Content creator FynestChina, also known as John Paul Nuque, tackled a delicate question asked by his TikTok followers.
It was about his money.
For those not in the know, FynestChina is a Hawaii-based Filipino content creator recognized for his comedic skits.
His journey as a content creator began sometime in 2018, and he has since expanded his influence across various social media platforms, boasting 176,000 followers on Instagram, 1.3 million on TikTok, and 327,000 fans on Facebook.
In a TikTok video shared on November 6, 2023, FynestChina addressed a query about the costs accumulated during his ongoing vacation in the Philippines.
The content creator disclosed the breakdown of his monthly expenses documented on one of his credit cards since returning to the country on July 14.
He said, "Etong ipapakita ko sa inyo, eto lang po yung nagastos ko sa American Express.
"Wala pa po yung pinapalit kong cash, wala pa po yung mga ginastos kong mga isa-ibang cards ko.
"Pero eto na lang muna, kasi napakahabang video na nun, kaya eto lang muna papakita ko."
In the days covering August 26 to September 25, his total expenses reached USD 89,000.02, roughly equal to PHP4,971,540.
Justifying the amount, he explained, "Eto po kasi yung first month ko sa Philippines, kaya marami po tayong pasabog, marami po tayong shopping time, marami po tayong family na you know, pinapakain at pinapasaya.
"Kaya may pagkataas yung first month ko."
His highest expense so far was from September 26 to October 26, when he spent a total of USD98,560.45 or PHP4,971,540 during a two-week Boracay trip with his family.
He said in previous TikTok videos, "This time po kami nag-Boracay ha. Dito po kami nag-Boracay. Kaya kalahati po niyan Boracay.
"So yung PHP800,000 na sinabi ko noon, pang four days lang namin ito. Kaya tumaas lang tumaas yung bill kasi nag-extend kami up to two weeks ng family ko."
Between October 27 and November 6, his bill amounted to USD53,680.32, roughly PHP2,998,985.28.
FynestChina expressed, "I'm very very happy na yung mga nagastos kong yun is mostly with family and some friends.
"And sa mga fun times namin at sa mga trips namin na hindi ko rin na-video dati. At saka honestly, pina-shopping-shopping ko rin sila.
"Pumunta sila mga BGC. Kaya mataas ang aking uwi na ito for 3 months. Dahil talagang pinaramdam natin ang you know [love]."
FynestChina added, jokingly, "May quota po silang [cousins] na PHP5 m kada buwan na minimum namin na gastos.
"Kasi meron po kaming games na naghula-hula ng whatever. Kung magkano magagastos namin for that month.
"Pero ngayong [buwan], napamura tayo kaya hindi pa sila tapos [gumastos].
"Anyways, more and more blessings to come to all of us. Kasama na kayo lahat sa prayers ko."
As the video neared its end, FynestChina made an appeal to his followers, "Wala magagalit ha. Kayong mga eme na naman diya, kayo nagtanong, ha."
WHAT IS FYNESTCHINA'S WORK?
After his post, netizens wanted to know more about FynestChina's sources of income.
But he demurred to address this query.
In another TikTok video, he said, "The reason why I don't wanna share yung work ko at the moment or in the future or whatever, kahit ano pa ito, kailan pa ito.
"Ayoko siyang i-share dahil maraming evil eye dito sa Philippines or everywhere actually. Kasi once na-inggit ang isang tao...
"Again, inuulit ko lang po yung sinabi ko last time."
@fynestchina Replying to @Jeham ? original sound - FynestChina
FynestChina emphasized that his choice to keep his work details private was a precautionary measure, "Marami po talagang taong maiinis pag nakakita silang taong successful or mas nakakataas sa kanila, o hindi naman yung nakakataas or whatever, pero alam mo yun...
"Parang isang trait ng Filipino is parang kapag merong nakakalamang or may magandang nakikita sa ibang tao, parang ayaw nila. