When we say “vacation,” we daydream about places like our own white-sand beaches or breathtaking waterfalls where we can just relax and unwind. And for Filipinos living or working abroad, this “luxury” happens only once in a blue moon, so we always make the most out of it.
It’s true that, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” and believe us, nothing could be more perfect than a vacation spent with your family back home.
But, what if your supposed escape from a stressful work life would turn into an ordeal?
This is exactly what happened to a son of an OFW who decided to visit his family back home.
This guy later shared his traumatic experience on Reddit, under the handle u/crazy4dcoffee.
The unfortunate balikbayan didn’t expect to burn his cash quickly upon getting home
The guy mentioned that he had always stayed with relatives on his father’s side whenever he’d visit the Philippines. So, this time, he decided to see his relatives from his mother’s side.
For a 3-week vacation in the country, he brought some pasalubongs and a $1,000.00 (Php50,000) pocket money, which he thought would be enough for the duration of his trip.
Upon his arrival, everyone at his aunt’s place seemed to think he was some sort of a “walking bank account” who was sent to put an end to their everything.
Yes, you read that right.
“I just have to vent real quick. I recently went to the Philippines with my Lola for a 3 week vacation. I was given $1,000.00 by my parents as an allowance ( 50K pesos). I thought thats too much for 3 weeks. 2 weeks I stayed with my mom’s sister and her family. Now let me tell you this…the block that my aunt lives on….their cousins and other 2nd and 3rd cousins live there. Some of them I have no idea who they are but my luggage was packed with gifts for these people AND ALSO CASH. 11K of that 50k went to my them. Now I had 39k left. I still had 17 days left. I thought it would last me but no it did not.”
And by everything, we mean, electric bills and school fees.
via GIPHY
“I had some of them ask me if I can pay their electricity and tuition for school. I could not at this point call my mom and ask her I can since it was 3am back home. Also they ask me this in front of everyone, I don’t want to be called greedy etc. You know how it is. So I paid it.
I even had to use my emergency money that [I] worked hard for. $140 which was around 7,400 pesos. By the end of the day I had 2k left.”
His relatives guilt-trip him into feeling bad and giving in
He also shared on his post that his relatives would tell him sad stories about how privileged he is and they’re making him feel obliged to give money.
“I knew my aunt was stealing from me but my mom as usual says it’s okay I will deal with it. BUT SHE DOES NOT. I left it alone but I was so upset and I told my mom that I worked hard for that money and that she needs to give it back to me when I get home.
Don’t you just hate when they tolerate this shit. I’m sorry, im not trying to make it look like all Filipino relatives are like this but why do you think just because I’m from abroad, I am mayaman or rich like why can’t I just be me??? of course I have money, I’m on a foreign land on vacation. But it does not make me a walking bank account. Also hate when they guilt trip you for not giving money and tell sob stories so you feel bad and give in.”
Ready your tissues, mga kababayan.
via GIPHY
Now, he’s blaming his mom for tolerating such appalling behavior
It was his first time to spend some time with his family on his mother’s side and he was very upset by how he was treated there.
“My grandma is my dad’s mother so she was in another city. I wanted to get to know my moms side of the family so I stayed there. I am never going back there again.
I also have to pay when we eat out and mind you most of the time, I’m not the one who insisted we go. THEY DID. what the actual…..I lost my shit when I had to pay for 12 people.
My mom even had the nerve to tell me why I had no money left when I had only 2 days left before I went back home to the US. I told her that obviously I was their bank account. She couldn’t say shit.
What’s worse is when I went back home, my uncle who asked me to pay for the tuition, asked my mom for another 5k because he needs transportation money. She got mad but didn’t tell him and I literally just laughed in her face. I feel bad but she deserves it for encouraging such behavior.”
The greediness in the family was just too much for him to handle
If you’re a balikbayan, you never forget this golden rule: don’t forget THE pasalubongs (gifts)! However, his aunt seemed not happy with the gifts he bought for her…
“Also my mom’s sister got a lot of clothes. She got 2 shorts and t shirts and even some chocolates and got mad at me because the shoes she requested wasn’t there and I had to explain to her that I had no more space in my luggage and that they got a lot already, it won’t be fair. She said next time we go home she expects the shoes. My blood was boiling to the MAX.
Another thing too, when I got to her house, as I was taking the gifts out to put in plastic bags…she stole a perfume from me. One that she asked was for and I said it’s an extra gift just in case I meet a friend of mine that used to live in the US. She took it when I looked away. I found it in her room a week later. I was so confused as to why she doesn’t just ask me this.
I hate that I feel this way but why are some relatives such parasites.
Dude, also bro 17 pesos toothbrush I had to pay them back…..I was like are you serious??? a rat peed on my toothbrush and there was poop on it. Is that my fault? I was just like whatever that’s like $0.40? so I gave it back.”
His major takeaway?
He is never going back there again.
via GIPHY
However, we still live under the impression that OFWs earn huge income or have a lot of savings account. What we don’t know is that some of them juggle two to three jobs per day or pay multiple debts back home. While it is admirable to have this sense of responsibility for our families, this behavior has also become an opportunity to be too dependent on our relatives abroad.
This, along with other negative Filipino traits, need to go already.
