Off the REKOrd with Gia Santos

“I said no more than 10 times.”Next thing you know—it’s been a year na CEO ka na of a 39-year-old bookstore empire.In this episode, Gia sits down with Josh Sison, the reluctant “tagapagmana” of Booksale Philippines. A quiet kid who preferred books over barkada, Josh never planned to take over the family business. He was thriving as a photographer, earning more on weekend shoots than in a month at his bank job—until life threw in a plot twist.They dive into how a “sige na nga” sideline turned into running a company with over 140 employees—plus the pressure of legacy, creative burnout, and the chaos of solo adulting (hello, disconnection notices and almost burning your apartment down). But more than that, this convo unpacks how Josh found his ikigai—not in chasing passion, but in showing up for people, community, and building something that matters.And yep, it’s a full-circle moment for Gia too. Her startup BookSpine once saw Booksale as the Goliath. Now? They're teaming up for something big. 👀🎙️ In this episode, we talk about:– How a weekend photography gig started earning more than his full-time job– The resignation letter he kept for almost a year before finally submitting it– Saying “no” to Booksale more than 10 times—until one lunch changed everything– Trying to juggle two careers... and hitting burnout– The volunteer photo gig that made him realize what really matters– Adulting fails: disconnection notices, healthcare struggles, and a near-fire incident– Finding purpose in something he didn’t even want at first– How running Booksale helped him fall back in love with reading– His honest take on The Alchemist (spoiler: not a 10)– What Suking Aklatan is and why it matters for Filipino authors🎯 Who This Episode Is For:- Anyone who said “di ko pa time” but found themselves doing it anyway- Creatives juggling side hustles and burnout- People torn between comfort and something that feels more right- Quiet kids who ended up in leadership- Anyone figuring out how to adult—one near-fire and disconnection notice at a time- Those finding purpose where they least expected it📚 Books Mentioned in the Episode:📖 The Biography of Matthew Perry📖 The One Thing by Gary Keller📖 I Am A Cat by Sosuke Natsume📖 Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho📖 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho📖🇵🇭  The Finishers by Ezra Ferraz📌 About the GuestJosh Sison is the President and CEO of Visual Mix, Inc., the company behind Booksale Philippines. Before stepping into his current role, he worked in corporate banking and later built a career as a freelance photographer. Today, he leads one of the country’s most well-known secondhand bookstore chains while continuing to explore ways to support local authors and Filipino readers.🤝 Coming Soon: Suking AklatanA partnership between Booksale and REKO, Suking Aklatan is a new initiative built to support Filipino authors and make books even more accessible to Filipino readers.Launching soon in select Booksale branches and online on the REKO platform, this project brings together the power of print and digital—spotlighting local stories and giving readers more ways to discover books by Filipinos, for Filipinos.📲 Follow for updates: Booksale – @booksalephils on IG/FB REKO – @reko.books on IG/FB

What if that “wrong turn” is actually the path to purpose?In this heartwarming and candid episode, Gia chats with Matthew Alamar—co-lead of Financial Literacy PH, host of the Upward Stream podcast, and a fellow electronics engineering graduate. Together, they unpack his wildly unexpected career journey: from aspiring MassComm student to Biomed engineer, hopeful OFW to pharmacy sales assistant, to finally building one of the Philippines’ most trusted financial education communities.Matt opens up about the twists in his journey—missed applications, failed exams, visa issues, burnout—and how each one led to growth, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose. This episode is a masterclass in grit, pivots, and finding your ikigai through service.