Hi, my name is Kat. I’m 32 years old, born and raised in Manila, and I am part of the LGBTQ+ community.

This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

I was not born into an easy life. My parents separated when I was still a baby, and my father left us at a very young age. Growing up, I struggled deeply with abandonment and emotional pain.

My mother’s partner emotionally abused me throughout my childhood. I constantly heard words like “you’ll never achieve anything,” “you’re stupid,” and “no one loves you.” As someone growing up already feeling different and struggling to find acceptance, those words deeply affected my confidence and self-worth.

For years, I carried that pain silently.

During the pandemic, a friend introduced me to online gambling. At first, it felt like an escape — a temporary way to forget the stress, pain, and emptiness I had carried since childhood. But over time, it became an addiction that completely took over my life.

I sold many of my belongings, borrowed money from different people, and kept chasing losses, hoping things would somehow get better. Instead, I fell deeper into debt.

Today, I am overwhelmed financially and emotionally. I am currently working and doing everything I can to recover, but my salary is not enough to keep up with my debt and living expenses. I am now close to being evicted and losing the roof over my head.

I am humbly asking for help to raise at least P50,000 to cover my overdue mortgage, essential bills, and immediate living expenses while I continue rebuilding my life.

The painful truth is that many people around me already see me as a hopeless case. Because of my past mistakes, very few people are willing to help anymore. But despite everything, I genuinely want to change. I want to become better and finally break free from the cycle that has been destroying my life.

I continue searching for better opportunities and higher-paying jobs, but the reality is difficult. Living in a country where the cost of basic needs keeps increasing while opportunities remain limited has made it incredibly hard to recover financially. I have applied to many jobs, but few companies are hiring, and some salaries offered are even lower than what I currently earn.

Still, I am trying my best not to give up.

I know I made mistakes, and I take responsibility for them. I am not blaming anyone for the choices I made. I am simply sharing my story honestly in hopes that someone might understand and help me get back on my feet.

Your support — no matter how small — would help me survive this difficult chapter and give me a chance to rebuild my life. I will continue working hard and will post updates on my progress so you can see how your kindness is helping me move forward.

My dream is that once I recover from this, I want to create a support group or foundation for gambling addicts and people struggling silently with emotional trauma and addiction. I know what it feels like to feel hopeless and alone, and someday I want to help others find their way back too.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Even sharing this fundraiser means more than you know.

Thank you for giving me hope.