Shinespired

22/07/2025

When friendship turns transactional...

She was once your go-to friend.
Easy to talk to, always there, always helpful.
But the moment she stopped serving a purpose,
You moved her to trash.
Uninstalled.
Forgotten.

To the USER-FRIEND who only comes around when it’s convenient:
She’s not your app.
She’s a human being.
Not a hotline. Not your emergency fix.
She had feelings too.
But you only saw her value when she was useful.

You didn’t lose a tool.
You lost a treasure.
Because she gave more than help,
She gave heart.

To the one who was left behind,
This is your reminder:
You are not broken.
You were just too whole for someone who only wanted pieces.

And to the USER-FRIEND...
You’ll be good now.
You’ll thrive, maybe even shine.
But listen,
Don’t make a habit out of using hearts like apps.
Not every soul comes with a “Restore from Trash” option.

17/07/2025

PAGOD IS NOT A PERIOD, IT’S A COMMA.

Minsan kahit gaano kalaki ang pangarap mo, kahit gaano kabigat ang panata mo sa serbisyo, mapapaisip ka rin: “Hanggang kailan ko pa kaya?”

Lately, I’ve been carrying a weight I couldn’t name. Sa dami ng responsibilidad, bilang opisyal, piloto, asawa, ina, at mental health advocate, may mga araw na gusto ko na lang talagang bumitaw. Hindi dahil mahina ako, pero dahil pagod na rin.

At hindi ko ikakaila… nasa punto na napapaisip ako: “Dapat pa ba akong magpatuloy? O panahon na para mag-resign, o konting tiis hanggat pwede nang mag-retire?”

But something shifted when I attended this training.

Akala ko it was just another professional development seminar. STRATEGIZING FOR THE NEW FRONTIER with Dr. Raymundo P. Arcega. But it wasn’t just a lecture. It was a soul intervention.

He spoke of seasons. Of rise, rule, and fall, how every leader must understand that success is never permanent, and failure isn’t final either.

And then he said words I didn’t even know I desperately needed to hear that pierced right through my fatigue:

“Kapag napagod, huwag mag-resign. Huwag mag-retire. Magpahinga lang.”

Para bang sa dami ng tao sa room, ako ‘yung tinutukoy niya kasi parang para sa akin yung mensahe.

Because that’s exactly what I forgot:
That rest is not weakness. It’s wisdom.
That burnout is not a sign of failure. It’s a whisper from your soul saying, “Pause, but don’t STOP.”

Dahil ‘yun ang hindi ko naririnig sa sarili ko. Akala ko kasi, kapag pagod ka na, dapat tapusin mo na. Pero mali pala.

Pagod is not a period. It’s just a comma.
A pause.
A sacred moment to breathe, not to break.

At doon ko muling naalala ang SHINESPIRED philosophy.

That real strength is not in how much you do,
but in how well you remember your “why”
especially when you’re on the verge of forgetting it.

And Dr. Arcega reminded me of another truth:
“Don’t ask people to change. Influence them. Inspire them.”

Hindi tayo nilagay sa posisyon para mag-utos.
Nilagay tayo roon para magsilbing halimbawa.
Para maging ilaw sa panahong madilim.
Para maging tinig ng pag-asa sa mundong sanay sa reklamo.

And above all, he said something that still echoes in me:

“The vision is the end… and the end is just a beginning.”

I took that to heart because my vision has always been to leave a legacy-
not of medals and power,
but of kindness, humility, sincerity, and hard work.
Even if some people wronged me along the way, I won’t let their shadows darken my soul.

I will not forget who I am just to avenge myself.

Because in the end, when all of this is over, I don’t want people to remember my rank.
I want them to remember my heart.
That I loved my country and its people.
That I chose to be strong even when I was tired.

To Dr. Arcega, maraming salamat. You didn’t just teach our class how to lead. You reminded us why we lead.

And to anyone who’s tired:

This is your sign.

Don’t quit. Don’t vanish. Don’t disconnect.

Just rest.

Then rise again.

