u/ArkiSponge2000

Hello. I'm Nathan, a.k.a. SpongeOtakuPH. I'm from the Philippines.

I've been doing art commissions since Feb 2023 to increase my personal allowance. My usual sites I branch out are DeviantArt, Pixiv, ArtStation, Cara, Instagram, & Twitter.

This year, 2026, I had two commissions completed. One of the two clients from the US ordered me two commissions based from The Loud House at DeviantArt. The first one is fully paid and then completed, while the last one, he is yet to pay me and I haven't even started making the artwork due to lack of payment. He's been offline for months after the first commission is completed.

I've tried advertising my commission prices by lowering the prices when the global inflation caused problems to the creatives.

I'm a BS Architecture graduate last July 2025. After graduation, I couldn't find the closest job until Feb 2026, when I worked for apprenticeship, which, in the Philippines, it takes two years before I take the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA). Unfortunately, when Trump triggered a war, it the other innocent countries suffered a shockwave of inflation. Creative jobs were hit so badly, the small firm I used to work in, laid me off due to cost-cutting. I had two commissions while off-duty during my first four months of my jobs. My dreams is becoming an architect and visual artist. Sadly, it sucks to be one at the time of inflation, unless I shift to high-paying jobs like a doctor or statistician. My dad suggested me late to take BS Statistics instead of BS Architecture because the stats course is among the top 10 highest paying jobs in my home country.

I had advertised my commissions on my usual sites. When I tried those new sites like Ko-fi, nobody responded to me for months, even after my last day of my former job. I'm planning to make a V-Gen account to expand my commission business.

Nobody commissioned me. When I looked at the site for newly-commissioned artworks, I saw newly-uploaded cringy fetish fanart like body inflation and diaper fanarts having more likes and commissions more than my clean, safe, innocent fanart of anime and cartoons.

Even if I practiced a lot and joined art challenges, nobody commissioned me.

I need some advice. I'm broke. Everybody relied on AI. And now I'm lost.

I'm an autistic 25-year-old guy from the Philippines. I had good grades. I have a college degree, BS Architecture. After I worked for four months, global inflation forced the small company (that I used to work in) to cut costs by lay me off. Hiring white-collar jobs, especially based from my degree, is mostly Metro Manila-based.

I want to be independent. My young, matured, neurotypical sister had more freedom than me. As someone who grew up in a decent province one-hour away from Metro Manila, my parents don't want me to study and work in Manila because of my weak, autistic, immature body, even if I'm smart enough. Even if I earned a degree from my decent college in my home province, they still don't want to me to work in Metro Manila.

My neurotypical sister, along with my cousins and friends, have to roam around out of their province while I'm stuck in my same bedroom hanging out on the computer. At least I minimize my hangout on social media accounts to avoid doomscrolling.

My parents will only allow me to go out of my province if I'm prepared enough. I've spent too much needs like food and public transport due to global inflation. They even want me to exercise, even if I hate it, just to energize my mind. I prefer caffeine more than pain for brain power. My body is slim enough bit with a slightly fat tummy. My parents allow my sis to go to Manila because she is mature enough.

I should have been born from any of my two or three successful aunties and their families. They're richer than my family. I'm from the low middle class.

My autism, even as my brain power for academics, sometimes makes me stagnate. I wanted to change, but my autism doesn't want me to. I don't like exercising, but dad wants me to do it everyday. My sis never exercised, but she is able to defend herself.

I can't stand my parents anymore. Collectivism is sometimes toxic in my home country. I wanted to think out of the box. I want to do things my way because my parents are so overprotective at me. As Filipinos, some advice like the debt of gratitude, crab mentality, and survivalist mentality are toxic. I want better advice. Better discipline. Tips and tricks that are better than my parents.

I apologize for last night's rant about my parents. I later deleted it.

I'm an autistic 25-year-old guy from the Philippines. I had good grades. I have a college degree, BS Architecture. After I worked for four months, global inflation forced the small company (that I used to work in) to cut costs by lay me off. Hiring white-collar jobs, especially based from my degree, is mostly Metro Manila-based.