🎙️ In this episode, we talk about:· How a college mishap landed Matt in ECE· Falling in love with Biomed through field exposure· The job hunt struggle in Dubai—and working in sales despite being an engineer· Rising from shelf-wiping to becoming the first Filipino manager in his company· People management lessons and Middle East leadership growth· The pivotal family losses that led him into financial literacy· Growing Financial Literacy PH from 200 to 200,000+ members—and why trust is everything· Why ikigai can evolve, but core values stay the same· Rejecting the myth of being “self-made” and sowing good seeds· Books that helped him navigate major transitions· Why podcasting became his go-to creative outletThis episode is for anyone navigating change, stuck in-between, or trying to reconnect with purpose. Matt’s story reminds us that detours have value—especially when you keep showing up for your growth and for others.📚 Books & Authors Mentioned:📖 Life Is in the Transitions by Bruce Feiler – on navigating nonlinear lives📖 The Earned Life by Marshall Goldsmith – on letting go of success myths and starting anew each breath📖 How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World by Dorie Clark – on patience and legacy thinking📖 Works by Mark Manson – for his bold, truth-telling approach to mindset and meaning📖 How to Be Everything by Emilie Wapnick – on being a multi-passionate multipotentialite📚 REKO Staff Pick for This Episode:✨ Ang Autobiografia ng Ibang Lady Gaga by Stefani J. Alvarez — A witty take on identity, reinvention, and OFW life. Perfect for those who resonated with Matt’s Middle East journey.📌 ABOUT THE GUESTMatthew Alamar is a financial literacy advocate, content creator, and podcaster. He co-leads Financial Literacy PH, a Facebook community with 200,000+ members dedicated to empowering Filipinos through accessible finance education. A former electronics engineer and Biomed professional, Matt now uses his platform to guide others through stories of service and self-discovery.From board exams to Dubai pharmacy shelves to building inclusive online communities, Matt’s journey reflects what it means to stay grounded in growth and purpose.⏳ Episode Timeline (Condensed):00:00:00 – Selling vitamins in Dubai: the unexpected starting point00:03:00 – Missing MassComm, ending up in ECE, falling for Biomed00:08:30 – Working in Manila and flying around PH for Biomed00:15:00 – Moving to Dubai, facing visa setbacks, working retail00:23:00 – From shelf-wiper to manager: habits, exams, and hustle00:34:00 – Going home, discovering Financial Literacy PH00:43:00 – Trust and growth in online communities00:48:00 – Matt’s evolving ikigai and multipotentialite life01:00:00 – Sunk cost fallacy and breath as reset01:07:30 – Final advice: sow good seeds, no one is self-made

In this episode of Off the REKOrd, Gia sits down with Migs Ganzon—author, content creator, copywriting coach, and multi-hyphenate creative—to unpack what it means to live many lives in one lifetime. The catch? Migs is still a 23-year-old engineering student!Migs takes us through his evolution as a writer, from horror fiction inspired by Stephen King to deeply personal poetry that became a tool for healing. He shares how his early love for magic led to a fascination with psychology, which later shaped his storytelling style—both on the page and in marketing campaigns.📚Books Authored by Migs Ganzon:- San Angeles Park – horror anthology inspired by Stephen King's work- Sunshine and Moonchild – poetry collection (part of a trilogy)- Reaching for the Stars – poetry collection (middle book in the trilogy)- As Seasons Change – poetry and essays on healing and self-love→ Collectively titled The Celestial Cycle (poetry trilogy)- Reignition – self-help book- Guitar Workbooks📖 Books mentioned in the episode:- Everything’s Eventual by Stephen King – horror short story collection- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Stoic philosophy classic- The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck – spiritual psychology- Further Along the Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck – spiritual psychology- Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix – relationship psychology- Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller – book on attachment styles- How to YOLO Wisely by Nikki Jurado – Filipino-authored book on personal finance📌 ABOUT THE GUESTMigs Ganzon is a multi-faceted creative professional with a strong track record in both marketing and the arts. He is the Lead Copywriter of Real Talk Darbs, where his copywriting expertise has helped generate over 8 figures in sales. As the Copywriting Coach of House Creatives, Migs has coached and empowered over 1,000 business owners to write content that drives sales and builds strong brands.Beyond marketing, he is also a Content Creator and Guitarist with a growing audience of nearly 50,000 followers on TikTok, where he’s helped hundreds of thousands of beginner guitarists learn and fall in love with the instrument.Migs is also the author of six books, including a horror anthology, two guitar workbooks, and a poetry trilogy titled Celestial Cycle with the latest installment, As Seasons Change, completing the series.