Because your calling didn’t end when your strength did.

It only deepens…
when you remember your purpose.

— Shinespired



Dr. Raymundo P. Arcega is a well-respected figure in Philippine higher education, accreditation, and leadership development. He is widely known for his strong advocacy for educational quality, leadership ethics, and public service transformation.

17/07/2025

IF YOU ARE A LEADER, FLY LIKE A PILOT

Let’s get one thing straight, anyone can call themselves a leader but not everyone can be trusted to fly people through storms.

If you’re a real leader, you don’t just lead, you fly.
You know the destination. You know the risks.
And you know that the people behind you aren’t just passengers,
They have lives.
Dreams.
Families.
Futures.

A great pilot is rarely seen, but they’re always felt.
They don’t stand in the aisle making noise, they sit in the cockpit with their eyes sharp and their heart steady.

And still, everyone on board feels safe because they trust the one who’s flying.

That’s what true leadership looks like.

You don’t need to keep proving you’re in control.
Because real control shows up in the silence,
in the calm during chaos, in decisions no one sees and in the weight you carry quietly, so your team doesn’t have to.

Leadership isn’t about being loud.
It’s about being present, consistent, and showing up even when you’re tired, even when no one’s clapping, and even when it’s not fair, because you understand your duties and responsibilities.

You chart the route. You prepare for turbulence.
And when things go wrong, and they will, you don’t panic.

You lead.
You listen.
You land.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about strategy. It’s not about ego. It’s not about being feared.

It’s about being trusted.

You’re not just holding a position, you’re holding people.

And if you truly want to call yourself a leader,
make sure you’re the kind of pilot others would entrust their lives to.

And until everyone’s safe,
until everyone’s whole,
you don’t quit.

That’s what it means to fly like a leader.
That’s what it means to lead with purpose.

13/07/2025

Read from top to bottom, then reverse. You will see different meanings of LOVE. (See Comment)

11/07/2025

I read the book How to Hug a Porcupine.
And it taught me how to be patient with people who are hard to love. People who are defensive, sharp, distant. People whose pain comes out as pride, and whose love feels like a landmine.

Ang dami kong natutunan doon.
Kung paano unawain ang isang taong puno ng tinik, na hindi lahat ng matalim, masama.
Minsan, sugatan lang, sanay na masaktan kaya nauuna nang manakit.

But here’s something the book didn’t say,
and something I’ve learned the hard way:

Patience doesn’t mean silence.
And love doesn’t mean tolerating damage.

That’s why I rant sometimes.
Not out of hate.
Not to shame.
But to wake the porcupine up.
To remind them that being difficult is not a badge.
That having a “hard personality” is not a free pass to be unkind.

Kung ikaw ay porcupine,
sana alam mong mapanakit ka.
At sana piliin mong huwag isaksak ang tinik sa mga taong ang tanging kasalanan lang ay minahal ka.

Yes, maybe it’s your nature to be guarded.
To be blunt. To push people away.
But you still have a choice.
A thousand small ways to be careful with the ones who only ever wanted to hold you gently.

Because self-awareness is not weakness.
It’s the beginning of healing.

I rant because someone has to speak.

Someone has to say:
You’re hurting people.
Please don’t make it a habit.
Please don’t make it an identity.

Because in the end,
even porcupines can learn to pull back their quills,
if the goal is to be held, not feared.

11/07/2025

Matuto tayong magpakatao.
Hindi dahil kailangan.
Kundi dahil ‘yon ang tama.

Maging makatao.
Hindi lang kapag may nanonood at nakakarinig.
Hindi lang kapag may kapalit.

Rumespeto.
Kahit walang posisyon.
Kahit hindi mo ka-level.
Kahit tahimik lang sila.

Kung paano ka naging tao sa panahong ikaw ang nasa taas,
iyon ang babalik sa’yo kapag ikaw na ang nasa baba.
Kung lahat inapakan mo, siguradong masakit ang pagbagsak mo.
Dahil ang mga taong trinato mong tinik,
Ang tutusok sa'yong balat na tatagos sa'yong buto.

