24/05/2026
๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐
May kakilala ka bang laging nakangiti ang mukha? seryosong mukha? laging galit? When did the last time you ask your mother, father, sister, brother or friends about their situations or feelings? Or youโve never done it, have you?
โ Amahan, kumusta man ka?โ
โ Ome Kulay, tonay masosowa aka?โ
โ Oyyy Pare, musta?โ
โ Gurllll, long time no see! Howโs life?โ
Or you just keep asking,
โ Ma, ubos na ang allowance ko!โ
โ Beshy, I need your help.โ
โ Tol, pakopya ng assignment.โ
But have you ever asked them about how they feel that day?
Some people hide their feelings behind opposite facades. Many people hide their real pain behind a smile. And behind that smile is a heavy heart carrying wounds and pain. Some just have serious faces but deep inside, they are happy. But the eyes never lie, even when the lips stretch into a smile.
Have you ever seen a person who laughed too much when talking about their personal life? You can see the pain behind those eyes, the cracks in their voice, the heavy atmosphere that fills the space. The forced grins, the practiced laughs, the emotional disguise that wear to blend in. A fake smile may fool the world, but never the soul beneath it.
Behind every smile, there is a story we donโt see.
People express their feelings in different ways. Some just cry out loud. Some just listen to music, read books, perform dance, or write a journal. Some just sleep until the pain goes away. Some just eat because itโs their way of easing the pain.
Not all the pain is cried out loud. Some wounds live insideโquiet, invisible, and constant.
Ask yourself these questions. Whatโs the pain no one knows youโre carrying? What weighs on your heart but never gets spoken? Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Who would you open up to if you could? When did your smile become a lie? What do your eyes reveal that your voice hides? What battle are you tired of fighting alone?
Every one of us has struggles. A battle we carry within ourselves and fight to survive. A smile can be louder than a scream when it hides deep wounds. Those are the quiet moments when laughter masks sorrow. When the world expects you to be okay, sometimes you smile so they stop asking. Behind every cheerful face may be a story too painful to speak.
How often do you hide pain behind humor?
Smiling on the outside, fighting battles on the inside. What if the person you are talking to right now is facing anxiety or depression? But he may just be covering it with a smile.
Navigating through the day with a mask on.
There are people who talk too much, are energetic, and want to invite you for a strollโthey are often the ones who feel ignored at home.
So next time, check on your mother, father, friends to see if they are okay.
Even simple questions like these can make them feel better.
โ Ome, mapipiya ka anan?โ
โPagar, mapipiya ta?โ
Reach out and listen. Being a patient and active listener can help you better understand what your loved one is going through.
Letโs be aware and become observant of people's facades. Because sometimes, behind a smile is an untold struggle, pain, and suffering.
Written by Mohammad Faiz O. Badroden
Illustration by Christian Tindugan
