Questions · Phone call

Questions for a phone call that go past “What’s new?”

On a voice call there is no face to read and no table to share, only the conversation. These questions are for the weekly call with a parent, the friend in another city or anyone you mostly hear rather than see.

  • 15 questions
  • EN + TL on every card
  • Free in the app
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Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.

Getting to know№ 10

How do you usually unwind after a long day?

Paano ka usually nagpapahinga pagkatapos ng mahabang araw?

Tap to flipkumustahan
A note

Everyone has a different way of landing after a full day. It can be quiet, active, social, or very simple.

Iba-iba tayo ng paraan mag-settle after a long day. Puwedeng tahimik, active, may kasama, o simple lang.

Tap to returnkumustahan

The questions

15 questions for a phone call

Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.

Catching up on the week

5 questions

Easy, specific openers.

  1. What word would describe your week so far?

    Anong word ang babagay sa week mo so far?

    Back of the card

    Sometimes one word is enough to begin. Naming the week can help you notice what your heart has been carrying.

    Minsan sapat na ang isang word para makapagsimula. Kapag napangalanan mo ang week mo, mas nakikita mo kung ano ang bitbit mo.

  2. How do you usually unwind after a long day?

    Paano ka usually nagpapahinga pagkatapos ng mahabang araw?

    Back of the card

    Everyone has a different way of landing after a full day. It can be quiet, active, social, or very simple.

    Iba-iba tayo ng paraan mag-settle after a long day. Puwedeng tahimik, active, may kasama, o simple lang.

  3. When your brain is tired, what is your go-to order?

    Kapag pagod na utak mo, ano yung go-to order mo?

    Back of the card

    The reliable order deserves respect. It shows up when decisions are too much and hunger is already making a case.

    Respect sa reliable order. Lumalabas siya kapag ayaw mo nang mag-decide at gutom na rin ang nagsasalita.

  4. Name one thing that can wait until tomorrow.

    Magbanggit ng isang bagay na puwedeng maghintay hanggang bukas.

    Back of the card

    Not everything needs today's strength. Letting one thing wait can be a practical kind of kindness.

    Hindi lahat kailangan ng lakas mo today. Minsan praktikal na kindness yung hayaan munang maghintay ang isang bagay.

  5. Finish this: I almost panicked when I accidentally sent...

    Tapusin ito: Halos nag-panic ako nung accidentally kong na-send...

    Back of the card

    Wrong sends create instant suspense. The few seconds after realizing it can feel longer than the whole day.

    Iba yung kaba ng wrong send. Yung ilang seconds after ma-realize, parang humahaba bigla yung buong araw.

Small news worth sharing

4 questions

The things that don’t make it into the group chat.

  1. Which compliment from a friend made you smile recently?

    Anong compliment mula sa friend ang nagpangiti sa'yo lately?

    Back of the card

    Did you believe it right away, or did it sink in later?

    Naniwala ka ba agad, o saka mo lang ito naramdaman?

  2. How would you like friends to react when you share good news?

    Paano mo gustong mag-react ang friends kapag may good news ka?

    Back of the card

    A loud cheer or a quiet “I'm happy for you” — which fits this news?

    Malakas na cheer o tahimik na “Masaya ako para sa'yo” — alin ang bagay sa balitang ito?

  3. What small task would you happily ask a friend to help with?

    Sa anong simpleng gawain mo gustong magpatulong sa friend?

    Back of the card

    Would their help save time, make it more fun, or simply give you company?

    Makakatipid ba ng oras ang tulong nila, mas magiging masaya, o magkakaroon ka lang ng kasama?

  4. During a busy week, what signs tell you that you are still doing okay?

    Kapag busy ang week, anong signs ang nagsasabi sa'yo na okay ka pa naman?

    Back of the card

    Your signs may be small: sleep, patience, appetite, humor, or the ability to answer messages without dread.

    Puwedeng maliit lang yung signs: tulog, pasensya, gana kumain, humor, o kaya mong sumagot ng messages nang hindi mabigat.

