After 15 years in showbiz, Alex Gonzaga knows that work in this industry is not forever.
This is why the actress has a back-up plan that allows her to keep earning even when showbiz projects stop coming.
In August 2018, Alex and her sister Toni Gonzaga opened their very own milk-tea shop, which now has branches nationwide.
"This business, iyong milk tea namin, is really a product of the deep lessons on preparing for the future that we have learned from Mommy Pinty," the 33-year-old actress/host said in an e-mail interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last February 16, 2021.
Alex, who was recently launched as the new endorser of Villarica Pawnshop, expounded on her mom's advice: "Na laging maging handa, laging may nakatabi na fallback, may investment, at siyempre para pomondo sa kinabukasan."
Putting up a milk tea business was just one of the things Alex did to secure her future.
She also started making a career as a vlogger. Now, she earns six-digit figures every month from her YouTube channel.
Alex said excitedly, "Iyang YouTube channel na iyan is probably one of the best moves I have made in my career.
“A lot of thought comes in producing each video, a lot of planning, and of course creativity to ensure that the audience will enjoy what they watch that is true to the Alex Gonzaga brand.”
She added, "Relevance, ayan, relevance and reinvention ang pondo natin diyan sa YouTube Channel."
Pointing to her success as a vlogger and entrepreneur, Alex wants her followers to know that they, too, can be the boss of their own business. It is timely advice as a lot of Filipinos have lost their jobs over the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said in her email, "Naku when you see the news, minsan nakakaawa ang mga nawawalan ng mga trabaho. Napalaki kasi ang iba na need mo maging empleyado, na maging manager para sure ang future.
"Right now, people need to realize na dapat pondohan nila ang mga sarili nila, na puwede rin naman magsimula ng maliit na negosyo, maging entrepreneur, and si Villarica, believe it or not, can help them with that, among other things.”
on financial decisions
Alex has also become mindful about making better financial decisions, now that she is a married woman who is planning on having a family with her husband Mikee Morada.
She revealed, "Now that I’m a wife and, siyempre, in the future a mother, lahat ng natutunan ko, lahat ng naipondo ko sa sarili ko, sa business, at kung anu-ano pa, I have to channel now in my new role.
"I have to be wiser in my investments.
"I have to be wiser in spending money, need na mas maingat sa mga desisyon kasi I no longer just have to look after myself at mga needs ko.
"May sarili na ako ngayong pamilya and di na naman uso na dapat bilang maybahay ay iaasa natin buo ang kinabukasan sa mga asawa natin, di ba?"
Use these foodpanda promo codes or vouchers when you shop or order online. Marami pang ibang coupons dito.