I want to be independent. My young, matured, neurotypical sister had more freedom than me. As someone who grew up in a decent province one-hour away from Metro Manila, my parents don't want me to study and work in Manila because of my weak, autistic, immature body, even if I'm smart enough. Even if I earned a degree from my decent college in my home province, they still don't want to me to work in Metro Manila.

My neurotypical sister, along with my cousins and friends, have to roam around out of their province while I'm stuck in my same bedroom hanging out on the computer. At least I minimize my hangout on social media accounts to avoid doomscrolling.

My parents will only allow me to go out of my province if I'm prepared enough. I've spent too much needs like food and public transport due to global inflation. They even want me to exercise, even if I hate it, just to energize my mind. I prefer caffeine more than pain for brain power. My body is slim enough bit with a slightly fat tummy. My parents allow my sis to go to Manila because she is mature enough.

I should have been born from any of my two or three successful aunties and their families. They're richer than my family. I'm from the low middle class.

My autism, even as my brain power for academics, sometimes makes me stagnate. I wanted to change, but my autism doesn't want me to. I don't like exercising, but dad wants me to do it everyday. My sis never exercised, but she is able to defend herself.

I can't stand my parents anymore. Collectivism is sometimes toxic in my home country. I wanted to think out of the box. I want to do things my way because my parents are so overprotective at me. As Filipinos, some advice like the debt of gratitude, crab mentality, and survivalist mentality are toxic. I want better advice. Better discipline. Tips and tricks that are better than my parents.

I'm a 25-year-old autistic man from the Philippines. I have tried to apply for a dream job after graduating from college. After working in a firm based from my degree, I got laid off last month due to cost-cutting caused by inflation. Job hiring became difficult nowadays.

While waiting to get hired, I watch and draw anime. I have quitted cartoons like SpongeBob and Loud House. I've been watching anime since 2018.

However, I screwed up my mom's laundry because of my mind being busy with anime. I hate interruptions when ongoing task have to be interrupted abruptly by another task, which I sometimes screw up. Gen-X Mom yelled and even spanked at me for admitting that my brain is busy with anime, after mom stigmatized me as "uSE yOuR bRain." And then my Gen-X dad intervened.

He made a strict conversation by letting of anime. He blamed it for making me stagnant. I'm broke, jobless, and they see my decent body as weak. He expects me to exercise to energize my brain instead of my personal reliance on caffeine. I hated exercising because I don't like pain and sweat. Because my autism is making me a stubborn, stagnant narcissist, my parents won't let me go out of the house, unlike my mature, neurotypical sister (5-years younger than me), who have more freedom than me. They even allow her to go to Metro Manila alone but not me, especially on important matters. It's like I'm stuck on a high chair. They also expect me to suck it up on uncontrollable problems like the shitty economy and politics in my shitty third-world home country. I hate pain.

Even if anime had life lessons, they dismiss it and calls it childish. They recommended me to watch Hollywood movies (excluding the cartoonish movies) instead of anime, even if both have life lessons.

My parents are overprotective. I rather follow my relatives, friends, and former teachers and professors more than my parents. I prayed that why am I not born from those more successful aunties I had instead of my poor parents. I rebel my parents if they become too unfair to me. They even infantilize me. I fucking hate it so much.

I'm sorry for bashing my parents. My parents are sometimes strict and overprotective. That is the cruel reality of Asian parents. That's why I rebel. I also prayed to God that why am I born in a shitty third-world country instead of a first-world country like US or Japan?

Also, forgive me. Again, my autism makes me resist to change, especially my lifestyle. My dad wants me to exercise, even if I hated it.

Please gimme some advice. I can't take it anymore. I hate when they scapegoat anime just for delayed gratification.

