Coach Mayshelle

“Pagkukuha ng Loob” and the Call to Transform Our Intentions

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of “pagkukuha ng loob” — a deeply cultural way of winning trust and connection.

In politics, however, this has often been used as a tool to woo constituents, to build emotional allegiance so strong that truth becomes secondary. Many are persuaded not by integrity, but by charisma, favors, or emotional ties.

This kind of influence — when rooted in self-serving motives — reveals something deeper:
a corrupt mind, one driven by the desire for power, fame, and fortune rather than genuine service.

And perhaps this is where true national transformation must begin —
not just in policies or institutions, but in the purification of intent.

When our leaders, and even we as citizens, begin to reflect on the intent behind our actions, we start to rebuild the moral fiber of our nation.

✨ Leadership is not about making people believe in us.
It’s about helping people believe in truth, dignity, and shared purpose.

Let us nurture a culture where “pagkukuha ng loob” means authentic connection, not manipulation;
where influence is earned through service, not spectacle;
and where trust is built on truth, not tactics.

Because the change we seek in our nation begins with the state of our hearts and minds.

🕊️ “The integrity of a nation begins with the purity of its leaders’ intentions — and the awareness of its people.”

As I reflect on my own journey, I hold myself to this same challenge —
to lead, influence, and connect with others from a place of sincerity, humility, and service.

Corruption Begins in the Mind — And So Does Integrity

Reflecting on our current realities as a nation made me step back and ask:
Where does corruption truly begin?

It often starts not in action, but in thought — when our beliefs, attachments, and allegiances blur our sense of what’s right.

We Filipinos are deeply rooted in harmony — a strength that builds community and compassion.
But when harmony becomes emotional allegiance, it can blind us from truth.
We hesitate to confront what is wrong because of relationships, comfort, or fear of disruption.

When leaders tolerate corruption — or worse, participate in it — it’s often because the environment tells them it’s safe to do so.
No one intervenes. No one challenges.
And silence becomes consent.

Even more dangerous, words can corrupt thoughts.
When leaders repeatedly say something, or when social media amplifies a narrative, it’s easy for people to take it as truth —
even when it isn’t.

This is why we need to strengthen reflective and critical thinking —
the courage to pause, discern, and choose what is right over what feels safe.
To uphold professionalism over personal allegiance.
To live by the principle:
“Walang kinikilingan. Walang pinapaboran. Tanging katotohanan lamang.”

Only then can we raise a generation that values:
• Honesty over convenience
• Integrity over allegiance
• Respect over popularity

A better Philippines begins with better thinking — and leaders who are anchored in core values, not personal gain.

“Corruption begins in the mind — when truth is replaced by allegiance.”

May we all strive to be the kind of leaders — and citizens — who choose what is right, even when it is not easy.
Because nation-building begins with mind-building.

Wholeness

I just finished a 2 month Ayurveda coaching program with a certified Ayurveda Practitioner who is also a medical practitioner at the same time. The word I used in our last session was FANTASTIC. I got all the help I need going through significant life changes. Already on our 4th session, I observed remarkable shifts in the way I see things. It was truly character building for me focusing on inner works and honoring my core values in life. I learned a lot about myself and what I truly anchor on in life as a principle: A Human Being is enough and complete.

In 2022, I had a conversation with local government officials for a sustainable project I proposed on Pagibig, Pera at Pamilya. I did a pilot on this here at the farm with the intent to amplify it at a baranggay level. When I visualize something, I make it happen. The pilot happened but then pandemic ended and we had to go back to Manila hence the project continue to be a pilot up until now using our model farm. But it was in that conversation where I caught someone saying - Nature Heals. I progressed studying that concept which even became the topic for my husband’s thesis for his Real Estate course.

Fast forward to today. I have a different concept of healing. It has shifted. Nature doesn’t heal. Nature can only help one heal. Because healing is an inner work. In fact, the last couple of weeks have made me reflect about healing vs wholeness. I tested the thinking - if a person is already whole, what needs to happen? What should we be doing?

As an individual - Focus on our strengths. We already have everything in us that can make us successful. Do work that utilize and amplify our strengths.

As a parent - Profile children in their strengths and appreciate them for their strengths. Give them opportunities to shine in their strengths and not what we or the society expect them to excel on.

As a spouse - embrace the strengths and weaknesses. Focus on supporting our spouses in utilizing their strengths. When we have strengths that our spouses do not have, combine multiple strengths together such that the output is still positive/successful.

As a leader - profile staff/direct report and embrace strengths and weaknesses. Ensure that they are in the right job and right competencies levels. Leaders are expected to be a partner in staff development using their strengths.

Wholeness is about knowing who we truly are - recognizing, accepting and embracing ourselves in our strengths and weaknesses. That’s freedom. And with freedom means making a choice to focus on flexing strengths. As we utilize our strengths, confidence builds up.

Suffering is a choice. We suffer when we focus on un-wholeness situations in life. We suffer or get ourselves stressed when we go back to the past or think about the future and nurture negative things in the mind. If suffering is a choice, what is the rightest thing to do?

