Self-love, at its core, isn’t just about celebrating our wins and achievements. It also means prioritizing our mental health, especially when our well-being involves difficult choices.
“Healing isn’t linear,” as the simple yet powerful saying goes. The path to inner peace will overwhelm us with tough decisions and sacrifices. On top of that, most Filipinos’ perceptions of mental health are still riddled with stigmas and taboos.
If we truly strive to heal and recover, however, all we need is a gentle push in the right direction to make the first step.
Photo: Vince Golangco/Instagram
Take it from WhenInManila.com’s founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vince Golangco, who treats every day as an opportunity to better himself and see the good in whatever may hinder his personal growth. His mental health journey hasn’t been a walk in the park, but he has made sure to keep his heart and mind open to the valuable lessons that’ve helped shape his outlook on life.
On December 11, 2025, Vince gave us a glimpse into his mental health recovery on the 12th season of GTV’s Business Matters. The show, which tackles the core values behind successful Filipino businesses, also highlighted Vince’s inner battles and how he came back stronger from each one.
Whichever way you strive to conquer the hardships that the universe throws at you this year, Vince’s story is a reassuring reminder that you aren’t alone in this fight. Here are three impactful lessons from his Business Matters segment that inspire us to invest in ourselves, and more importantly, our mental health:
You don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.
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Emotional baggage takes a heavier toll on our well-being than we think. When repressed feelings, pent-up resentment, and unaddressed trauma pile up, they drain our energy before we’re even aware of it. These burdens lingered throughout Vince’s life as a teenager and young adult, until he finally addressed them in therapy years later.
“[My therapist] told me to go back in time and talk to my younger self, who was carrying a backpack filled with heavy objects,” he recalled on Business Matters. “So I said [to the young Vince], ‘You can put the backpack down. We’re safe now.’”
Vince realized then that his years of overcoming struggles on his own were behind him at last. Not because his troubles disappeared completely, but because he had healed and grown enough to process them with proper help.
Our problems in life may differ, but that doesn’t mean we can only resolve them alone. As we mature, we’ll eventually discover the vital role of human connections (especially with our loved ones) in working towards the most compassionate versions of ourselves.
Embrace the thrill of risks and new beginnings.
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Vince has spent years partnering with successful Filipino businesses, such as Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, and Gaming Library, all while diligently overseeing WhenInManila.com. He isn’t afraid to pursue multiple endeavors at once when he knows in his heart that they’ll take flight.
Naturally, when dealing with “almost paralyzing anxiety,” he went on numerous adventures that immensely helped him recover. Besides therapy, he tried sound and water healing, fixed his diet, and worked out more often. He’s even been documenting his mental health journey on social media, with posts that range from motivational quotes to deep reflections on his past experiences and everyday life.
Growing up, we’ve been taught that sticking to what we know is the ideal solution to our personal dilemmas. Vince’s mental health journey says otherwise, proving that there’s no harm in exposing yourself to new ways of recovering—even if you’re a first-timer for most of them.
It’s never too late to discover the real you.
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When asked for advice on taking care of one’s mental health, Vince answered, “[Loving myself] is something I keep working on. We’re always hardest on ourselves, so now, I try to talk to myself as if I’m my own best friend.”
Another message that he left for Business Matters viewers is that healing isn’t about changing who you are entirely, but rediscovering and reconnecting with who you’ve already become before the world hurt you.
We’re cheering on everyone who’s entering their eras of healing and self-love this year. Life isn’t getting any easier. It’s high time we show up for ourselves and cherish our own journeys towards healing and recovery, just as Vince does.
ALSO READ: An Open Letter to Anyone Who Feels Tired of Holding It Together
How have you been taking care of your mental health this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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