Tunay na Buhay Files (2025)

16/07/2025

"UTANG NG GF KO SA MGA LENDING APPS..."

I'm 29(M). Same age as my GF. Hingi sana ako advice or thoughts sa situation ko ngayon. Yung gf ko meron pala syang malaking utang sa mga lending apps with almost 300k.

Context: Ngayonn lang nya inamin sakin kasi ayaw nya daw umasa sakin para tulungan sya. Ang ginagawa nya para mabayaran yung mga utang nya is uutang ulit sa ibang lending app pantapal sa ibang utang nya. Sabi ko bakit di pa nya sinabi sakin nung maliit pa lang kasi wala naman ako problema financially kayang kaya ko sya tulungan. To make a summary of our relationship.. LDR kami.. nagbreak na kami once kasi nahuli ko sya ka chat ung workmate nya flirting with him nung umuwi ako sa pinas tapos nagkabalikan din months later and nabuntis ko sya, kaso nakunan sya dahil sa stress sa work and dyan sa utang nya na hindi ko pa alam nung buntis sya.

Nakapagbigay na ako ng 50k sa kanya and confused ako ngayon kung tutulungan ko pa sya kasi ako na naman ba ung mag aadjust para sa amin. Ginawa ko naman yung best ko para mag work yung relationship namin and ang hirap pa ngayon dahil nandito ako abroad and may trust issue na din ako sa kanya. Inisip ko nang hayaan na lang sya and move on na kaso parang nakokonsensya akong iwan sya dahil wala sya ibang malalapitan tungkol sa utang nya. Pag iniwan ko sya aasa na naman sya sa lending apps and baka maging milyon pa utang nya and it somehow pains me pag maiisip kong ganun yung magiging situation nya in the future, baka magresort sya sa su*cide. Super confused ako sa situation namin pls i need your thoughts and advice

14/07/2025

"11 MONTHS WITH MY BROKE BOYFRIEND..."

I really love my boyfriend, but he's broke.

So I (F, 24) am currently working as a virtual assistant and he's 30, currently working as a BPO team leader. For the first few months, we just went on inexpensive dates, buying milk tea and talking, and that was fine. But as our relationship grew, I started craving fancier restaurants, places I haven’t been to since I was young. In short, I wanted to heal my inner child.

However, I feel like my boyfriend wants to stick to the same old places we’ve always gone to, usually fast food chains, and it feels stagnant. One time, I invited him to a Shabu Shabu place that cost ₱800 per person. Since I was the one who asked him out, I paid for both of us. That became the pattern for the next 10 to 15 dates. Because I was always the one suggesting those places, I felt responsible for covering the costs.

Now, the problem is it seems like he got used to it. Even when we eat somewhere that’s not expensive, he doesn’t offer to pay anymore. It’s gotten to the point where I pay for gas and everything else. I really love him, but I’m starting to not see a future with him.

I tried confronting him and he told me he’s short on money. I encouraged him to look for a job that pays more since he already has 7 years of experience as a Team Lead. But sometimes, instead of applying, he just plays Valorant. So I end up applying on his behalf, fixing his resume and cover letters. He is a sweet guy and always emotionally present, but I’m beginning to feel that love alone won’t be enough for our future, especially if we plan to build a family.

I have big dreams. I want to travel and see different countries, but it feels like that’s not his dream. He wants to settle for a simple, lowkey life.

This coming week is our first anniversary and I actually canceled our plans. I just got tired of paying for everything. I don’t even have the chance to save. It’s reached the point where I had to sell a concert ticket I worked hard to get just to cover our couple expenses.

What’s holding me back is the little hope I still have that he’ll change and land a great job. Also, he is a good man, emotionally mature and kind.

So… share your thoughts!

13/07/2025

"MALI BA NA PALAYASIN KO ANG ANAK KO NA 20+ Y.O..."

