ang private part mo, at sinasabi mong hindi ka na makahinga. Pero iniisip mo pa rin kung ano ang sasabihin ng ibang tao? emergency na pero ganito pa rin ang iisipin.

I am trying to help. I am trying to stay calm. I am offering solutions because I want her to get better.
Ako pa nagiging masama kahit ako nag-iinitiate ng help and ways.

Matagal ko na ring sinasabihan ang mama ko na kumuha ng HMO. Alam niyang madalas siyang magkasakit, kaya gusto kong magkaroon siya ng health coverage bago pa ang emergency.

Noong nagkaroon siya ng credit card, iyon ang isa sa mga una kong suggestion dahil kailangan iyon para sa annual payment, habang hindi pa dumadating iyung akin.

Ako na magbabayad. Pero hindi pa rin niya inuna. Iba pinagkagastusan. Nakakapagod.

Imagine knowing that you have recurring health problems, knowing how expensive medical care can be, and still putting off something that could help you access healthcare.

Kapag pinagsasabihan at tinutulungan, ako pa ang mumurahin at pagagalitan.

Nakakapagod maging anak na laging kailangang mag-isip para sa magulang niya, lalo na kapag ang taong gusto mong tulungan ay ayaw ding tulungan ang sarili niya.

To parents out there, I hope you also understand that one way of loving your children is by taking care of your own health.

just to give a background of myself, im 23, a RN (USRN din). it has always been a dream of mine talaga to purse medicine. i didnt take leapmed kesyo ayaw ng parents ko that time. after graduation, i didnt take my NMAT agad kesyo mag-exam daw muna PNLE. i passed my PNLE, mag NCLEX daw muna. so i did everything and now im registered to take the NMAT next year.

thing is, both my parents have been unemployed for a year. my mom was a nurse abroad pero umuwi siya sa pinas kasi nagkaroon ng kabit yung dad ko; they fixed their marriage naman. my dad was a frustrated businessman and all businesses failed. so last year they started processing papers to migrate in the US, edi nagmove silang dalawa dito sa manila (they were both in the province before tas mag-isa lang ako dito sa manila since i started college). they moved here sa studio unit ko, sinama sister ko (who's a freshman). you know how it is naman dito sa manila, ang isang studio unit, sakto lang for 1-2 pax. it's not even a condo unit ha, like a typical ghetto apartment lang. then imagine that same unit but 4 pax tapos yung mga gamit pa ng parents na dinala nila from the province- masikip talaga. they sleep on the floor, boxes everywhere, etc. to add to that, im a distant daughter. ako yung umuuwi lang pag kailangang umuwi. my father was abusive, my mom was absent, etc. basta i grew up independently.

so now, i've been unemployed for 2 months. i worked for 6mons this year para mafund yung NCLEX ko which was scheduled last week. then nagresign ako last aug para makapagreview then september i alloted para sa review ko, then october, i just passed my NCLEX last week.
im applying naman pero mahirap talaga to go back pala sa job market esp. hindi hospital ang hanap ko kasi magrereview ako para sa NMAT. puro "we'll email you" palang natatanggap ko. to add to that, nauubos na rin savings ko kasi hindi naman na nila ako pinoprovide-an ever since pumasa ako ng boards last dec. idk, it's so depressing lang talaga. sometimes i push myself to go out on little "solo dates" just to get out of this hell hole kasi ang lungkot ng ambiance at ang kalat ng lahat. ang saya ng kuhay ko dati na ako lang mag-isa dito tapos biglaan silang nandito doing nothing btw. literal na they wake up, eat, sleep, doomscroll, eat, sleep, repeat. eh hindi rin gumagalaw ang papers namin at matagal pa na process ang visa visa na yon afaik.

sometimes i just want to give up the dream of being an MD para makapagwork and earn na talaga for myself then leave everything and everyone behind. pero idk, esp now na registered na ko to take the NMAT, talagang it's something na mumultuhin ako pagtanda 😔😔 idk what to do at this point. i feel so behind kasi may mga batchmates na ko na 1st year med na tapos ako magrereview palang ng NMAT. poproblemahin ko pa yung finances ko

Yung nanay ko may kabit na lalaki, may kabit pa na tomboy...bumukod ng bahay at iniwan sakin yung responsibilidad ng pagiging nanay sa bahay.

Yung tatay ko nakakapag asikaso naman at kumimita naman kahit papano sa pagpapasada ng tricycle pero ang naiuuwi niya lang ay 200 pesos dahil mahina ang biyahe at mahal ang gasolina.

Pagod na pagod na ako. Ginagabayan ko yung dalawang kong kapatid mentally dahil natatakot akong maapektuhan yung future nila dahil sa current situation ng pamilya namin lalo sa situation ng parents namin. At natatakot din ako magkaroon sila ng depression dahil lifetime maintenance yung mangyayari non.

Ako lang may trabaho samin magkakapatid. 26 years old ako. 22 years old yung sumunod. 14 naman yung bunso.

Naghahanap ng trabaho abroad yung isa kong kapatid pero lagi siya rejected dahil overweight siya dahil sa PCOS.

Pinayuhan ko siya na mag-focus sa sarili niya at wag panghinaan ng loob. Sabi ko kaya ko pa naman basta wag lang nila pabayaan sarili nila dahi di namin afford magkasakit.

Pero lately, sobrang pagod na pagod na ako. Sobrang dami ko na ginagawang paraan para mapunta kami sa maayos na buhay.

May hinuhulugan akong lupa na 16k monthly. Yung kuryente ay average range ng 6k monthly. Yung internet pa, at yung pagkain din sa araw-araw.

Sa isang buwan 30k monthly yung fix na gastos ko para lang sa bills at pagkain.