🚀 Let’s keep the kwentuhan going! Follow for more stories on life’s twists, ikigai, and new chapters.Episode Timeline: 00:00:00 – Setting intentions: Grounding, breathwork, and opening the space00:00:50 – Meet Migs Ganzon: Author of 6 books, lead copywriter, musician, student00:04:11 – His first discovered talent and how creativity showed up early00:08:30 – The ₱99 Stephen King book that sparked his love for writing00:13:35 – Why he chose civil engineering over psychology00:17:00 – From raw talent to real output: His self-publishing journey00:25:12 – Writing through heartbreak and the making of a poetry trilogy00:30:07 – “Pain is a storm, healing comes in droplets”: The deeper meaning behind his work00:33:00 – Pandemic pivots: How the quiet gave birth to clarity00:38:17 – From unpaid intern to lead copywriter at Real Talk Darbs00:44:00 – How House Creatives and PC Mastercamp sharpened his skills and strengths00:51:10 – Migs’ 3 truths for growth: Openness, Execution, Environment00:56:00 – His biggest plot twist: From self-doubt to alignment and purpose01:03:20 – The 3 life-changing books that shaped his values01:11:45 – On Filipino-authored books and Gia’s mission with REKO01:15:09 – If his life were a book, it would be titled: “Show Up”

Ahh, now it makes sense." That feeling when you finally find language for the things you never understood about yourself—especially as a child.In this episode of Off the REKOrd, we’re bringing you the ultimate crossover of art, archaeology, and advocacy! 🎨⛏️ Joining us is Arthur Riel Cabezas, a sci-fi and fantasy illustrator who doesn’t just create worlds—they also excavate history.From growing up in Laguna, getting a scholarship to Canada, to navigating identity as a trans and neurodivergent creative, Arthur shares the biggest plot twists of their journey—along with the books, characters, and communities that helped them feel seen. For the first time on the show, host Gia also opens up about her own realizations about neurodivergence, making this episode especially heartfelt and healing.Together, we unpack: 📌 How careers evolve unexpectedly and the reality of non-linear journeys 📌 That deep feeling of being “different” as a child—and finally understanding why 📌 Representation in media and why queer, neurodivergent characters matter 📌 How literature becomes a tool for self-discovery and transformation 📌 Why the idea of having just one career path is outdated 📌 The overlap between art, advocacy, and inclusive storytellingWhether you’re an artist, a history buff, or someone figuring out your identity—this episode is for you. Keep dreaming, keep creating, and remember: your story is always worth telling. 💫📚 Books mentioned in this episode: - Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao- GIGIL - Komiket- Alapaap - Komiket- Too Loud: Soothing Sensory Overload with Music by Bambi Eloriaga-Amago- This Is How You Lose The Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mokhtar- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz- Percy Jackson & the Olympians (novel series) by Rick Riordan- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi- Doobiedoo Asks by Bambi Eloriaga-Amago and Roland Amago🎲 Tabletop Games mentioned:- Gubat Banwa by Sword Isles Studios- For The Queen from Darrington Press📌 ABOUT THE GUESTArthur Riel Cabezas is a sci-fi and fantasy illustrator for tabletop games, comics, and children’s books. They grew up in Laguna and went on to study archaeology at University of Toronto.🚀 Let’s keep the kwentuhan going! Follow for more stories on life’s twists, ikigai, and new chapters.Episode Timeline:00:00:22 – Intro ni Gia: Ano ang kwentuhan today? 🌟00:00:50 – Meet Arthur Riel Cabezas – artist, archaeologist, and certified professional nerd! 🎨📚00:01:47 – How his art career start—thanks to the pandemic? 🖌️00:03:14 – From archaeology to illustration 🔍00:05:51 – His scholarship journey to Canada (and how the pandemic changed everything). ✈️00:08:32 – Art as a career: Passion vs. pressure? 🎭00:10:45 – Purpose to go with the flow? 🌊00:11:42 – On representation: Being trans and advocating for inclusivity. 🌈💡00:15:40 – How do art and literature become powerful tools for representation?00:24:50 – The biggest plot twist of his life (clue: identity at self-discovery). 🔄00:35:20 – Books that changed his life (at bakit dapat basahin mo rin sila). 📚00:43:18 – Ano ang future plans niya bilang illustrator at archaeologist? 🚀00:56:38 – Advice para sa aspiring artists at creatives. 🎨✨01:00:45 – Kung ang buhay niya ay isang libro, ano ang title nito? 📖

