Hi, I’m Sheila Lina.

It’s lovely to meet you. Thanks for dropping by.

I’m an actor, writer and filmmaker based in Manila, Philippines.

I lead a non-profit called Society for Spiritual Awakening, which promotes Christ-centered meditation and spiritual development.

I’m the Chairman of the Lina Group of Companies, a diverse group in logistics, customs brokerage, transport, IT, BPO, and waste management in the Philippines.

I hope to share with you whatever wisdom and other cool things I’ve learned along the way to live a healthier, calmer, more balanced, Spirit-driven life.

I’m terminally online @sheilalina.

what I'm currently working on

Parián de los Japones: a full length feature film reimagining Jane Austen’s Emma in 1601 Manila.

What if Emma Woodhouse was a Principalia-Samurai mestiza heiress and Mr. Knightley was a Christian ronin exile who saved her family from ruin?

A period romance set in the Japanese Christian community of Dilao in Manila on the eve of Japan’s isolation. The film explores the themes of love and class of Austen’s Emma through Filipino, Japanese, and Spanish cultural lenses.

Current status: proof of concept short film screenplay complete, fundraising.

I’m wearing four hats: producer, writer, director and actor. See the full vision here.

SOCIETY FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

We are producing a video series for YouTube that shares about Christ-centered spirituality to a broad audience.

Our first video, the Seven Bodies of Man, is about our multi-dimensional design as human beings. We discuss the physical, energetic, emotional, mental and spiritual nature of our existence and how it is affected by our relationship with God.

We hope to plant the seeds of inspiration for people to pursue their spiritual development.

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The Society for Spiritual Awakening shares videos on how a Christ-centered life can help you become a better, kinder and more balanced person. We explore top...

START WITH YOGA

Frustrated by my tendency to scroll on my phone first thing in the morning, I set out to create a mindful and healthy alternative for waking myself up.

Start With Yoga is a 15 minute online video class of gentle yoga, breathing exercises and self-massage that you can do in your pajamas before getting out of bed.

I created it to be easy for yoga newbies to follow along and for experienced yogis to have a simple routine when they don’t have time for a full practice on the mat.

Click here to sign up and get a free video delivered to your inbox!

Sister as a Service Blog

3 books to reflect on the finitude and futility of material existence

Beginning with the end in mind is a highly effective habit (thanks Stephen Covey) that can inadvertently trigger an existential crisis. If you project far enough into the future, what you will encounter is your physical demise as well as the universe’s.

I picked these books because each one presents a valuable facet of the same phenomenon. We are finite. The universe, vast as it is, is also finite. Everything will come to an end. EVERYTHING.

Family

My parents are Bert and Sylvia, who jointly founded Air21, one of the Philippines’ top logistics companies. My lovely sisters (April, Donna and Bertha) and I have been blessed with a loving family life.

School

Theater

I grew up peforming professionally. This was me as Susan in Trumpet’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Film

After graduation, I moved to LA to act and produce. This was a pilot for a webseries called Sweety High.

Together with my sister Donna, I formed UBE MEDIA, LLC to produce independent Filipino film for a global audience. I was part of the team that produced the film Subject: I Love You.

Recalibrating my Center

At some point, I burned out and felt a little lost. After nine years of living in Florence, New York and Los Angeles, I moved back to the Philippines.

IMG_5652 (1).JPG — I studied under Clayton Horton and Mo Ching Yip of Greenpath Yoga in Boracay for my 200 hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Certificate.

Working for The Man

I eventually worked for my family business.

Launched Shopinas and lead Dun & Bradstreet Philippines.

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Liberation

My first exit!

CRIF, a business information company based in Bologna, Italy, acquired my family’s shares in D&B Philippines.

IMG_5959 2.jpg — My second exit.

No flashy acquisition story here. I stepped down as CEO of Shopinas just because I decided that it was time for me to move on and pursue a greater purpose.

A New Chapter

Our family sold a majority stake of our logistics and waste management businesses to Ayala Corporation, the biggest and oldest conglomerate in the Philippines. I served as Chief Transformation Officer for Air21 Holdings Inc. and represented our family on the board.

I got to live my HBS dream even for a little bit. Did the General Management Program with some pretty cool people.

My father, Bert, passed away in February 2025. My faith tells me he lives on spiritually through the tender mercy of Jesus Christ. He was a force of nature and we had our fair share of drama but i love him dearly. I’m his official successor for majority of his businesses.

the next gen

I hope to be a good steward of God’s gifts to our family and inspire the next generation: Andy, Alwyn, Joule and Rory to do the same.