Kris Bernal's entrepreneurial spirit did not just bring her extra income; it gave her a love life, too.
He came into her life at a time when having a boyfriend was the farthest thing from her mind.
When PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) interviewed her in 2016, the then-single Kris said, "Wala akong time. Gusto ko muna magpayaman. Siguro naman, hindi ko siya kailangang hanapin. Kusa siyang darating."
It wasn't long before she met businessman Perry Choi, who became her meat supplier for Meat Kris, her burger joint.
To this day, he is still her meat supplier for Korean barbecue restaurant, House of Gogi.
Perry has also become the restaurant's chef as well as Kris's boyfriend and mentor.
Smiling, the Kapuso actress told PEP.ph at the event of skincare clinic Faces & Curves, "He grew up in the business world, so I was able to get some tips and be guided by him."
Kris neither studied nor took up any business course, and learned everything from practical experience.
VALUABLE LESSONS THAT KRIS LEARNED AS A BUSINESSWOMAN
So far, everything has been good at her restaurant in Dapitan Street, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City.
The 30-year-old star beamed, "It is doing well, so I am opening up my second branch in La Salle. Napapagod na rin ako sa ginagawa ko sa life, pero kailangan, e.
"Marami rin akong failure along the way, kasi di naman ako nag-aral, so marami rin akong nasayang na pera, nasayang na oras."
Her failures have taught her a lot of lessons—one of them is not to be too trusting.
"One thing na natutunan ko, fight for your right, ipaglaban mo kung ano gusto mo, kung ano yung dream mo sa negosyo mo. Hindi yung oo ka lang ng oo sa tao.
"You have to have your own say. Know what you want and fight for it kasi kung oo ka lang ng oo sa tao, maybe niloloko ka lang nila. Malay mo for their own benefit kaya ka nila inuuto. Maraming beses na ako naloko, my gosh, I can't..."
WEDDING BELLS FOR KRIS AND PERRY?
Kris earned a lot of praise from several articles as she showcased the house she built in the United States.
With this house and a stable relationship for the past two years, have she and Perry started talking about getting married?
"It could be, it's possible, I just turned 30 din naman... Feeling ko nasa age naman ako, na aside from having a boyfriend, getting married and thinking of family, kasi siyempre, tumatanda na rin ako.
"You have to consider year of getting married, year of getting pregnant, how many children do I want, siyempre kailangan pinaplano ko na rin yun."
But because of her many commitments and responsibilities, she and Perry agreed not to tie the knot yet.
"Please huwag muna, may bago akong soap, may business ako, wala akong time."
When is the right time for her?
Kris said she sees things changing in two to three years, and hopes to have a traditional wedding ceremony.
By then, her boyfriend will have built their dream house, which will have a modern-Mediterranean theme.
She remarked, half-joking, "Kailangan niya ipatayo bahay ko! I bought the lot na, e. Dapat yung bahay, sabi ko, hindi mo titipirin, yung dream house ko talaga. For so long, andoon ako sa old house ko, nagtiyaga ako, nagtipid ako. Di ko pinaayos old house namin kasi gusto ko i-save para sa new house and sa U.S. na house, so dapat magandang-magandang iyan."
NEXT GOAL OF KRIS
With everything falling into place, Kris has just one wish more for this new decade of her life: an acting recognition.
"Doon sa comments per episode, nababasa ko. They encourage me, tapos they praised how I did my acting, how I portrayed well si Naomi. Touched ako na sana mapansin na rin ako, sana naman. I have my hopes, pero ayaw ko naman mag-assume. I really gave my one hundred percent sa show na ito."
The StarStruck alumna is currently the female lead of Hanggang Sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko.