Gagraduate na sya this year and hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyare sa kanya since nung nag reunion sila nf friends nya para syang nagbago. 1st trigger: naoperahan ako bec of cyst i told her hindi ako pwede mag drive and ine expect ko ipag drive nya ko pero sabi nya pa resched ko kasi may lakad sila ng friends nya, kaya ang ending nag commute na lang ako kasi bawal nga ako mag drive although sinundo nya ako kasi nasa same area naman daw.

2nd trigger: In just a matter of 6mos naka 2 situationship sya which is fine kasi wala getting to know stage daw pero sa same company na pinag internan nya.

Ang nagulat ako sya ang nag pupunta sa bahay ng lalake at inaabot ng madaling araw ang reason nya is ininvite sya ng parents nung guy and yung next na sinabi nya is mag overnight sila sa guy kasi again invited sa family.

Dito na ako nagalit kasi katatapos lang ng operation ko and lahat na lang ng inasikaso nya ay hang out at ung new guy nya at ginagamit nila ang sasakyan ko para sa mga gimik nila and sabi ko im tired adjusting sa lahat ng friends nya at never ako naging priority kaya i want her out of my life kasi sobrang na stress na ako to a point na last usap nakin nag wala ako kasi inabot nanaman sya ng madaling araw na alam nya na may lakad kami ng 4:30am.

Sobrang hindj ko na alam kung anong klaseng understanding ang gagawin ko sa kanya ang sabi ko make sure to graduate this sem and find a job kasi i wont support u and binawe ko ung sasakyan.

Now, nakatira sya sa isa namin house all by herself no car. Ako pa rin ang mag pay ng utilities binigyan ko sya ng 8k a month for monthly allowance kasi naka remote naman ung internship nya.

11/07/2025

"MY FIANCÉ KEEPS ASKING ABOUT MY FAMILY'S INCOME..."

I(F30), only child, living with my senior parents engaged to my fiancé (M30), seafarer, breadwinner.

We’ve been together for 4 yrs, 1 year engaged. Tumigil na ako mag work since kailangan kong bantayan ang senior parents ko (both at 80’s) stay-out helper lang meron kami. May income naman kami sa farm (agri products) which is enough for the 3 of us to live in a comfortable life.

My boyfriend is a seafarer, current rank OS, 6 yrs na nagbabarko. to be honest wala pang ipon or pundar kasi breadwinner sya at may pinapaaral na kapatid, lage din humihingi ang mama nya kahit may allotment nman na

The problem is everytime my ganap sa farm, nakiki usisa sya. Nag start na magsaka?, magkano daw ang income? may times pa na nagpapasend ng receipts. mas natatanong pa nya yan kesa sa kumusta na ako or kami and I’m starting to get annoyed kasi farm naman namin yun ng parents ko. and never ako nagtanong sa sweldo nya or kung saan napupunta pera nya so bakit makiki usisa sya.

Pag hindi ko naman sya sinasagot mang gu-guilt trip sya. “ikaw kung ayaw mong sabihin” tapos di na nya ako papansinin.

Once, I accessed his messenger tapos nakita ko sa past convo ng kabaro nya na sinend nya pala yung receipts ng income ng farm ng parents ko and reply nung kabaro nya “pwede ka na pala hindi sumakay pre kasi okay na income ng partner mo, sa inyo din naman yan pag kasal na kayo”.

Now, hindi na ako sure kung gusto ko pa bang magpakasal sa kanya or i open up sa kanya ang prenup agreement kasi yun ang gusto ng nanay ko kasi eventually daw, pag wala na sila sa’kin ang lahat and what if daw may mangyari sa akin eh di masosolo daw niya pag kasal kami and ayaw ng nanay ko yun dahil pinaghirapan nila ng ilang taon tapos sa ibang tao lang daw mapupunta need ko daw iprotect ang sarili ko.

09/07/2025

"MY HUSBAND IS CHEATING ON ME AND KEPT ON DENYING IT..."