What happens when a shy kid who once feared socializing becomes a published author, spoken word artist, and founder of an art collective? For Lance Abellon, the journey was full of plot twists, turning points, and plenty of poetry.In this episode of Off the REKOrd with Gia Santos, we sit down with Lance Abellon, the creative force behind Laya Philippines, to talk about his path—from working in film and advertising to building a thriving spoken word community and inspiring people nationwide through poetry.✨ Lance’s journey from a quiet childhood to becoming a storyteller on stage and on air✨ How writing became his purpose—and ultimately his ikigai✨ Overcoming self-doubt, finding purpose, and embracing creativity✨ The power of spoken word, social commentary, and connecting with audiencesIf you're an aspiring writer, performer, or someone searching for your creative calling, this episode is for you. 📚 Books mentioned in this episode:📖 Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren📖Works by Jose Rizal📖Poems by Pablo Neruda (Filipino translation)📖Works by Gabriel Garcia Marquez📖Helium by Rudy Francisco📖Spoken Word by Sarah Kay, Phil Kaye, Maimai Cantillano & Leandro Reyes📖Lance Abellon’s books: Biag (Life) Ayat (Love) Biyahe (Travel) Tahan (Rest) Ang Mga Lugar Ay Hindi Mga Lugar Lamang (Places Are Not Just Places)🚀 Let’s keep the kwentuhan going! Follow for more real talk on life’s twists, ikigai, and new chapters.

Seriously, how do you introduce yourself as "Mukha Akong Pera" without being judged? Well, that’s exactly what Prexel Parnacio did—an electronics engineer turned financial coach and founder of Millionaire in Progress!In this episode, she shares with Gia Santos the unexpected plot twists in her career: mula sa pag-iisip na maging doctor, to becoming an engineer, tapos biglang na-in love sa psychology (pero hindi nag-shift), hanggang sa corporate cybersecurity life… only to find out na financial coaching pala ang kanyang ikigai! 😱But wait—how did she know it was time to leave her 9-to-5 job and go full-time on her passion? Ano yung mga hard-hitting money lessons na hindi tinuturo sa school pero dapat nating malaman? And how did books (plus some flirty moves using them 🤭) help in her journey?🔥Prexel’s Bold Money Moves and Life-Changing Plot Twists🎓 From ECE to Business Owner! – A plot twist into finance, proving that your degree doesn’t define your destiny.🛍 Turning decluttering into an unexpected business—proof that side hustles start anywhere!🌟 "Money Gives You Options" – A mindset shift from simply saving to actually making money work for you.🚀 How saying yes to random invites (even in the office lunchroom) led to life-changing opportunities.📚 How one 290-peso book literally changed her life, leading her to financial freedom.📖 Reko-Reko for Landi! – Books aren’t just for learning; they’re also for flirting. (Yes, sending a book recommendation led to love!).All that and more off-the-record stories, only in this episode! 🎧🔥📚 Books mentioned in this episode: - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey- Essentialism by Greg McKeown- 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich" by Bo Sanchez - The Baguio We Know- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho🚀 Let’s keep the kwentuhan going! Follow for more stories on life’s twists, ikigai, and new chapters.Episode Timeline:00:00:28 – Prexel's signature catchphrase00:02:19 – Early career aspirations and education journey00:11:06 – Life after graduation00:16:05 – Discovering financial literacy, self-development, and mentorship00:24:00 – Founding "Millionaire in Progress" and growing a financial coaching brand00:28:45 – Challenges in discussing money in Philippine culture00:35:23 – Transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship, resigning from corporate job00:40:35 – Books that influenced Prexel’s financial journey00:45:20 – Love story anecdote related to books00:48:05 – Final words, advice for listeners, and where to find Prexel online