Diwata Opens Up About Debt, Broken Promises, & His Struggles as an Entrepreneur
DIWATA – Behind the long lines and social media hype, Diwata’s journey took an unexpected turn that left her burdened and heartbroken.
A year after becoming a viral sensation, online personality Deo Balbuena—more popularly known as Diwata—once again sat down with seasoned broadcaster Julius Babao to give an update on her journey. Diwata rose to fame when crowds began flocking to her eatery, Diwata Pares Overload, which quickly turned into a trending food spot across social media.
Yet, behind the spotlight and success, Diwata opened up about the painful struggles she went through in running her pares business. She admitted that while the public saw her thriving, she was actually dealing with setbacks brought about by poor choices and alleged exploitation from certain individuals.
She recalled how some people presented her with an appealing deal—to grow her brand by setting up more branches, each requiring an investment of ₱300,000 along with royalty payments. Believing this would be her chance to finally rise from poverty, Diwata agreed.
“Kinagat ko sila kasi ang ganda-ganda ng paliwanag nila na i-expand ‘yung Diwata Pares. Wala akong gagawin. Pangalan ko lang [ang gagamitin]. Ang mangyayari, tatanggap ng halimbawa sa isang branch ng ₱300,000 plus royalty fee. So, pumayag ngayon ako sa kagustuhan ko rin na makaahon sa kahirapan. Pero ang ending, wala talaga akong napala. Ako pa ‘yung nautangan,” she shared.
Diwata grew emotional as she recounted how she unexpectedly ended up covering the costs herself, such as rent and electricity. “Nakakaiyak talaga. Ang laking halaga nun. ₱300K. Parang ‘yan ‘yung rent sa Quezon City branch. Kuryente. Parang ganoon ‘yung nakalagay sa file nung may-ari (lot owner). Ako talaga ang magbabayad. Wala akong kaalam-alam na ako ang magbabayad.”
The experience left her deeply disheartened, as she admitted, “So dahil nga obligado tayong magbayad, babayaran ko. Masama ang loob ko. Nautangan pa nila ako. Nakaka-disappoint lang talaga. Wala na nga akong kinita sa mga paresan ko tapos nautangan pa ako at magbabayad pa ako. Sobrang sakit para sa akin. Hindi naman ako mayaman. Alam niyo naman ‘yung journey ko sa buhay. Nagsikap lang ako.”
Her story now stands as a cautionary tale about the risks entrepreneurs face when chasing success, especially when trust is misplaced.
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