I (33f) saw my husband (33m) through our CCTV camera chatting with someone. We are married 11yrs, with 2 kids (10yo and 3yo)... When asked, he denied it, saying he was just scrolling and composing a message for his boss. I did not buy it but since I don't have a solid proof (the camera was a bit blurry when zoomed in on the phone) I decided to forgive and forget that it happened.

We never check each other's phones but because of this incident I told him that I have to see his from time to time.. I did. Just checked conversations throug FB Messenger, Viber, etc. and not much found in there. Looks clean!

Then one time while he was sleeping, I decided to check again. This time in mobile browser. And found alarming saved search history: How to delete another account in IG, How to remove suggested in Messenger, How to delete Waze History, Grab History... etc. I was almost going to vomit when I saw this. So then I checked the Waze and Grab, and wow, they're empty! Even our food orders from Grab are gone. I checked the IG and there was definitely another account that looked like it had been cleaned- 0 followers 0 following.

After that, I checked his photos and typed in "girl". Pretty sure only me and my daughter plus few relatives will pop. But, no, there are others.

Girls' pictures that I don't know.. Some with contact number, some screenshots of a conversation like they are doing a fishy (sexual???) transaction, some are just random downloaded photos of girls. I dont know anymore. Different dates when the photo was saved or screenshot.

When confronted, he told me he just deleted the history so that I will not worry about places he goes for work. He told me that the IG was just an old one he had. He told me that the girls' pictures are just from his guy friends.. and that he never had any transactions with any of them.

He denied everything.. and now, i'm devastated. I haven't been home for 2 days now. I cry all the time. I feel like I'm gonna vomit. I don't know what is the truth. I don't know who my husband is anymore. How can he do that? Lie? It is pretty obvious that he is cheating right? Is it normal to feel like I can't come home yet? I miss and love the kids. But I don't want to go home. 😭

08/07/2025

"HOW CAN I STOP MY PARTNER FROM HER ONLINE GAMBLING ADDICTION..."

Context: Last year, nalaman namin yung about sa casinoplus and scatter. Out of curiosity, nag try kami maglaro. Nag start lang kami sa 50 then 100. Masaya nung una kasi nanalo talaga pero nung natatalo na ako I stop na rin kasi wala rin akong patience sa ganyan feeling ko nag sasayang lang ako ng pera.

I told her na tigilan na rin niya since baka ma adik siya sa ganon. She didn’t stop. Nung una hinahayaan lang siya kasi sabi niya 100 lang naman daw tinataya niya and nagugulat din ako na ang laki ng pinapanalo niya.

For context, we are living together and shared kami ng expenses. Wala kaming inaasahan na support from our parents, kami pa actually yung nag sesend ng financial support to them if needed. We are living paycheck to paycheck so wala kami gaanong ipon pa.

Many times na kami nagkaroon ng away sa paglalaro niya kasi dumating na sa point na tinatago niya sakin na naglalaro siya. Makikita ko nalang wala ng pera yung gcash ko or gcash niya. Pati yung pera namin na naka budget sana for the week is nagagalaw na dahil sa scatter.

Nag usap kami na kapag naulit pa, maghihiwalay na kami. Unfortunately, naulit pa siya nang naulit. Hindi ko alam na ganon na pala siya ka adik sa laro.

Recently, grabe yung away namin kasi yung pera sa savings account namin nabawasan niya din and it’s all because of that online gambling. I told her na maghiwalay na kami and nag beg ulit siya and keeps on promising na hindi na uulitin.

Inexplain din niya na sobrang nahihirapan siya to stop and tinatry niya naman baguhin. Hindi niya din alam bakit umabot sa ganito yung paglalaro niya. Ang mindset niya is mababwi niya pa pero mas lalo siyang nababaon sa pagkatalo.

As much as gusto ko na makipaghiwalay kasi paulit ulit na yung nangyayari but sinubukan ko pa din to understand her side. Ayoko naman masira yung relasyon namin dahil lang dito. We’ve been together for 3 years and madalas financial problem ang maging away namin pero we still find a way naman since medyo gipit lang din talaga. I want to help her na bumangon at maialis saknya yung addiction na yan. I told her to uninstall all her apps na may connected sa paglalaro. Ako din muna nag hahandle ng mga sahod, savings and expenses namin. Para siyang bata ngayon na need humingi ng baon sakin kapag papasok kasi hindi ko talaga siya pinapahawak ng pera kasi baka matempt siya na ilaro lang din.

