May - June 2026

A PAINFUL LESSON LEARNED, AND SHARED

Dear Tita Lits Readers:

My Philippine online bank accounts were hacked last Sunday, April 19, 2028. My Philippine cellphone was also compromised. I have already lost all my peso savings and may not be able to recover even a single centavo, so I would rather not dwell on my misery.

It was a painful lesson, though it could have been worse had the hackers accessed my foreign currency accounts as well. Still, I hope I can help you, my dear readers, become more aware of this very prevalent hacking problem in the Philippines.

The reality is that cybersecurity in the Philippines remains weak, and catching violators is rare. There also seems to be silence among many victims. I realized this from my own experience. After the incident, I messaged all my friends on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, warning them to ignore any messages coming from my Facebook name (a pseudonym I use). I spent hours doing this, from Sunday night until almost 3:00 a.m. the next day.

However, my friend of 50 years—let us call him Peter—likely did not know that his social media accounts had been hacked. He was impersonated. The message I received appeared to come from him, complete with his photo and a natural, believable tone. It was about receiving “ayuda” from the DSWD, which is currently offering PHP 5,000 in assistance.

Why would I care about such a small amount? But Peter’s message said, “Lits, we deserve this. It is our right and privilege.” My nickname was used, and knowing that my friends are educated and socially aware, the message did not seem suspicious. He asked for my contact number so his “pamangkin” (niece), who supposedly worked at the DSWD, could assist me. I gave him my Philippine number.

Shortly after, I received a call from the “pamangkin.” She was polite and apologetic for interrupting my dinner, assuring me the process would only take a few minutes.

Note: I never gave any OTP.

Instead, she sent me three separate QR codes, asking me to save each one. After sending each code, she would call again to confirm that I had saved it. This happened three times. I never opened or accessed any of the QR codes.

As the process neared completion, I even thanked her and jokingly said I would give the PHP 5,000 back to her uncle for her efforts. Then she claimed she could not complete the transfer because there was an issue with the phone number I had provided.

At that time, I was in Tokyo and not using my Philippine phone. I had intentionally given that number earlier, assuming the transaction would be local. Then came my biggest mistake.

She asked what number I was currently using—and I gave my Japan phone number.

My office had previously arranged for my Philippine and Japanese numbers to be synched, so calls through apps like Viber, Messenger, or WhatsApp would ring on both devices. At that time, my Philippine phone was packed away for my upcoming trip.

She told me to check after five minutes if the funds had been credited. Earlier, she had also asked which banks I used online, and I had answered (two out of the six banks I deal with).

As soon as the call ended, I contacted Peter. He immediately said, “Do not do anything. Do not answer any calls!”

I checked my accounts—and saw that all my funds had already been transferred, leaving only a few pesos in each. The BPI funds were transferred to GCash, and the AUB funds to Maya.

It was a Sunday. I now suspect this is a preferred day for such attacks, as it is difficult to reach banks for immediate assistance. I was able to contact a friend at BPI, but not my contact at AUB, who was hospitalized at the time. One bank had a feature to immediately disable online banking; the other did not.

I even contacted the Chairman of the bank without this feature and suggested adding it. He responded positively. Ironically, this bank already had stricter security—a three-tier authentication system: password login, transaction review and approval, followed by a 4-digit security code, and finally a rotating 6-digit code that expires quickly.

Yet somehow, the hackers bypassed all of these. Bank records show that “I” made the transactions—but I did not perform any of those steps. How did they do it? Could they see inside my phone?

When I first warned my contacts, most simply acknowledged my message. But when I shared that my accounts had been wiped out, I began receiving more concerned and detailed responses—even from friends abroad and people I barely knew. As I explained further, including that my aunt had lost PHP 450,000 in a similar scam, more people came forward, saying they or someone they knew had been victimized.

The most common advice I received was: Never give your OTP.
But I never gave mine.

In conclusion, hackers are becoming more sophisticated and more deceptive. According to my son, they tend to target older individuals and those who are often in a hurry—which, admittedly, includes me.

So far, they seem to target peso accounts—but who knows what they may attempt next?

So, my dear readers: please stay vigilant.
And if harm has already been done, do not be ashamed to admit you were scammed.