I'm 25 years old. My Asian (Filipino) parents sometimes drive me fucking nuts! I'm venting right now after my mom ruined my focus just to sweep the stupid floor. I tried arguing over not respecting my busy time. Mom ruined my focus on homework (for the Civil Service exams) by yelling at me thrice to sweep the floor. I tried to tell her to wait, but she's impatient and wants me to do it anyway. I complained to dad that mom won't respect my timing and boundaries, but my dad just want me to sweep the floor every night as my obligation in the family home. My dad even yelled at me for calling my mom a bitch. I wasted 5 minutes to sweep the entire house floor. And then argued again about not to do that again in the near future, but sadly, my parents won't listen to me. They just want me to shut up and listen to them. As Carl Johnson from GTA San Andreas said: Well, that's what family (is) for. And don't get me started with task interruptions, especially as someone who has autism. Everytime people interrupt my task for another one, they sometimes don't give way to me. I tried arguing to them to give way for my timing, but they expect me to face it.

Filipino family is sometimes toxic, based on my experience.

I'm a 26-year-old zoomer from a third-world shithole called the Philippines.

I have a difficult family. I'm the eldest child with autism. Sometimes, my parents pressure me and make me do most of the responsibilities.

I have a degree in BS Architecture. I chose that because it pays more than being an artist. However, after graduation, I had a half gap year of my remaining 2025 because hiring got difficult as companies use AI as an excuse. Finally, I got a job as an architect apprentice, but later got laid-off due to cost-cutting caused by inflation caused by the Iran War triggered by Trump. Now I'm unemployed again. The rest of my friends, and even my cousins, have work based on their degrees. My parents won't let me work in Metro Manila for safety reasons. They use my autism as an excuse sometimes. My home state/province is one hour away from Metro Manila (where I was born). My parents moved to the poor side of town (with shitty electricity and water services) only because my gramma (who also lived there) donated the lot to my family to build their home in the mid-2000s. The electricity in Metro Manila is better than in the provinces because of the abrupt power outages in my shitty hometown.

Another hellish moment is my spoiled, bratty, 11-year-old brother. My two middle sisters are sandwiched between me and my brother. He always triggers mischief and tantrums just to get what he wants. Recently, my brother woke up more late than me and he keeps yapping at me on what to eat. When he asked, he's indecisive by saying I don't know. Sometimes, he acts indecisive just to hide his junk food like instant noodles. When his tantrums get worse, sometimes my parents give in just to shut his mouth. When they're away, his tantrums are an extreme burden to me. I have behavioral problems due to my autism. When he throws tantrums for not giving him what he wants, he cries and I lose my patience after 5 to 10 minutes. Even my headphones cannot cover my ears against his tantrums. Since mom and dad are out for work, it's just my uncle. I told him and he told me to ignore him. I have to deal with his issues until he persists. My younger sister helped him and she got mad at me for reacting on him. I'm sick and tired of my parents scolding me over my reaction on my spoiled brother. They expect me stoicism and patience. The problem is that I'm autistic. I couldn't stand it much longer. My parents won't let me move out not only because of skyrocketing real estate cost, but also, in my country, collectivism. Even if I try following what some Americans in Quora told me to move out, it doesn't work in my country.

My parents even restricted me from reporting to other families, especially two successful aunties and their perfect families. Looks rich but almost actually. I always wanted to be part of them by leaving my poor parents. Glad my last advice from my aunt is to just pray. Well, even if I pray, it just didn't work. I'm not an atheist by the way.

I went beyond my parents' advice. I tried talking to my other fellow countrymen in r/philippines because I've seen some people share their family issues. Nowadays, not anymore because, when I post about my family issues*, nobody cares, as in no upvotes and comments. They mostly care about politics there. When I do the same in Quora, I mostly get answers from Americans, Canadians, and even Indians. At least Indians there gave me more motivations. Most westerners recommend me to move out, but it cannot be applied to my home country. It's sad that other Filipinos don't care about my issues, unless they are pary of the family and even offline.

My escape in life is watching anime and playing Grand Theft Auto.

I have a lot to face in life now. Job finding difficulties, family challenges, bratty sibling issues that make my parents scapegoat me. I get a difficult life. Even my autism is persisting me to change personally.