These past few days nag iimprove naman siya kaya lang kahapon nag paalam siya sakin kung pwede daw ba ulit kahit 100 lang.

Hindi ko na alam ano pwede gawin. I want to help her maovercome ito kasi kapag hindi, relationship nmin yung mawawala. Nakikita ko naman na tinatry din to be better but may mga times na bumalik pa din at syempre naawa din ako for her pero gusto ko maging matigas para ma eliminate na niya yung bad habit na yan. Sobrang draining na din on my part.

07/07/2025

"HINDI AKO NILILIBRE NI JOWA, PARANG LABAG SA LOOB NYA..."

I need advice, Im 26 f and he is 30 M so ang set up since high school kami sagot ko sya palagi since mas malaki nga ang baon ko sakanya tho okay lang naman yun and naiitindihan ko naman sya ang sabi nya babawi daw sya sakin inantay ko yung time na mag ka work sya hindi para bumawi saakin para maka help sa parents nya and sa house nila. So ayun na nga nag ka work sya and okay naman okay naman sya sa work nya and naka ipon sya, pero set up namin ako padin palagi nagastos ng malaki, kung mag share naman kami pag lalabas mas malaki padin yung share ko. Hindi ko alam if valid ba to nararamdaman ko but sometimes na feel ko na insecure ako sa iba girls na nakikita ko na todo effort mga mga bf/gf nila sakanila especially pag bday, anniversary and mga special occasions. Hindi niya ako niyaya mag date or travel kahit capable naman kami kahit kaya naman ng budget namin. Masama ba maramdaman ko na gusto ko ako naman? parang napapagod na kasi ako. Iniitindi ko naman pero 13 years, hindi ko alam kung ano plano nya sakin, samin.

Nag open up ako sakanya about this pero nauuwi sa away and misunderstanding ang hirap kasi hindi sya open to talk about it ang ending parang na guilty pa ako at nanunumbat sakanya.

05/07/2025

"I WAS HER 3AM, SHE WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S 7PM DINNER DATE PART 2..."

So after that dinner post — yes, the 7PM “grateful for this man” caption — I did what any self-respecting taong ginawang emotional rebound would do:
I disappeared.

My first problem: I was her 3AM. She was someone else’s 7PM dinner date.
This all happened within the last 24 hours.
Alam mo ‘yung pakiramdam na wala ka namang ginawang masama, pero parang may something off?
Gabi ‘yon — same routine. She messaged me around 2AM.

Kwento siya about how tired she is. Stress sa life. Hindi makatulog. So ako na naman ‘yung sumalo. Sabi ko, “Tawagan kita para makatulog ka.”
And I did.

She fell asleep on the call. Tahimik lang. And while naka-on pa call namin, napatingin ako sa IG — wala lang, habit.
That’s when I saw it.
“Tagged by [REDACTED], dinner with this one 🫶🏻”
7:13PM.

A picture of her, with someone else. May wine. May pa-candlelight. Same outfit she wore when she said “Pagod ako sa labas. Tulungan mo naman ako mag-recharge.”
Akala ko drained siya sa mundo.
Hindi ko alam, naubos lang pala siya sa date.

And the caption?
“Felt like home again.”
Tangina.

I was literally on the phone with her while she slept, right after she said good night — post-dinner, post-ikot, post-someone-else.*
So I ended the call.
I didn’t message
I let the silence speak.

Then the texts started coming:
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Please don’t ignore me.”

Then 10AM today:
“I miss you. I feel like something’s changed.”
And finally, just now — 1:30PM:
“I thought you’d always be there. Why are you being like this?”
I wanted to reply.
I really did.