I was not embarrassed when a colleague from the financial industry called me and said, “Of all people, you should know better.” Yes, in my profession, I deal with spam and phishing attempts almost daily, carefully screened by our IT team—and yet, I still became a victim.

But I take pride in what I did afterward: spending hours informing hundreds of contacts around the world, hoping to prevent the same from happening to them. This column may deviate from my usual writing, but I share it in the spirit of awareness and protection.

Tita Lits

March - April 2026

Dear Rosalinda:

First of all, ANG GALING MONG MAGSULAT! Napahalakhak mo ako. Gusto ko ng umurong sagutin ka, at pabayaan ko na lang na maging five (5) years younger mga readers ni Tita Lits dahil sa nakakaaliw at nakakatawang sulat mo!

February normally ang reunion month sa atin. For what reason, I do not know. I went home in February this year kasi may tatlong reunion akong in-attend:

       Feb. 21:  High School

       Feb. 22:  Elementary

       Feb. 25:  U.P. Diliman

Dahil halos yearly akong nakikipag-reunion, nawala na ang aking mga apprehensions na anticipated mong ma-e-experience. Frankly, pareho din ang naramdaman ko noong unang-una akong nag-attend.

Salbahe din ako. Noong nakita ko isang classmate na halatang retoke ang mukha, di-ko napigil mag-maritess at mag-comment sa mga ka-close kong batch mates. May isa naman, pumangit dahil sa retoke, e ang ganda-ganda naman noong high school. 

Next na reunion, I decided to be myself, kasi, awa ng Diyos, kahit walang retoke, mukhang mas bata ako sa nakakarami. And for this, I thank God for the blessings of good fortune, meaning I have money, not too much, but enough to afford sun block and not be working in the fields under the hot sun. So mas makinis ang balat/mukha ko, as compared to mga maraming mahihirap kong ka-klase na talagang nangulubot na at nagka-linya na ang mga mukha.

I came as I was, normal, with the usual no-make-up sarili ko, but still conscious frankly sa itinaba ko. Pero di-naman ako nag-iisa! Lahat halos, lumobo na rin! At kapag nakalimutan ko na pangalan, I just say, in an honest and natural manner, “Nanu ne kasi ing lagyu mu? Dakal na ku senior moments kasi!”. That’s Kapampangan for “Ano na nga pangalan mo? Marami na kasi akong senior moments!”.

I still feel conscious of how I look lalo na if my former crush, in elementary and in high school were present. Buti hindi umuwi this time yong high school batch mate ko na kamuntik ko ng mapangasawa. Tumaba na kasi ako, pero pumayat naman siya ng sobra. Guwapong-guwapo noon, ngayon, payat at tumanda na hitsura.

At kapag sayawan na, que se hoda na tabatsing na ako. I spent money to fly from Tokyo to the Philippines to enjoy my reunion - so sayaw ako to my heart’s content kahit wala akong partner! Bahala ng magdusa mga nanonood sa pagsayaw ko, kung di-nila type sayaw ko, basta’t enjoy ako - that’s what matters, diba?

So, dear Rosalinda—ito ang payo ni Tita Lits:
Mag-paretoke ka man o hindi, tumaba ka man o pumayat—dedma!
Ang importante, dumating ka. Ngumiti ka. Tumawa ka. Sumayaw ka.

At kung may manood man sa’yo? Eh di wow—may audience ka pa!

BE YOURSELF. BE NATURAL. BE HONEST.
At higit sa lahat—enjoy mo lang, habang kaya pang sumayaw ang tuhod!

Love,

Tita Lits

Dear Pablo:

Gusto kong palitan ang pagtawag sa iyo: “OFW na Laging May Tuwa at Galak.”

Kung ang mga sasalubong sa iyo o ang mga dadatnan mo sa Pilipinas ay hindi matutuwa dahil wala kang dalang pasalubong—who cares? Kung hindi sila masaya na makita ka at makapiling ka, ke Pasko o hindi, que se hoda sila!

Kung hindi mo sila pinadalhan ng remittance from Japan kahit minsan lang sa isang taon—kahit during Christmas season lang—siguro puwede pa silang magtampo kapag umuwi ka na walang bitbit o walang cash na ipapamudmod. Kasi, sa mata nila, “burden” ka lang: papakainin ka nila, patutulugin sa best room (na guest room na inihanda nila kunwari para sa bisita), pero kahit minsan sa isang taon, hindi mo naman sila naalala, ’di ba?