Before you hang up

6 questions

One real question at the end of the call.

  1. Name something you are carrying this week that people may not notice.

    Magsabi ng isang bitbit mo this week na baka hindi napapansin ng iba.

    Back of the card

    Not every weight is visible. Being honest about what you carry can make the load feel less unnamed.

    Hindi lahat ng bigat nakikita. Kapag honest ka sa bitbit mo, kahit hindi agad gumaan, hindi na siya sobrang labo.

  2. Pick one small kindness you can give yourself today.

    Pumili ng isang maliit na kindness na kaya mong ibigay sa sarili mo today.

    Back of the card

    Kindness does not need to be grand to be real. A small mercy can still change how the day feels.

    Hindi kailangang bongga ang kindness para maging totoo. Kahit maliit na mercy, puwedeng baguhin ang feel ng araw.

  3. Who do you wish you could spend more normal, no-special-plan time with?

    Sino yung gusto mong makasama nang mas madalas, kahit walang special na lakad?

    Back of the card

    Ordinary time can build closeness slowly. Not every good moment needs an occasion.

    Nakakabuo rin ng closeness ang ordinaryong time. Hindi lahat ng magandang moment kailangan may special na lakad.

  4. After a tiring day, would you rather get a funny message, a call, or a quiet hangout?

    Pagkatapos ng nakakapagod na araw, mas gusto mo ba ng funny message, tawag, o tahimik na bonding?

    Back of the card

    Choose the first five minutes: a little catching up, a little laughter, or no talking yet.

    Piliin ang unang limang minuto: kumustahan, tawanan, o wala munang usapan.

  5. How would you like a friend to respond when you are too tired to join a plan?

    Kapag sobrang pagod ka para sumama, paano mo gustong mag-react ang friend sa pagtanggi mo?

    Back of the card

    Missing one plan does not mean you want to stop being invited.

    Hindi ibig sabihin na ayaw mo nang yayain kapag hindi ka nakasama minsan.

  6. Pick one feeling you have today. What would you say to a friend who felt that too?

    Pumili ng isang feeling mo today. Ano ang sasabihin mo sa friend na ganun din ang nararamdaman?

    Back of the card

    Sometimes your gentlest wisdom shows up first for someone else. It may be allowed to come back to you too.

    Minsan mas mabilis lumabas ang lambing natin para sa iba. Baka puwede ring bumalik sa'yo yung same na wisdom.

How to use them

Before you ask

A good phone call question is specific to the week (a word for it, what you ordered when you were too tired to cook, what can wait until tomorrow), because general questions like “What’s new?” get “Nothing much” over the phone.

Voice calls lose most of what makes in-person talk easy. There is no shared meal, no face to read and a pause can feel like a dropped line. Many weekly calls with parents or faraway friends shrink into the same three updates. One or two prepared questions break the loop and remind both of you why you call.

Keep it to two or three questions per call. Start light, and save one honest question for the last few minutes, when the call is winding down and people often say the thing they’ve been holding.

Good for

  • Weekly calls with parents or grandparents
  • Friends in different cities or time zones
  • Long-distance siblings
  • Commute calls with headphones
  • Checking in on someone who lives alone

Tips

  1. Pick two questions before you dial, so you’re not searching mid-call.
  2. Let pauses be; on the phone a few seconds of silence is thinking, not a dropped line.
  3. Repeat back one detail they shared (“So the new job is…”). It proves you’re listening.
  4. End with something real, not just “Okay, talk soon.”
  5. If they share something heavy, listen first and ask what would help.

Decks for this

Phone call

Frequently asked questions

What should I talk about on a phone call?

Ask about specific parts of their week rather than general updates, share one small piece of news, and end with a more personal question before you hang up.

How do I keep a phone conversation going?

Ask follow-up questions about details they mention, share a related story of your own, and keep one or two questions ready for when it slows down.

What questions work for a weekly call with parents?

Questions about their routines, small news and how they unwind, plus one personal question at the end. Avoid making every call a health or logistics check.

Bring a better question to the table.

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