But then I remembered:
I was her 3AM.
The safe space.
The comfort call.
The soft place to land.
And yet she chose a dinner table over me.

I wasn’t mad.
Just… done.
Kasi kahit anong lambing, anong tulong, anong presence…
Kung hindi ikaw ‘yung gusto niya makasama sa 7PM,

You’ll always just be the afterthought at 3AM.
And now?
She misses me.
But I’m done being missed when I should’ve been chosen.

—

Maybe I’ll update in a few days. Maybe she’ll call. Maybe I’ll answer.
Or maybe, this time, I’ll finally sleep through 3AM.

Without her.

04/07/2025

"I JUST BROKE UP WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND I FEEL GUILTY..."

I (F28) decided to break up with my first ever boyfriend (32M) of 6 years and I feel really guilty about it. I felt like I lost my other half. How do you cope with it?

Sobrang lungkot ko lang I felt the need to share this out here. Me and my bf are super okay. We have been living together for almost 2 years na and wala naman major away or issues bukod sa house chores and small things. I never had an issue with him about other women. Alam ko at ramdam ko na sobrang mahal nya ako, but I had to break up with him because I don't feel happy anymore.

Attentive naman sya sa akin, lagi ako inuuwian ng food kapag galing sya ng work. Consistent sya simula nung maging kami. But the thing is, he's okay living a simple life while ako, I have bigger dreams. Andami kong gusto sa buhay and its frustrating me na hindi sya makasabay sakin. We're both breadwinners and it doesn't help his case kasi nauubos talaga sya parents nya yung sahod nya and nakakafrustrate na wala syang naiipon dahil don. He's content with his work now and although he's saying he's looking for jobs, I don't feel like he's doing enough. Tinulungan ko na rin ayusin yung CV nya pero nag aapply lang sya kapag sinabi ko, pag di ko pinaalala titigil nanaman hanggang mainis ako ulit.

For years ginaslight ko sarili ko na okay na ako sa gantong setup, basta mahal naman ako at hindi ako lolokohin. Pero totoo pala talaga yung sinasabi nila na hindi sapat ang love. I'm worried about our future, I'm not comfortable being the main provider. Paano nalang pag nabuntis ako at nanganak? Mahal ko pa rin sya, but I gathered all my courage to break up with him because I no longer see myself with him in the future. Feel ko may times rin na nagiging toxic na ako sakanya at ayokong iresent sya sa huli. We broke up on good terms. Of course he's not okay with it. He just cried to me and said sorry multiple times, asking if wala na ba talagang pag asa. I tried to be firm and stick with my decision, and now para akong sasabog as I'm typing this here.

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako sure kung tama yung decision ko. Paano ba magmove on? How do you cope with heartbreak? He's my first in everything and I'm not sure if I'll be able to love someone this hard again, or kung may iba pa bang magmamahal sakin.

03/07/2025

"I WAS HER 3AM, SHE WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S 7PM DINNER DATE..."

Hindi ko alam kung concerned ako, tanga ako, o pareho.
Pero alam ko lang: I was there—lagi.
3AM calls. “Can I vent?” texts. Random breakdowns. Drunk rants.
And I stayed. Kasi sabi niya, “You’re the only one who listens.”

For months, I became her emotional oxygen. Pagod na ako minsan, pero iniisip ko: “Baka kailangan lang talaga niya ng taong totoo.”
She wasn’t ready, she said. “I don’t want anything serious,” she said.
So I waited. Nagpakumbaba. Naghintay kahit alam kong walang kasiguruhan.

Until one night, she messaged me again.
3:12 AM.
“Sorry ha, gising ka pa?”
Of course I was. Of course I replied.
She said she wasn’t okay. She said she felt numb. She said she needed comfort.
I offered to drop by. She said no, she just wanted to talk.
So we talked. Hanggang makatulog siya. Hanggang tulog na rin ako with my phone still warm in my hand.

