Radio jock Maki Rena’s faith was put to test during the start of the pandemic. She had to face her personal issues and the fear of losing her job due to the closure of ABS-CBN where she was an on-air talent of the network’s FM station. (nakakaloka. Ding ang bato!) But she didn’t allow the challenges to kill her spirit. (Darna!)
“Nagkaroon ako ng mga panic attacks dahil sa sobrang ka-anshahan ko sa future tapos andami ko pang unresolved issues from the past. Unhealed trauma etc. so, sabi ko hindi pwedeng ganito.. kaya nag-isip ako ng way para mag-heal ako… since ayoko mag-gamot…nag-dive ako sa natural healing. Meditation, yoga, Reiki healing, inner-child healing, shadow works, plant medicines and more on plant-based diet. So, nag-focus ako on my spiritual journey na tinawag kong “KaluLUWALhatian Journey”. Soul searching. At ayun na nga nahanap ang sarili at ang sentro ng aking pagkatao and until now healing pa rin," Maki narrates. (ako ata, boylet searching lang ang alam ko!)
In her process of soul searching, the single mother of a lovely daughter thought of sharing good energy to people, through her newly discovered talent of making natural products. She called them: “Halamom’s Apothecary. Para sa Diyosa, Medisina mula kay Pachamama.” These are items that help cleanse one’s body and soul. (oo may kaluluwa factor ha!)
“Lahat ng variant ko nanggaling sa iba’t-ibang plant teachers. Like si “PAGSIBOL” series ko..itong konsepto na ito ay natutuhan ko sa mga puno. Si LUWALHATI series naman ay tungkol sa WOMB ng babae (Divine Feminine healing). Si AURA(ora) series naman ay para sa mukha.. at si paTSAAmama naman ay mga tsaa na mula kay pachamama (inang kalikasan) made with healing herbs and flowers. At lahat ito handcrafted, slowly, soulfully and intuitively," Maki explains. (at least nakakagaling na variant ang meron ka!)
Since all her products promote good energy and healing, she makes sure she has the right consciousness when making them. “Madalas Wednesday ako gumagawa kasi ayun yung araw na mas free ako. Pero, any day naman pwede but I always make sure na nasa meditative state ako, best version of myself, kapag gumagawa. Kasi naniniwala ako sa energy exchange eh. Parang pagluluto lang yan, kapag masama ang loob ng nagluluto masama rin ang lasa! Hahahaha! and since lahat ng likha ko ay reiki-charged, so dapat you are tuned in to a higher frequency which is LOVE. And it all starts within you. By loving yourself. How can you send healing kung ikaw mismo hindi mo hinihilom ang sarili mo?” (dapat makakakuha ng frequency na yan! May available pa ba?!)
The 33-year-old UE Caloocan AB Communication Arts graduate admits her healing process has brought a lot of changes in her life, but these do not affect her bubbly character on radio. (talak with a heart na sya ngayon!) She now airs on 91.5 Win Radio every 6 am to 9 am, Mondays to Fridays. (ka-winner ko si ate mo!)
“Minsan may mga nagsasabing NAGBAGO KA NA MAKI RENA.. pero lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na THAT’S THE POINT. Remember, when someone says "you've changed", it usually just means you've stopped living your life their way. Kaya kung anong nakikita nila kay Maki Rena ngayon, ITO NA AKO. THIS IS MY AUTHENTIC SELF. Lahat ng hindi mag-reresonate sa ginagawa ko, eventually malalagas talaga sila like sa kaibigan.. andami kong nawalang kaibigan. Pero doon sa mga nakakaintindi at nakaka-relate.. alam ko sila ang magsstay. I am not after other people’s validation anymore. I am here to validate and value myself more than anyone else," Maki stresses. (papa-authenticate na na rin ako!)
Maki Rena has this to say to those people who are suffering from pain and depression: “Lahat ng hirap na dinaranas mo ngayon at iniinda ng katawan, isip at puso mo, that’s your soul leading you into finding the best version of yourself. Kailangan mo lang makinig sa puso mo. Ang puso natin ang mapa o compass ng ating kaluluwa. At kapag sinimulan mong pakinggan ang puso mo ayan ang magtuturo sa’yo ng tamang direksyon. Hindi magiging madali pero siguradong may panalo, dahil matatalo ka lang kapag pinili mong sumuko. Never ever give up on yourself — ‘wag na wag kang matatakot na magkamali dahil araw-araw binibigyan tayo ng pagkakataon para magsimulang muli. and lastly, do not abandon yourself, sit with it.” (ang lakas maka-divine intervention nito ate!)
(MR.FU hosts on 91.5 Win Radio, 7pm-9pm, Mondays to Fridays. Twitter/IG: @mrfu_mayganon. FB: mr.fu tagabulabog ng buong universe. Youtube/FB: WTFu. Patreon: www.patreon.com/wtfu website: www.channelfu.com )