Hindi mo kailangang mang-insulto para masunod.
At hindi mo kailangang takutin ang tao para macontrol mo.

Ang tunay na paggalang, hindi ‘yan nasusukat kung lahat tahimik,
kundi sa saya ng bawat isa kapag nagbabahagi ng kanyang naiisip.

Dahil bawat sigaw mo sa opisina, may taong uuwing may sugat sa puso. tahimik, tulala at pasan ang mundo.
Bawat irap, may matatarantang empleyado.
Mapapagalitan. Matatakot. Papalpak.

Akala mo bida ka kasi nagalit ka na naman pagkatapos.
Di mo alam, ikaw pala ang dahilan simula pa lang.
Bawat pang-iinsulto mo, may markang tumatagos sa pagkatao.

Hindi rason na may problema ka para umabuso sa iba.
Hindi pwedeng dahil mainit ulo mo, madadamay lahat ng tao,
at pag nahimasmasan ka, kailangan nilang umintindi sa'yo.

Ikaw ang lider.
Kaya kung lider ka-
iyangat mo sila.
Hindi mo trabaho ang mang-apak.
Hindi mo misyon ang manghila.
Dapat ikaw ang nagpapagaan, hindi ang nagpapabigat.

Dahil ang tunay na magaling,
hindi lang mataas ang lipad…
marunong ding magdala ng tao pataas.

At kung ikaw yung taong ang tingin sa sarili
siya lang ang magaling at tama,
Darating ang araw
sisingilin ka ng mundo,
At sa lahat ng sakit na binitiwan mo,
Sana may sumalo pa sa'yo.

30/06/2025

Kung mas mataas ang ating pangarap, asahan na mas maraming mga pagsubok dahil lahat ng matayog na bagay ay lilikha ng itim na anino. Ngunit sa mga pagkakataong nababalot tayo ng dilim, nagkakaroon tayo ng pagkakataong hanapin ang liwanag na papawi sa ating mga pagsubok. Huwag tayong sumuko dahil sa gitna ng kadiliman, dito natin makikilala ang mga tunay na taong gagabay sa ating makaahon. Be a sunshine to someone's dark day today!
Be inspired to shine!

27/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FAPT5qh16/?mibextid=wwXIfr

“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
– Peter A. Levine

27/06/2025

Huwag Kang Maging Tagapagmana

Real Talk sa Trabaho, Leadership, at Respeto

Alam mo yung mga katrabaho na parang…
boss kung umasta,
hari kung mag-utos,
pero pag may kailangan nang gawin,
nawawala, busy, o di kaya… ’di ko trabaho ‘yan.’

At ito ang pinakamasakit:
Hindi sila boss.
Pero kung umasta, daig pa ang may-ari.

Sila yung tipong inuuna ang image kaysa impact,
yung gustong laging bida sa meeting,
pero wala naman sa field. Yung gusto ng recognition, pero allergic sa responsibilidad. Minsan, credit grabber pa maging bida lang.

Ang tawag sa ganyan?

“Tagapagmana ng kumpanya.”

Hindi dahil tunay na tagapagmana sila.
Pero kasi, parang lahat ng bagay, feeling entitled sila.
Wala sa pangalan nila ang kumpanya, pero parang kanila. Ang trabaho, parang option lang.
Pero ang opinyon, parang batas. Kung makautos, akala mo nasa payroll ka niya. Kung magalit pag di napag- bigyan, akala mo pag-aari buhay mo na di siya pwede tanggihan.

Hindi Mo Kailangan Maging Maingay Para Maging Mahalaga.

Minsan yung mga tahimik lang ,
yung hindi palasabat, hindi palabida,
sila pa yung nagtatrabaho ng sobra.
Sila yung nag-aadjust, sumasalo, gumagawa kahit hindi na part ng trabaho.
Pero hindi sila napapansin. Hindi rin narerecognize. Minsan sila pa minamalas.

