How to Get Away From My Toxic Family Trailer: The Invisible Pressure on Filipino Breadwinners, Captured Onscreen
Zanjoe Marudo stars in a timely story about OFWs, family obligations, and choosing peace over pressure
A new film tackling the struggles of Filipino breadwinners is scheduled for release in July. In How to Get Away From My Toxic Family, Zanjoe Marudo takes on the role of Arsenio, a familiar figure to many Filipinos – the hardworking OFW who goes abroad to support his family. But when he returns home, he finds himself overwhelmed by emotional debts, financial pressures, and a toxic cycle of dependence.
Directed by Lawrence Fajardo and co-produced by OgieD Productions and KreativDen Entertainment, the film premieres in Philippine cinemas on July 30.
What the Trailer Tells Us So Far
The trailer opens with tension: Arsenio is exchanging text messages with his mother, expressing frustration after being scolded. Other voices join in, accusing him of being disrespectful—a common script in families where emotional expression is often mistaken for defiance.
We see glimpses of his sacrifice—working overseas, coming home with pasalubong, and being praised for his generosity. But when his family throws him a welcome party, Arsenio begins to question what he’s coming home to: a crumbling house, financial issues, and mounting expectations.
Then comes the turning point. Arsenio announces that he won’t be returning abroad. Instead, he plans to open a restaurant with his partner. This decision sparks resistance from his family, especially when he learns that his mother had pawned the house during his absence.
The tension escalates, leading Arsenio to finally speak up against the unfair pressure he’s carried for years.
A Story That Feels Uncomfortably Familiar
The film explores a storyline that many Filipinos know too well. In a culture where utang na loob and self-sacrifice are deeply ingrained, it can be hard to draw the line between love and obligation.
Helping family is noble. But at what point does helping become enabling? What happens when one person is expected to carry the weight of an entire household?
While not all families are the same, the film reflects a broader truth for many: some adult children work out of love, others out of necessity, and many out of guilt.
Choosing Family… or Choosing Yourself?
We haven’t seen the full film yet, but the trailer alone raises powerful questions: Is it selfish to walk away from family responsibility? Or is it self-preservation? What if the very people we love are the reason we’re burned out?
These questions will surely make us think when the film comes out. It mirrors a generation caught between duty and personal freedom. And for those who have ever felt like Zanjoe Marudo’s character Arsenio, it’s not just a movie. It’s a moment of recognition.
More on Utang na Loob and Breadwinners
Juan Karlos Speaks Out on Children Becoming Breadwinners
What The Situations Of Pinoy Big Brother Collab Housemates Remind Parents About
Understanding What is “Toxic” in Filipino Family Culture
