17/05/2026
Growing up, I always experienced this with some relatives. Every time I posted a good picture of myself,where I looked nice or fair, there was always that one relative who would deliberately post a different photo in our group chat. A photo from a bad angle, capturing a side of me that would make me a laughingstock. You just know when the intention is not really nice.
I haven’t experienced that in a long time, especially since I had kids, because I spent years setting strict boundaries. But then, the reunion happened.
Before that reunion, my family went to Pangasinan. I posted nice pictures, proudly sharing our getaway. I recently lost weight from 78kg down to 58kg and as a mom of three, I felt so proud of myself for slowly blooming again.
During the reunion, I was genuinely happy. I was pure and sincere with everyone because I truly care for them. So when someone asked to send all the photos in the group chat, I didn’t think anything of it.
But the moment I opened the chat, my heart sank. I felt so hurt, sad, and confused. Ano bang nagawa kong mali?
Every other picture was beautiful, but there was this one cropped photo of me. It was obviously taken from a bad angle just to make fun of me. Family shouldn’t be like that.
It triggered me. It brought back the exact trauma I walked away from years ago. I don’t regret the effort, time, and money I spent just to be with them, but what I experienced in return was heartbreaking.
I know that to them, it was probably nothing. But teaming up to put someone down and hurt them is something I cannot carry alone. Kaya lahat ng ito, isinusumbong ko na lang sa Panginoon. I cannot control how other people think, but God knows everything.
My pain is real. These people have no idea what I’ve been through. My kindness was never a cry for attention. Ayoko ng atensyon ninyo. Ang gusto ko lang ay kapayapaan.