Kasi sa mundong ‘to,
mas napapansin ang maingay kesa sa masipag.

Pero tandaan mo ‘to:
May Diyos. At may karma.
At sa huli, hindi volume ng boses ang sukatan, kundi bigat ng kontribusyon.

Kung Isa Ka Sa Tinamaan, Baka Panahon Nang Magbago.

Baka nga kasi ikaw yung magaling magsalita, pero kulang sa gawa.
Baka ikaw yung laging nauuna sa litrato, pero wala sa trabaho.
Baka ikaw yung nauuna sa evaluation, pero hindi sa ex*****on.

Reality check lang.
Hindi ka tagapagmana.
Lahat tayo, puwedeng palitan.
Puwedeng mawala.
At puwedeng malimutan.

So habang nandyan ka pa,
magtrabaho ka nang may puso, may respeto, at may silbi.

At Kung Isa Ka Sa Mga Tahimik Lang Pero Gumagawa…

Saludo ako sa’yo.
Kahit ‘di ka palaging nakikilala,
kahit ‘di ka man napromote pa,
tapat kang naglilingkod at may malasakit sa kapwa.

And that speaks louder than any power play.
Because real leadership is felt, not flaunted.
At hindi kailangang maging boss para makagawa ng pagbabago.

Hindi Mo Kailangang Maging Tagapagmana Para Mag-iwan ng Legacy.

You just need to work with integrity, humility, and consistency.

At kung ang trabaho mo ngayon ay tila walang nakakakita,
Huwag kang bibitaw, gawin mo lang lahat ng tama. At the end of the day, mas masarap matulog ng may maganda kang nagawa.

May Diyos.
May tamang panahon.
At may gantimpala sa mga gumagawa kahit walang pumapalakpak.

27/06/2025

Hindi Ka Masamang Tao… Pero Baka May Sugat Ka.

Alam mo yung mga taong parang laging may nakikitang mali sa kapwa?
Yung tipong may nasabi ka lang, may nasuot ka lang, may na-achieve ka lang, may comment agad.
Minsan sarcastic. Minsan pabirong saksak.
Pero madalas, lason talaga.

Mahilig magkalat ng chismis.
Mahilig mag-downgrade ng achievements ng iba.
Yung kahit wala namang ginagawa sa kanilang masama, gagawan ng kwento. Gagawan ng dahilan para kainisan.
At sa huli, maglalabas pa ng linya na parang sila pa ang biktima:
“Concerned lang naman ako.”
“Joke lang, wag kang pikon.”

Pero minsan, kapag tinanggal mo ang galit, ang yabang, at ang inggit,
ang matitira ay isang tao na hindi okay.
Isang pusong may sugat.
Na baka hindi lang napansin. Hindi lang napakinggan.
At ngayon, naglalabas ng sakit sa paraang alam niya, pananakit din.

TOXIC BA O TRAUMATIZED?

Hindi lahat ng toxic, masamang tao.
Pero lahat ng toxic behavior, may pinanggagalingan.

Minsan, ang taong nanghihila ng iba pababa… ay yung minsan ding naiwang mag-isa habang siya ay bagsak.
Yung taong tsismosa… ay baka minsang ginawang sentro ng chismis at ngayon ay ginagamit ang salita bilang panangga.
Yung taong naninira… ay baka minsang sinira at hindi na muling naayos.

Walang excuse sa pagiging toxic.
Pero may dahilan.
At may pag-asa.

KUNG IKAW ANG TOXIC (AT NAPAGTANTO MO NA)

Pause ka muna.
Kung napansin mong marami nang lumalayo, o may mga naglalakas loob na magsabi sa’yo ng totoo, huwag agad magalit.
Maybe it’s time to ask yourself:
“Bakit ako nasasaktan sa success ng iba?”
“Bakit ang bigat ng loob ko kapag masaya sila?”
“Bakit ako galit… kahit wala namang ginagawang masama sa akin?”