I need some advice.

I'm 25 years old and I grew up with Asian parents, specifically a Filipino family.

They have both good times and bad times.

Let's talk about the rough moments. My parents are Gen-X. Sometimes, they stigmatize too much about what I enjoy such as anime. I hate when my parents intrude my room and yell badly over my enjoyment like watching and drawing anime. I tried arguing at them to stop, but they never listen to me. Instead, they just want me to shut up and listen.

I also hate when my parents are fixated about the bad comments about me, even if I'm trying to defend myself that I'm not. They even get mad at me for deviating, as in stick to one method only. They're driving me nuts.

When my dad gave me load by app, he got mad at me for using a different data load of the same company. I told him I just forgot. I couldn't use that app because I ran out of phone space. My dad thinks that I chose it because "I like it." Like, he's stuck in his own assumptions about me. I tried to defend myself, but he never listened. I wanted my parents to buy me a phone but they purchased one for my two younger siblings instead. My family is lower middle class by the way, and it's a bad time during the world economy fucked by Trump. I wanted to buy my phone with my personal money, but too many circumstances like spending for other needs (most of the time) ruined my plans.

I want to escape the shithole so badly. I got a job, but got laid off after four months due to cost-cutting. I sometimes envy on rich families (especially one or two rich relatives) that I should have been born to them instead of my current family. I have a BS Architecture degree. I've been applying more jobs, but most of them ghosted me. My old work was just closer to home and my salary is just OK.

I couldn't afford therapy. Just asking some same problems about me on Quora and Reddit (especially r/selfimprovement and r/lifeadvice). It's all I can do without my annoying parents interfering about me.

When I got fired from my architecture apprentice job, my parents got upset at me. I'm a Filipino and sometimes my Filipino Gen-X parents cat get toxic, especially on a generation gap. Filipino families, along with Asian families in general, can get toxic sometimes. I'm stuck with my parents' home as a 25-year-old. I hate when my parents have to yell at me sometimes just because they think I'm acting childish and stupid, they even bring it up to issues like getting bad grades and getting fired from my job.

My parents want me to quit anime because they think that I'm not changing for the better. I'm autistic and I get easily frustrated to change myself. They don't want me to become a miserable hikikomori. In my case, anime mostly give me valuable lessons. I sometimes use it as escapism, especially during the rough times in the Philippines and the world. The generation gap and the delayed gratification is frustrating in my home country's culture. When my parents keep yelling at me to quit anime, I feel like my want me to grow up being boring. (Insert Gilbert Huph (former boss of Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) as a symbol of a boring person for reference.)

I feel like I want to hate my parents, but I actually still love them. They want me to change by discipline. Bulking up, cleaning, working hard. I'm a good person. I'm just sick and tired of my parents ruining my fun time, even when I relax on day-off and after work, just to focus on my duty.

When I got fired from my architecture apprentice job, my parents got upset at me. I'm a Filipino and sometimes my Filipino Gen-X parents cat get toxic, especially on a generation gap. Filipino families, along with Asian families in general, can get toxic sometimes. I'm stuck with my parents' home as a 25-year-old. I hate when my parents have to yell at me sometimes just because they think I'm acting childish and stupid, they even bring it up to issues like getting bad grades and getting fired from my job.

My parents want me to quit anime because they think that I'm not changing for the better. I'm autistic and I get easily frustrated to change myself. They don't want me to become a miserable hikikomori. In my case, anime mostly give me valuable lessons. I sometimes use it as escapism, especially during the rough times in the Philippines and the world. The generation gap and the delayed gratification is frustrating in my home country's culture. When my parents keep yelling at me to quit anime, I feel like my want me to grow up being boring. (Insert Gilbert Huph (former boss of Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) as a symbol of a boring person for reference.)

I feel like I want to hate my parents, but I actually still love them. They want me to change by discipline. Bulking up, cleaning, working hard. I'm a good person. I'm just sick and tired of my parents ruining my fun time, even when I relax on day-off and after work, just to focus on my duty.