“Yes, That House Is Real”: Ivana Alawi Considers Selling Family Home in Bahrain

MANILA, Philippines — Actress and content creator Ivana Alawi has confirmed that her family is open to selling their house in Bahrain, citing that it has been unused for years despite undergoing renovations in 2020. The confirmation came during a new video posted on Ivana’s official YouTube channel, where she and her family took on a lie detector challenge with a spicy twist.

The video, which quickly gained traction online, featured Ivana, her mother Fatima Alawi, and her brother Hash Alawi participating in a challenge that combined Vanity Fair’s Lie Detector format with elements of the hit online show “Hot Ones.” Each family member was hooked up to a polygraph machine, and whenever someone was caught lying, they had to eat a chicken wing drenched in extremely hot sauce.

“We Might Sell the House” – Fatima Alawi Confirms

During the game, Fatima was the first to be strapped to the polygraph. When asked if she wanted to sell their house in Bahrain, she answered yes, and the lie detector confirmed she was telling the truth.

Fatima explained that although the house was renovated five years ago, no one has lived there since. In fact, it’s been nearly two decades since any family member resided in the home.

“There’s no one living there anymore, and it’s hard to maintain a house that isn’t being used,” Fatima said.

She also jokingly added, “But yes, that house is real… and no, there are no ghosts living in it,” referring to long-standing online speculations about the house being fabricated for content or rumored to be haunted.

Ivana Confirms: “It’s Our Real Home”

Later in the video, Ivana herself took the hot seat and confirmed that the Bahrain house is, in fact, the real family home, not a rented property or a made-up backstory.

“It’s true. That’s really our house. It’s not something I made up for YouTube. I’ve always told the story of where we came from honestly,” Ivana said.

She also clarified that the reason there are no family photos inside the Bahrain house is because the Alawi family had moved most of their belongings to the Philippines when they relocated over 15 years ago.

Hash added to the conversation, revealing that no one had actually lived in the Bahrain property since their father passed away, and that all their personal items were moved to Manila when they decided to start a new life in the Philippines.

Maintenance and Sentimentality

Ivana explained that although the house holds sentimental value—being one of the last ties to her late Moroccan father—maintaining it has become a burden. She added that she doesn’t see herself living in Bahrain again, preferring to stay either in the Philippines or the United States.

“I can’t really imagine myself living in Bahrain again. I feel more at home here in the Philippines or maybe someday in the U.S. It’s hard to maintain a place when no one is there,” she said.

The house, which still bears her father’s name on the gate, has remained untouched in many ways—symbolizing a piece of their past that they have since outgrown but not forgotten.

Online Reactions: Fans Surprised but Supportive

Fans flooded the comments section of the video, many of whom expressed surprise that the Bahrain house had gone unused for such a long time. Others praised the family for being transparent and real about their life choices, something that has made Ivana Alawi one of the most beloved vloggers in the Philippines.

“I appreciate how honest Ivana and her family are. You can tell that they really lived through hardship and came out stronger,” one fan wrote.

“Selling a house full of memories can’t be easy. Much respect to the Alawi family for being open about it,” said another.

A Look Back: Humble Beginnings

Ivana Alawi has long been vocal about her humble beginnings. In several interviews and vlogs, she has shared the struggles she and her family endured while living abroad before finding success in the Philippines. The Bahrain house has often been a focal point in her stories, a symbol of both hardship and resilience.

Now, as Ivana continues to enjoy success in showbiz and on digital platforms, her decision to let go of the family home reflects a mature, practical step forward—proof that even in letting go, there is strength.