Gia Santos

04/04/2026

Nasa "IN-BETWEEN" SEASON ka rin ba?
.. or pang-ilang "feeling lost" season mo na ba? 😅

It's been a while since I've posted something online on this group at sa page ko. Tbh it's been a mixture of pagiging "busy" but also a hint of "feeling lost"?

And if I'm being completely honest, may halo rin na "fear."

Siguro dahil when I started my "Engr. Raketera" page in 2019, I shared about my journey of finding my "ikigai."

And somewhere along the way noon, akala ko "sure" na ko sa daang tinatahak ko.

But the past few years proved to be different. It consisted of so much reflection and paulit-ulit rin na experimentation.

So may fear na baka isipin ng mga tao, "eto na naman siya, kung anu-ano na naman ginagawa."

Alam mo ‘yung phase na hindi ka naman totally lost, pero hindi ka rin sure kung tama pa ba ‘yung direction mo?

Kahit akala mo sigurado ka na dati, napapa-tanong ka pa rin talaga eh. 😂

Kasi tuloy-tuloy lang yung agos ng buhay. Yung pag-andar ng oras. Yung pag-evolve natin as people.

Yung gumagalaw ka pa rin naman, tuloy-tuloy…
pero deep inside, parang napapaisip ka:

𝘚𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢?

Siguro for a lot of us, this Holy Week…
mas ramdam ‘yung pause.

Mas tahimik.
Mas reflective.

Mas napapaisip ka bigla about your life choices, your direction, your purpose.

Yung tipong mapapatanong ka:

𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘣𝘢 ‘𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘰?
𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢 ‘𝘵𝘰?
𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯?

Some of us are building something.
Some of us are just trying to survive.
Some of us… pagod na, pero tuloy pa rin.

And if you’re being honest…
May moments talaga na parang gusto mo na lang mag-reset.

Or bumalik sa mas “sigurado.”

Or tanungin, “Lord… tama pa ba ‘to?” 😅

Pero siguro, this week is not about having all the answers.

Hindi siya tungkol sa pagiging sure.

𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐠-𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞.

Sa paghinga.
Sa pag-amin na…
hindi mo pa alam lahat.

𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐨.
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐝.
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞.

Because even in the Bible diba… there was a season of waiting.
Of uncertainty.
Of surrender.

And maybe that’s where some of us are right now:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧-𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧.

Hindi pa tapos.
Hindi pa clear.
Pero hindi rin wala.

If you’re in this season…
This is your reminder. 💚

👉🏼 Hindi mo kailangan i-figure out lahat ngayon.
👉🏼 Hindi mo kailangan maging “okay” agad.
👉🏼 Hindi mo kailangan maging certain para magpatuloy.

Minsan, ang kailangan lang:
👉🏼 “Hindi ako susuko today.”

Kahit one step lang.
Kahit mabagal.
Kahit pagod ka.
That still counts.

This Holy Week… baka hindi mo kailangan ng bagong direction.

Baka kailangan mo lang ng space to breathe. To reflect. To surrender.

Kasi kahit hindi mo pa nakikita clearly…
May nangyayari pa rin behind the scenes.

Kapit lang.
✨ The path will reveal itself. ✨

Hindi man ngayon…
pero darating din ‘yun.

For now:
Hinga muna. ✨
Kapit lang tayo, lalo na sa gitna ng lahat ng gulo. 🙏🏻

30/03/2026

20/11/2025

Hey guys!! I’m not sure if this is for you, but a couple of busy professionals I know have been using this to unwind after long days.

Quick reads to relax and destress. Feels better than just doomscrolling. Want the link?

(P.S. di ito spam and di ako nahack hahaha)

04/11/2025

Alam mo ‘yung feeling na minsan, parang ang hirap na lang bumangon sa umaga?

Tapos pagkabangon mo, it feels like wala ka rin gana magpaka-productive?

Whatever phase in life you are in right now, I’m sure we all have these moments.

Yung mapapaisip ka bigla:

𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙮𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙧𝙞 𝙨𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙠𝙤?
𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙖 𝙗𝙖 ‘𝙩𝙤?
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙖 ‘𝙠𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙖𝙠𝙤 𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚?

Because same, besh. Seym. I feel you. 🥲

Pero minsan, siguro hindi natin kailangan ng answers.
Kailangan lang muna natin 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖. 🌿

Lately, madami sa’tin ‘yung naka-𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞 — hindi lang sa work, but sa life in general.

We keep going because we have to, pero nakakalimutan natin minsan na okay lang mag-pause.

𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐠-𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧.
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐝.
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲..

At kung nandyan ka sa season na ‘yan ngayon — this post is for you. 💚
👉🏼 Yes, for you. Specifically for you. 😂

Kasi if you’re reading this, chances are… nagbabasa ka rin ng books. 😅

Pero alam mo ‘yung struggle minsan kapag hindi Filipino ang nagsulat?

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐢 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬. 🇵🇭

Lalo na ung Western books, diba? They have a lot of mental health books, but for me, they can only do so much, eh.

Iba pa rin pag Pilipino ung nagsulat ng libro, kasi mas gets nila tayo.

Mas gets nila na ‘yung mental health issues natin is coming also from the way our society works sa Pilipinas... ‘𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐚, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐚.

Kaya naman, here are some books our team REKOmmends na written by Filipino authors.

Sana maka-relate kayo sa mga sinulat nila for us, at makatulong sa struggles kahit konti. 🙏🏻

Kapit lang. Whether bookworm ka or minsan lang magbasa, I hope you discover the book that’ll help you breathe again. 🌿

04/11/2025

🇵🇭 𝟏𝟎 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞

Alam mo ‘yung feeling na minsan, parang ang hirap na lang bumangon sa umaga?