May choice ka naman. Wala kang sariling pamilya (wife, kids) na dapat sustentuhan habang kumikita ka bilang OFW sa Japan, so hindi mo siguro obligasyon na magpadala. Kung ganoon, itabi mo na lang sa alkansiya ang dapat mong i-remit sa loob ng isang taon, dalhin mo na lang ito as cash, at ibigay kay Tatay at Nanay—cash o pasalubong. Hindi mo na concern ang ibang relatives o friends. Hindi mo obligasyon iyon.

But invite the whole family—parents, siblings, mga asawa at anak nila—sa isang family dinner. Dalhin mo sila sa unlimited buffet at hayaan mo silang magpakasawa sa biyayang bigay mo: a memorable meal experience, family gathering, at photo-ops para sa buong pamilya.

Siguro sapat na iyon, ’di ba? (Naku, walang cheaper by the dozen kung marami kayong magkakapatid!)

Takpan mo na lang ang tainga mo—gumamit ng earplugs, parang sosyal na nakikinig ng musika sa cellphone—para hindi mo marinig ang kung anu-anong side comments ng mga hindi mo naman immediate family members.

Sa Angeles City, noong umuwi ako ng isang linggo lang para sa Dec. 21 birthday ng aking solo hijo, ang iisa kong kapatid na babae na nasa Japan ay umuwi rin, para naman sa Dec. 23 birthday ng aming yumaong ama—bilang pag-alala sa memories namin sa kanya at sa aming yumaong nanay.

Nag-arrange siya ng buffet para sa buong pamilya na sobrang dami ng food variety—Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, at iba’t ibang desserts at drinks—thru our Manalastas Clan Viber Group. Bago pa umuwi: reservation na, bilang ng attendees, ilan ang seniors, ilan ang bata at ages nila. We occupied three (3) long tables sa Abe Restaurant near Marquee Mall.

Walang hinto ang Marites-san moments: kwentuhan, tawanan, at kodakan—for an average of PHP 800 per person lang. Kahit napakahina ng yen ngayon, around JPY 2,100 per person lang iyon. At super high-class na sa probinsya ang restaurant na iyon. Mayroon pa ngang eat-all-you-can na PHP 300 (JPY 930) per person, pero sabi ng clan, malayo raw.

Ako, FOR THE FIRST TIME, walang bitbit na pasalubong (except sa mga ka-partner kong bangko).

Ang kapatid kong babae ang namigay ng regalo sa lahat ng pamilya namin (she goes home less frequently than I do). Wala na kaming magulang na monthly kong pinapadalhan noon ng remittance sa buong buhay ko bilang propesyonal. In fact, mula nang magtrabaho ako after university graduation sa Pilipinas hanggang makarating ako sa Japan, walang palya ang monthly support ko. Alam iyon ng mga kapatid ko.

Pero parang naggi-guilty pa rin ako—katulad mo—kapag umuuwi akong walang dala.

But this last time, I felt good na walang bitbit, walang pamigay. I finally broke that chain—that yearly feeling of responsibility and guilt.

Hayun, tumulong na lang ako sa sister ko. Sabi ko, babayaran ko ang share niya at ang share ng anak ko. Originally, KKB ang announcement niya sa pamilya dahil birthday celebration naman ng yumaong tatay. Lahat nag-confirm na sasama sa buffet lunch.

In the end, siya pa rin ang nagbayad ng lahat.

So mukhang may intention talaga siyang manlibre from the start. In-announce niya kasi nang maaga sa Viber group na KKB dahil hindi na siya full-time OFW—arubaito na lang siya, tapos na rin sa university ang tatlo niyang anak. Walang pumalag, kasi very clear ang non-expectation: walang blowout, walang regalo.

Kaya naging surprise na lang na siya pala ang nagbayad ng lahat—at may bitbit pang mga regalo (made in the Philippines, kaya walang hassle sa check-in at nakatulong pa sa ating bansa).

And my sister still had time to visit her high school friends, lumabas-labas, enjoyed going out with them, at gawin ang sarili niyang trip—bakasyon, pahinga, quality time. In short, she accomplished everything she wanted: a memorable family reunion and quality time for herself and her friends.

Tita Lits