Blog #52

Many second-generation Filipinos grow up hearing stories about sacrifice, gratitude, and making the struggles of previous generations “worth it.” While these messages often come from love, they can also create a quieter emotional pressure underneath, the feeling that your life has to justify everything your family went through.

For many Filipino-Canadians, this can show up as guilt when choosing your own path, setting boundaries, or making decisions that look different from family expectations.

In this article, Filipino-Canadian therapist Kurt Hamblosa explores how intergenerational immigrant stories shape identity, obligation, and belonging, and how second-generation immigrants can begin to honor their family’s sacrifices while also building lives that reflect their own values.