Business lang ang source of income ko kaya wala akong fix salary. Sobrang hirap ng sitwasyon lalo pa ngayon na sobrang tumal ng negosyo dahil humina yung buying power ng mga tao dahil din sa sobrang mahal ng bilihin.

Sumubok ako mag-apply abroad pero bagsak lagi dahil malabo ang mata ko at walang experience sa mga malaking companies dahil negosyante lang ako.

Sobrang napapagod na ako. Hindi ko na alam yung gagawin ko. Wala na akong pahinga. Lately hindi ko na rin maintindihan yung purpose ko sa buhay dahil puro hirap na lang at inooverthink ko na may mapapala ba ako sa lahat ng sacrifices at pinaghihirapan ko.

Hello. I just want to share this experience of mine or let's say, yung buhay ko. Right now, I'm the breadwinner of my family, yung tatay ko may work pero hindi ganun kalaki ang kinikita. Ako ang nagbabayad ng bills sa bahay, kuryente, internet and pati na rin sa pag aaral ng kapatid, sometimes nagbibigay ako ng budget sa nanay ko for gastusin sa bahay. But sometimes hindi ko nabibigyan ng gastusin sa bahay kasi ibinabayad ko ng shorttimes (balik-bayan utang) na inutang ng mama ko para pambayad ng ganito ganyan or ibibili ng ganito ganyan, like if may naospital at wala akong hawak, utang para babayaran ko sa sahod, mga ganung scenario. Paulit ulit.

I don't know if it has to do with the algorithm, or so what they call it, sa facebook pero yung lumalabas sa reels ko is related sa pag-lielow sa mga toxic na tao to help yourself grow. Na walang mangyayari kung andun ka lang sa environment na hindi ka hinahayaang maggrow but kasama kang mag-fall.

Aaminin ko, I've thought of it so many times, how can I end this cycle? I know it's just money but for us, it's not just money. I thought so many times na maybe kapag inend ko ung l!fe ko, matatapos na to. Pero how about my family na umaasa sakin? How about my parents? My siblings? Then I thought, should I get an insurance first before ending? Then naisip ko, paano yung pangarap ko? Paano yung pangarap ko sa future generations ng family namin?

So I got back in track, nagwork ako sa bayan namin, I paid for our house rent ang electricity bill. Not enough. I moved to Manila and worked my ass out in a BPO industry, overtime here and there, pasok tuwing restday, I still paid the bills plus financial support for daily necessities and baon ng kapatid kong nag-aaral. One hospital imcident, not enough. I applied abroad kahit walang alam ang pamilya ko na baon na ako sa utang. Thinking, once nasa abroad na ako, I can pay my debts. I thought wrong. I've been abroad for months, ilang payslip na ang nahawakan ko, same cycle.

Magwowork, uutang, sasahod, magbabayad.
Magwowowork ulit, mawawalan ng budget, uutang, sasahod, magbabayad.

Paulit ulit. Nakakapagod. Nakakapagod na. Gusto ko nang sumuko, pero ayoko pa. Nakakaiyak, nakaka frustrate. Ayoko na. Pero ayoko pa.

hirap pala talaga kapag hindi ka financially stable and breadwinner ka,

parelease lang ng stress reddit, panganay ako, may isang kapatid na bunso (still in highschool) and yung father ka dialysis patient for 3 to 4 years na and ang mother ko housewife (both of them are in their mid 50s),

i worked as a call center agent and nagresign ako last July 2026 hoping to look for better opportunities (before resigning may savings ako na makakapagsupport sa whole fam for 3 months) kaso magnonovember na and i still don't have work since I am waiting sa start date ko this November 15 at naanxious nako since yung savings ko paubos na and naadmit si papa sa hospital last Saturday pero thankfully na discharge siya agad at nagpapahinga ngayon kaso yung mga meds naman need bilhin (already exhausted kona yung paglapit sa mga relatives and government officials),

trying to find an online part-time job, sent numerous applications pero wala padin, while i am typing this napapabuntong hininga nalang talaga hahaha, still need to continue and accept the cards I've been dealt

note: if may alam kayong remote jobs pahelp naman po hehe while i am waiting for my start date (my skills are more on customer service international)

Kumusta po! 

My name is Raelyn Grace Andal. I am a senior in the Bachelor's of Social Work program at California State University. I am currently seeking Filipino Americans to participate in a research study to examine caregiver stress and its impact on the mental, social, and physical health of Filipino informal caregivers. 

Informal caregivers are unpaid individuals, usually family members, loved ones, or friends who provide support and assistance to an older adult.  

Are you Filipino American and take care of an adult aged 65 years or older? 

Your contributions can help us better understand the caregiving experience of Filipino American caregivers. Through this research, we aim to foster community awareness of the effects of caregiver stress and contribute to the development and improvement of interventions and support systems for caregivers. 

Participation Eligibility: 

• Must be 18 years or older and identify as Filipino American. 
• Must be an informal caregiver providing unpaid care to a family member, loved one, or friend to an adult aged 65+. 

Participation Details: 

The survey has been approved by the university's Institutional Review Board (IRB). Partipcation involves completing a survey that will take approximately 10 -15 minutes. Your participation would be greatly appreciated and may help contribute to a better understanding of the needs and experiences of Filipino American caregivers.

Maraming salamat po for your time and consideration!

Thank you so much for your time and consideration! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me ([randal2@calstatela.edu](mailto:randal2@calstatela.edu)) or my thesis advisor, Dr. Anh-Luu Huynh-Hohnbaum (ahuynhh@calstatela.edu) .

Survey Link: https://calstatela.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7ZFuyRlvDhwHBpY 

Sincerely, 

Raelyn Grace Andal