Next day, habang nag-iinit ako ng kape, I checked Instagram.
First story I saw:
A dinner table. Candles. Two wine glasses. Someone’s hand holding hers.
7:08 PM. Same day.
Caption: “Grateful for this man.”
…Tangina.
I zoomed in.
His watch. His jacket.
Yup. The same ex she swore she’d never talk to again.

Plot twist?
Ako pala yung emotional pit stop habang hinihintay niyang bumalik yung taong iniwan siya sa gitna ng EDSA.
She said she didn’t want anything serious… kasi pala may hinihintay na siyang bumalik.

And now I’m here.
Wondering if she ever meant any of those calls.
Wondering if “thank you for being there” ever meant “but not enough to choose you.”
I haven’t replied since.

But I’m still thinking—should I tell her I saw the post? Or just vanish quietly like the emotional standby she made me out to be?

Part 2 maybe. If she notices I’m gone.

03/07/2025

"SHE CALLED ME 'THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY' HABANG KARGA NIYA YUNG ANAK NILA NG EX NYA..."

Three years ago, we were almost something.
Almost, pero hindi. Kasi she chose someone else.

Back then, I was her safe space. Ka-chat buong gabi. Tagasundo after class. “Taga-boost ng self-esteem,” sabi nga niya minsan, half-joking. Pero kahit gaano kami ka-close, kahit gaano ka-sweet lahat ng interactions namin—wala raw siya sa “right headspace” para sa commitment.

One day, bigla siyang nawala. A month later, nakita ko sa IG story, nasa Baguio sila ng ex niya. Same guy who cheated on her twice before. Same guy na iniyakan niya habang ako ‘yung kausap niya hanggang alas tres ng madaling araw. I didn’t reach out. I respected her choice. I stepped back. That was one of the hardest things I ever did.

Fast forward to now: I ran into her sa isang coffee shop. She was holding her baby—yes, anak nila ng ex. We caught up. Small talk. Kamustahan. Then she said:

“You’re still the one that got away.”
“Ikaw pa rin ‘yung pinaka-safe. Ikaw pa rin ‘yung taong sana pinili ko noon.”
And there she was… telling me all of this… habang karga niya ‘yung bunga ng choice na hindi ako.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bitter about the baby. Wala siyang kasalanan. And to be fair, she looked like a great mom.
But that line stuck with me. “You’re the one that got away.”
Kasi in my head, I didn’t “get away.”

I waited. I healed from her. I moved forward without closure. And now I don’t know if this is her looking back… or just holding on to an idea of me na hindi na totoo.

She’s not with the father anymore, by the way. Left him a year ago, sabi niya.
She asked if we could “catch up again soon.”
And now I’m here, staring at our old photos in my archive, wondering…

Should I even consider it?
Can something still be built on a foundation na gumuho na years ago?
Or is this just another emotional moment na pinapakain lang ako ng nostalgia?

03/07/2025

"3 YEARS IN RELATIONSHIP AND STILL NOT LEGAL BECAUSE SHE'S PRESSURED..."

Hello, hingi lang ako ng advice if tama pa ba na mag stay and patiently wait ako na maipakilala ng gf ko sa parents nya? She (F26) and I (M25) met online and ako yung first bf nya, she said na natatakot sya na ipakilala ako kasi baka pagalitan daw sya. Lagi ko na lang iniintindi pero lately parang nawawalan ako ng pag asa kung dadating pa ba sa point na maipapakilala nya ko. Palagi naman nya na sinasabi na mahal nya ako pero hindi pa din daw sya ready ipakilala ako.

Pakiramdam ko ang layo namin sa isa’t isa and sobrang na g-guilty ako kapag may out of town plans kami and palagi nya sinasabi sa parents nya na kasama nya mga ka workmate nya. Sobrang nakakaparanoid. Any advice?

Tunay na Buhay Files

16/07/2025

14/07/2025

13/07/2025

11/07/2025

09/07/2025

08/07/2025

07/07/2025

05/07/2025

04/07/2025

03/07/2025

03/07/2025

03/07/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share