A Messy, Scrappy, Hopeful Comeback

Hi, it’s G! A thinker, tinkerer, and someone who’s tried everything from AI consulting to selling pasta sauce — all in the name of making ends meet (and maybe rebuilding my life one sale, one sentient spreadsheet at a time).

This isn’t a “how I made 1 million pesos in 30 days” kind of post. No hype. No BS. Just real talk about how I’m slowly, honestly, and sometimes awkwardly making money again in 2025.

If you told me a year ago that I’d be earning again through a weird mix of AI workflows, ghostwriting prompts, selling leftover appliances, and yes, hawking Anito Blend sauces — I would’ve laughed (then cried, then maybe had a snack to process my feelings). But here we are.

After two failed businesses, disappointing some investors (long story, pang-MMK), and getting depressed from seeing success of friends in social media, I hit rock bottom. No income. Lots of doubt. Constant fear. But also… this quiet whisper of, “Start again. Mas simple. Mas totoo. Mas ikaw.”

So I did.

The Money Map (a.k.a. Pangkabuhayan Showcase ni G)

Here’s what my current income mix looks like — hindi siya glamorous, pero totoo siya.

1. Consulting Gigs

Mostly AI and digital automation. I help small business owners understand how to use tools like ChatGPT and Notion AI para hindi na sila malunod sa admin work. I charge by session or by project, depending sa pangangailangan nila (and kung gaano ka-gulo ang workflows nila).

Do I earn a lot? Nope. But each gig helps. And the clients I do have? They feel like kindred spirits — also trying to build something honest and sustainable.

2. Selling My Sauces

Anito Blend lives! I started making small batches again — garlic chili oil, tapa marinade, and experimental blends that sometimes turn out surprisingly good. I sell through friends, FB messages, and even random kumare na biglang mag-aask sa Viber, "Uy, may bago ka bang sauce?"

It’s small-scale, but may joy. Parang side quest na may XP points.

3. Digital Scrap Sales

I sold a fridge. Then a dishwasher. Then a bunch of forgotten kitchen tools, shelves, even a fan na medyo maingay. It started out of desperation — para lang may pang-kape at pang-grocery — but ended up reminding me: minsan, abundance is already around us. We just have to release the clutter.

4. Tiny AI Gigs + On-Demand Services

Sometimes people ask me to build a Notion dashboard, fix a content outline, turn workflows into automation, or edit AI outputs para mas engaging. These are random, unscalable, and very freelance-ish — but they count.

The theme here? Low pressure, high alignment.

What I’m Learning

Money doesn’t feel the same now.

Before, I used to chase "big money." Launch this. Scale that. Impress people. Prove myself. Validate my worth with digits. But now? Every peso feels different. It feels earned — not from performance, but from peace.

• I’m not trying to go viral. I’m trying to go useful.
• I’m not building a funnel. I’m building trust.
• I’m not trying to be "back on top." I’m trying to stay rooted.

Maybe that’s what rebuilding really looks like.

I used to think if I wasn’t crushing it, I was failing. But the truth is, slow income is still income. Quiet wins are still wins. Showing up is already half the battle.

Where I’m At (Real Talk)

Let’s be honest:

• I still have debt.
• I still get anxious about the future (especially around the 15th and 30th 😅).
• I still compare myself to others who look so put together — while I’m here figuring out if I should invest in garlic or AI templates this week.

BUT I also:

• sleep better than I did last year.
• feel more myself when working.
• laugh more, even in small kitchen wins (like when my sauce didn’t explode).

I’ve learned:

• that quiet growth is still growth.
• that helping one person this week is more fulfilling than chasing 10,000 likes.
• that being kind to yourself while rebuilding? That’s the real flex.

Final Thoughts: Money Made with Heart

If you’re reading this and you’re also figuring things out — whether it’s your career, your income, or your sense of self — I see you.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

You just need to show up. One product, one offer, one honest act of courage at a time.

And who knows? That garlic oil you made? That AI spreadsheet you built? That little win you almost didn’t celebrate? It might be the very thing that helps someone else. Or reminds you that you’re not starting from zero — you’re starting from experience.

Kaya mo ’yan. Slow is still steady.