Seek help.
Mental health check-up is for everyone.
Hindi lang sa mga umiiyak araw-araw. Pati sa mga laging galit.
Baka galit ka sa sarili mo. Baka may unresolved trauma ka.
Therapy isn’t weakness. It’s self-respect.

Heal, then change.
Kasi hindi mo kailangang mamuhay bilang taong kinakatakutan o iniiwasan.
Pwede kang maging masaya, kahit hindi ka sumira ng iba.
Pwede kang umangat, nang hindi ka naninira ng lipad ng iba.

KUNG MAY TOXIC SA BUHAY MO

Hindi ka rude kung mag-set ka ng boundaries.
Hindi ka masama kung lumayo ka.
You can pray for their healing, from a distance.
At kung kaya mong kausapin, sabihin mong nasasaktan ka.
Minsan, hindi nila alam. Minsan, ayaw lang nilang aminin.

LAHAT TAYO MAY BAGAHENG HINDI HALATA.

Pero kung yung bagahe mo, ginagamit mo para ipukpok sa iba,
hindi ka lang nahihirapan…
Nakakasakit ka na rin.

Hindi ka masamang tao.
Pero baka may sugat ka.
At baka oras na para gamutin ‘yun.
Kasi deserve mo rin ng peace.
At deserve rin ng ibang tao…
na huwag mo silang gawing punching bag.





’tHurtOthers

27/06/2025

🧠 JUNE: PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

“Hindi lahat ng sugat ay nakikita.”

Alam mo ba na may mga tao na kahit mukhang okay sa labas,
ay may iniindang sugat sa loob?

Hindi pisikal.
Hindi nababalutan ng band-aid.
Pero totoo, at masakit.
Ang tawag dito — PTSD.

Ano ang PTSD?

Ang ibig sabihin ng PTSD ay Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Ibig sabihin, after mong makaranas ng sobrang sakit o takot (trauma),
hindi ka na tulad ng dati- masayahin, ganado sa mga bagay-bagay, at “normal”.
Minsan kahit lumipas na ang buwan o taon,
parang bumabalik pa rin yung sakit at pait.

Sino ang pwedeng magkaroon nito?

Hindi lang sundalo.
Hindi lang artista.
Hindi lang sikat.

Pwedeng:
• Nanay na muntik mamatay sa panganganak
• Batang lumaki sa gulo o away
• Kahit sino na nakaligtas sa sakuna
• Nurse, pulis, teacher, OFW, at iba pa
• Ikaw. Ako. Kahit sino.

Ano ang mga palatandaan ng PTSD?

✅ Madalas na bangungot
✅ Parang may kaba kahit wala namang masama
✅ Ayaw nang bumalik sa lugar kung saan galing ang trauma
✅ Biglaang init ng ulo
✅ Parang wala nang gana sa buhay
✅ Tahimik, pero mabigat ang loob
✅ Pakiramdam mo, may mali sa ’yo pero hindi mo maipaliwanag

Anong dapat gawin?

Una sa lahat:
👉 Normal ‘yan. Hindi ka baliw. Hindi ka mahina.
Ibig sabihin lang, nasaktan ka sa loob — at kailangan mong gumaling, dahan-dahan.

Pwede kang:
💬 Kumausap ng taong mapagkakatiwalaan
🧠 Kumonsulta sa professional (psychologist o counselor)
🙏 Manalangin, magpahinga, huminga
❤️ Huwag mahiya — may tulong at pag-asa

Ngayong June, alalahanin natin:

🕯️ Hindi mo alam kung anong laban ang dinadala ng katabi mo
🕯️ Minsan, yung laging nakangiti… sila yung pagod na
🕯️ Ang PTSD ay totoo — at pwedeng pagalingin

Kung ikaw ito…

Hindi ka nag-iisa.
Hindi ka sira.
Isa kang matapang na lumalaban araw-araw.

At dito sa Shinespired, kasama mo kami.

👉 I-share mo ito kung may kakilala kang tahimik pero may dinadala.
👉 Mag-comment ng 🖤 kung minsan ikaw din, napapagod sa giyera sa loob.