Ever since I dropped the Kilig You Deserve Collection, I’ve been wanting to go deeper into the heart of affirmations and healing. Not just the cute lines, but the actual inner work many of us are doing quietly. And right now, that intention is unfolding... I connected with Tri-counseling because they shared the same values with Kilig Ko. Abbey, the founder of this space, helps Filipinos reconnect and heal with ourselves. We started a campaign last month through a series of shared posts on Instagram, tackling different topics about Filipinos and mental health. And it really felt good opening up a space online where it feels safe- like something I've also needed back when I was still starting Kilig Ko. It felt like the start of something I’ve been craving for the community, a space where our stories and our cultural experiences meet real guidance, not just aesthetic reminders.
This partnership wasn’t planned years in advance or tied to a big strategy. It started from a simple desire to show up for our community with honesty. I’ve always believed Kilig Ko is more than just the clothes that I create, especially with self-love at its core. I wanted to create and resonate- and Tri-Counseling brings something we deeply respect: licensed, grounded insight from professionals who understand the emotional, cultural, and generational layers many of us carry. Bringing those two energies together is natural... and needed.
This collaboration exists because our community deserves content that meets us where we are. Many of the topics we’re working on are culturally loaded. Some feel “controversial” within Filipino circles. Others are tender parts of our identity that we don’t always name openly. Tri-Counseling is helping explain these themes in ways that feel clear and compassionate. Along with their insights, I share the personal side. The lived side. The side many of us grew up with.
Some of the upcoming posts explore things like how Filipinas in businesses, healing inner child, a much needed affirmation from a therapist, and of course learning how to love ourselves. Why we chose contents like these come from real experiences, real memories, and real attempts to understand ourselves better.
I’ve always believed healing within the Filipino community looks different. We grow up with a mix of tenderness and toughness. We inherit traditions we love and patterns we are still learning to understand. Sometimes it feels like we’re studying ourselves in a language we were never taught. That’s why this collaboration matters so much to me. It gives us space to talk about these pieces of our identity without judgment. It reminds us that our experiences make sense. That we’re not imagining the weight we’ve felt. That support exists, and it can be accessible, culturally aware, and kind.
Working with Tri-Counseling has taught me that healing is in the way someone explains a Filipino family dynamic with gentleness- in the way we admit a part of our childhood still follows us into adulthood. Sometimes it’s in the way we finally allow ourselves softness after years of holding our breath.
As we continue sharing these posts, my hope is simple. I want our community to feel seen. I want these conversations to feel like a warm seat at the table, where nothing about your story is too much or too little. I want you to find small pieces of yourself in the words. And I want you to know that whatever you’re healing from or growing into, you aren’t walking that journey alone.
I hope this series will make you feel aligned and visible. Kilig Ko has always centered self-love, cultural identity, and the quiet courage it takes to understand who we are. Tri-Counseling brings the professional grounding that helps us navigate the deeper parts of those conversations. Together, we’re creating something that feels supported and safe. Something that honors the complexity of being Filipino or FilAm while also celebrating our softness.
I’m grateful that you’re here with us. I’m grateful for the messages we’ve received, the stories you’ve shared, and the way you’ve embraced this collaboration with so much heart. There’s more coming, and I hope you’ll stay close as we continue exploring identity, healing, and community in ways that feel real and reachable.
If the series has spoken to you in any way, you’re welcome to follow along on Instagram or stay connected through our growing community. We’re building this space together.
Tri-counseling offers a free 30-minute consultation for everyone, connect with them here or follow them on Instagram @tri_counseling.