Tapos pagkabangon mo, it feels like wala ka rin gana magpaka-productive?

Yung tipo ng araw na bigla ka na lang mapapatulala sa bintana.

Either sobrang bagal ng oras, o sobrang bilis na di mo na namamalayan.

Whatever phase in life you are in right now, I'm sure we all have these moments.

Yung mapapaisip ka bigla:

𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙮𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙧𝙞 𝙨𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙠𝙤?
𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙖 𝙗𝙖 ‘𝙩𝙤?
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙖 ‘𝙠𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙖𝙠𝙤 𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚?

Because same, besh. Seym. I feel you. 🥲

Pero minsan, siguro hindi natin kailangan ng answers.
Kailangan lang muna natin 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖. 🌿

Lately, madami sa’tin ‘yung naka-𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞 — hindi lang sa work, but sa life in general.

We keep going because we have to, pero nakakalimutan natin minsan na okay lang mag-pause.

𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐠-𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧.
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐝.
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲..

At kung nandyan ka sa season na ‘yan ngayon — this post is for you. 💚
👉🏼 Yes, for you. Specifically for you. 😂

Kasi if you’re reading this, chances are… nagbabasa ka rin ng books. 😅

Pero alam mo ‘yung struggle minsan kapag hindi Filipino ang nagsulat?

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐢 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬. 🇵🇭

Lalo na ung Western books, diba? They have a lot of mental health books, but for me, they can only do so much, eh.

Iba pa rin pag Pilipino ung nagsulat ng libro, kasi mas gets nila tayo.

Mas gets nila na 'yung mental health issues natin is coming also from the way our society works sa Pilipinas... ‘𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐚, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐚.

Kaya naman, below are some books our team REKOmmends na written by Filipino authors.

Sana maka-relate kayo sa mga sinulat nila for us, at makatulong sa struggles kahit konti. 🙏🏻

And if may mabasa kayo from them, please let us know and share feedback with us? Para ma-support natin sila. 🥰

_____
💚 𝟓 𝐞𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

For the days na gusto mo lang tumigil sandali at maramdaman ulit ‘yung sarili mo.

📖 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭 by Dr. Ron Bedia - For the working Pinoys na laging on grind mode. Pahinga ka rin, bestie.

📖 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 by Josue Mapagdalita - For the breadwinners at sa lahat ng bitbit ang bigat, this book invites you to pour all that weight, while the author pours his heart out too.

📖 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮 by Gavielle Gerico Cruz - Healing doesn’t happen in the heavens. It happens here on Earth: through struggle, self-awareness, and the quiet strength we find within ourselves. This book will help ground you, guiding you to face the fullness of living with courage and clarity.

📖 𝐀𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 by Migs Ganzon - A comforting reminder that even messy seasons have purpose. This book helps you shift from just surviving to truly healing. Even if you’re not “bookish,” this read feels like a pep talk for your soul.

📖 𝐓𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧 by Lance Abellon - Poetry that feels like a hug. Tulad ng title, parang shoulder to cry on ang collection na ‘to. Self-care idea: take yourself out to an open mic event.

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🌿 𝟓 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Eto naman ay for when you’ve been fighting for too long and need a gentle nudge to keep going. 🥹

📚 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 by Ashera Generoso - For those who grew up in chaos and survival. Here’s a novel about Tabitha, who finally chose peace and set herself free, kahit hindi madali.

📚 𝐄𝐯𝐞’𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 #𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 by Lolakwentosera - Sometimes, healing starts when we admit we’re not perfect parents, friends, or kids. This story bridges the gap between generations. This reminds us that love, when guided by faith, can save us in more ways than one.

📚 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 by Claire Quiñones - For the unmotivated and seeking ways to find joy despite life’s curveballs. For fans of MARK MANSON and RYAN HOLIDAY (like me!), and seeking similar self-help books in a Filipino context.

📚 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 by Mark Rana - If fear has been holding you back, maybe it’s time to run towards it. It’s not too late to start over.

📚 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 by Missterious Dreamer - For those carrying silent battles, “Dear You” might be the reminder you need: your story is worth hearing.

✨ 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐚 ‘𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐚.

Kapit lang. Whether bookworm ka or minsan lang magbasa, I hope you discover the book that’ll help you breathe again. 🌿

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💌 All of these books mentioned above are available on the REKO web app for e-reading. Comment "MENTAL HEALTH" to get the links and special promo for them. 💚

23/10/2025

Makakalimutin ako.

I love watching movies and reading books..

Pero pag tinanong mo ko about specific dialogue in the ones I liked, baka di ko na maalala hahaha. I have very few quotes I remember verbatim. 🥲

Pero pag may libro akong nabasa na nagustuhan ko, never ko nakakalimutan how it made me feel (like The Alchemist, my all-time fave ✨).

I guess same goes for people and relationships, whether in business or in life.

We’re so worried about saying the wrong or right thing.
We put on facades.
We try to please people.
We listen to respond instead of just listening fully.

We talk about skills, results, performance, etc.
Pero at the end of the day, narealize ko, those technical things don’t matter as much in the grand scheme of things.

As we get older, we learn to value relationships more.
It's the human connection that separates us from the robots, from the AI domination after all. 😅

It’s the impact and impression that people make on us,
and that we make on them,
that really sticks.

In this era of hustle,
I hope we find the space to be human.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

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📸 Napakasarap na Pamana Latte kape from Humble Beginnings Cafe! At REKO Filipino Ebooks booth during Club Lifestyle Hub's event!

21/10/2025

Other people’s life milestones lately: get engaged, get married, start a family, buy a house, make millions

My life milestone: Nails. 🙃

But yasss I got press-on nails for the first time. What a milestone. 🫶🏻😂