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I apologize as this is going to be a long post. Ok for context, I’m a Filipino currently living in the US. For Filipinos like me here in Bored Panda, they would know that in the Philippines a girl’s 18th birthday party, or debut, as we call it, is a huge deal. So much like a Quinceañera.

I have this cousin on my father’s side, Me-Ann, whose daughter just celebrated her debut. Beautiful ball gown, nice venue, great decor, music, food, the whole nine yards. Lots of guests. I just found out about it when they posted pictures on Facebook.

The thing that hurt was when I asked my sister, who is in the Philippines, if she was invited to that party. She said no. Not one of them thought of it, not even a half-assed invitation. I know my sister, she’s not close to them as I am with them. Even if she was invited, she wouldn’t go bc she doesn’t like going out. She’s a homebody. But my point is, it’s the thought that counts.

I grew up in that side of the family. I call my aunts and uncles mama and papa. Even after my parents separated when I was four. Through thick and thin, I stood by them, to the point my mom even said I treat them more like family than her (which isn’t true but not the point). I help/ed them without expecting anything in return, be it monetary or otherwise. Birthdays, christmases I always gift them something. When said cousin told me she needs my help as she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, she didn’t have to say it twice. Helped her with bills and meds, etc. All without my husband’s knowledge. Bc what can I say, they’re my family. Through the years I have supported them in any way I can. When I got married, I wanted them to be in my wedding and I paid for everything bc I knew they can not afford to attend. There were a lot more I did for them.

So I was hurt when I found out that they didn’t even shoot my sister a Facebook message or text to invite her to said debut. I confronted my cousin about it. She said she was busy and in a lot of stress bc she had surgery twice and was in and out of the hospital, that they church they belong to contributed/donated a lot to make that party happen. She even said that she wasn’t sure there will even be a party bc of all the stuff that’s going on with her. I was so hurt and felt like she insulted my intelligence so I asked if what she’s telling me is that that party was a last minute kind of thing. She couldn’t answer that. She did apologize. But I was hurt, still am to be honest. I just said it’s ok. I understand. But what’s done is done. I apologized for all the things I said then blocked her and her whole family on Facebook.

Am I wrong to feel this way?

PS. I apologize for typos and grammatical errors. English is not my first language.

#1

First of all, feeling a certain way is never wrong, but it is possible that you acted in a way that was unfair. Now, I'm Not Filipino myself,(I'm about as uncultured as you get) so I don't completely understand the gravity of a debut. The way I look at it, in not inviting your sister, they weren't being aggressive, so they shouldn't be treated aggressively. You can choose to believe your cousin, or you can suspect them and keep a grudge. Whatever you do, I've discovered that open communication is the best way to de-escalate, and I hope that you would forgive them regardless.

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Fickle_Pickle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, they could’ve invited my sister as a proxy, or replacement for me, if you will. But then they didn’t even tell me that it was my niece’s party. But now that I have time to think about it, I realized that yes, I may have reacted in a way that’s not reasonable. I realized they don’t have an obligation to invite my sister bc like I mentioned in my post, they’re not as close to her as I am with them. But it still hurts. I still cry about it. Maybe I would go visit them when I go back home. And truth be told, I’m feeling a little ashamed of myself for reacting that way. Thank you for your nice words.