This piece is for anyone who has ever gone quiet, not because they had nothing to say, but because the words wouldn’t come out. We explore what happens in the space between thoughts and speech, how the throat chakra and past experiences shape our voice, and why your truth still matters—stammer, pauses and all.

Like most Filipino dreamers, I started with a business plan. A conventional one — food, coffee, something that “makes sense.” Because that’s what we’re taught, right? To build something practical. Something safe. Something that works on Excel. But somewhere between pitch decks and too many Spanish lattes, I found myself asking — is this really it? The day before GAYA’s soft opening — organizing our supplies, labeling every basket, preparing the space and making sure every space is...