Acknowledge the thinking and honor the emotions. But pivot the thinking and emotions to wholeness question: if I am whole, what and who should I become?

Wholeness.
I am whole.
I am.

Happy Sunday! 💐💐💐

Shedding the old

In my reflection this morning, I appreciate true ownership in journeying life from A to B.

For many years, I lived a life of pain. I allowed pain to stay. And I live life like the sheds in these photos - not good enough, not having enough, needing restoration or fixing and more. But in 2018, a breakdown turned breakthrough triggered for me to live a life of being enough and complete. It was not an easy journey but with motivation and encouragement, I initiated shedding the old - patterns of thoughts, emotions and behaviors that made up these pain. There was only one goal (B) and that is to be healthy. In my mind at that time, health is important because it will make me live longer to fulfill my purpose.

Up to today, I continue shedding the old. I embrace that life is truly a journey of progress not perfection. My recent experiences have triggered more growth such that shedding has become an ending and a beginning too! There are new mindsets I am introduced to that I am now embracing with love, joy, peace and freedom.

As I continue achieving my B (healthy life), I am reminded to be compassionate to self as a priority. I am going to commit being a very strong owner of this beginning today. What does this look like? By not sacrificing and adjusting to be compassionate to others but losing compassion for self. Because in the end, fulfilling my purpose will be more meaningful when love keeps outpouring from my cup that is not empty.

To close, Mayshelle v9.0 will now say hello to a life of more fun and treating herself with more compassion and joyful expansion.

*CTTO for the photos

My view this morning 🌸🌷🌸

This year has made me realize how huge of a value self-love is, make that radical self-love. And this has been something elusive to me for many years that I have done my very best addressing. I always prioritize other people’s needs over my own needs. At times, good, but many times, is not doing me good.

In many of my strategic planning facilitation work this year, I have asked what Winning, Being a Winner and the Importance of Winning and as I reflect - winning for me means I am able to manifest self-love and success in my own definition (money is a default output, but the outcome I always envisage for myself is utilizing my God given talents in the best possible way and continue to make my own decisions for self). My biggest win for this year is committing to self-love which means believing and being confident that I matter and I am highly valuable. Commitment is not easy, but it is doable through habit forming actions and activities.

2024 for me will be about amplification of radical self-love: knowing and walking my value and firmly believing and being confident that I deserve many good things through God’s grace.

Today and moving forward, I will continue to choose (and being able to choose) what is good for myself and by doing so, I will be the best version ever for my husband, son and other people.

Happy Saturday! 🌸🌷🌸

Choosing to do the right thing

While attending an online mass last night, I cried non-stop while Fr. Armand Robleza (a favorite priest) did the homily. It was just so good releasing in that way. The homily was about trust and love.

A couple of weeks back, I got affected by a humiliating and rude online exchanges which are recurring in nature. And it has just become a norm for many years. The first reaction I had was anger. This time, I was able to process my feelings, that yes, the act was not ok and should not be tolerated. I recognized that something insensitive was done and there has to be an intervention action to address. I did a courageous thing to correct.

I was just so surprised last night realizing that my feeling of anger was actually pain/hurt. And therefore I cried my heart out. Ang sarap pala talaga umiyak because thereafter my heart expanded with more love for self.

It is my hope that people can be more sensitive and respectful.

Lesson learned 1: I have choices.

Lesson learned 2: Honor your truest self and the values you hold so dearly in life.

Lesson learned 3: When we love, we always win. My husband has remained to be my biggest protector and cheerleader.

👇👇👇

I have reached more than 400 followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

Meaningful Transformation (knowing what is right, knowing what I want)

Growing up, I was made to obey. To a fault. There was always a fear within me to break rules, or to have a consequence when I disobey. So all my life, compliance was a theme. No wonder it was easy for me to latch on safety, because it is first and foremost about compliance.

Throughout life, I have experienced things I didn’t like or didn’t want for myself but because I want a conflict-free or conflict-reducing environment, I silence myself and just let things flow.

The past two years has taught me that conflicts and arguments are fully acceptable. But the most important lesson I have learned is to be truly free in expressing myself - what I want, what I don’t want and deciding for myself.

Freedom was elusive but through life choices, I am able to do confidence in honoring who I really am.

I love how Fr Dave Concepcion said it yesterday in his homily - you need to imagine something to become it. I didn’t think it was possible to be this free in expressing myself but when I pivot to imagining myself in the space of love, joy, peace and freedom, I become it. And it started with self.

Freedom starts with self. And it is a choice. And it doesn’t stop with expressing oneself. It is about believing and committing to choices that are good for us. It is about us living our lives in the way we imagine ourselves in our highest vision.

Back to safety, where it used to be in the space of compliance for me and fear driven, I am now in a space of commitment, deepening my purpose for safety leadership in a hearts and minds approach.

Happy Thursday! 🌷🌸🌷