Should I cut-off my relatives? (long post ahead)
Problem/Goal: I don't really want a relationship with my relatives anymore. I wanna know if i'm being reasonable.
(please note that this is NOT THE FULL STORY, there are still lots of things cut out and this is just the tip of the iceberg ika nga nila)
Context: I'm not the best when it comes to story telling so bear w me please, thank you.
I've lived in my parent's house up until I was 20. During those years, me and my relatives have had a good amount of times na we had a reunion, and you could even say we're pretty okay as a family (religious lot btw). But, since my mom remarried when I was 4, her older siblings have been openly criticizing her about it, and since my (step)dad is not money wealthy (very kind btw), we've always been made to be the "utusan" when it comes to family gatherings and all that.
I am an eldest daughter, so I guess you wouldn't say it's a shocker that I was rebellious and "maldita" and was considered the black-sheep of the family. I never explicitly talked-back to my aunts or whatnot, but i've distanced myself from them when I actually understood what was going on in our family. The thing is, they've always made their way into getting on my nerves, deliberately calling me "muklo" which idk if anyone here knows what it is, but that's a derogatory term used for muslim people (my biological dad is a muslim).
That nickname stuck with me throughout all the family gatherings, they'd call me that when they need something, when they're trying to make other people laugh, or when they just needed to have something to talk about. I've only laughed in response to those, but i'd always cry and tell my mom I was annoyed by it— but of course, yk the usual mom talk "hayaan mo na sila", "wag mo nalang pansinin" 'cause she also can't do shi about it.
Not just that, but there are a lot of instances me and my step-siblings were intentionally being left out sa mga cousin photos, gala, and just overall interactions. My parents were the one at the kitchen doing all sorts of work while they're doing the whole reunion thingy. That never sat right with me. And my mom would just always tell me the importance of studying kasi "pag nakagraduate ka, maipapakita mo sa kanila na mali sila."
So I grew up throughout all those years avoiding them, from making sure no one finds my facebook acc, to not being included in the family gc, never congratulating anyone or basically talking to them online (we live in different provices and cities), and I am genuinely okay with it, even though my mom would often talk me out of doing that kasi lalo ko lang raw sya pinapahirapan. Sure, you're struggling, but I wouldn't struggle with you just because you think that's what makes a family.
Moving on to my current situation, I am 23 now living ewith my partner (making enough money for us to be more than comfortable), and my relatives have been inviting me to all of these reunions eversince i've been financially stable. Yk those things were they make a gc to make plans and say "mag-ambag yung mga may pera na" implying I should start giving narin when it comes to family matters. There were a lot of changes in how they've talked to and treated me.
Breaking Point 1: I have a cousin I was never close with (probs only had less than three genuine conversations with), and we met again last year nung nag vacay yung mom ko sa place ng tita ko, which me and my partner also went to formally introduce eo. We had a fun day, drinking and talking ganyan and since my partner is extroverted, they were a lot more talkative than i was when we were there. Few weeks after that one day of meeting between my partner and relatives, this cousin of mine messaged me in messenger, saying they want to borrow money from my partner through me. I was mad as fuh abt it 'cause why would you think it's okay to borrow money from someone you only met once, I wanted to refuse, but they said they wanted to call me to talk directly to my partner. So I told my partner "you can absolutely say no because personally, I am embarrased about this." but my partner still wanting to impress i guess, made them borrow in a heartbeat. At first, they paid in hulugan every few months but not even halfway yet, they stopped messaging me na. (my partner thinks you shouldn't let someone borrow money you can't afford to lose so it wasn't a big deal to them but for me? EMBARRASSING).
Breaking Point 2: My aunt is planning another reunion next year, and has been telling my mom to ask me for money for their allowance, also going out of their way to randomly call me and just start talking about "hays, kawawa naman sila **** kulang pa yung pera para sa ganto ganyan", they also never missed an opportunity to make parinigs about how I was living lavishly while some of the relatives were struggling. Mind you, all of the things I have are from my partner, so if I looked somewhat "luxurious" to them, it was never just the money I had on my own.
Now I know full well that these aren't enough reasons to be that much of a hater, but personally, I don't really enjoy interacting with them, and if possible, i'd like to keep my connections only with my immediate family. Is it reasonable to cut them off? or should I just continue with this distance of still attending gatherings from time-to-time?
Previous Attempts: I've told my mom i'd only give them money if it's for THEM but wouldn't want to extend my giving even to my grandparents.
TLDR; My relatives were not really there for me as I was growing up so now that i'm living an "okay" life i'd like to cut them off and only talk to my immediate family.
Posted Sep 2, 2026, 12:33 PM UTC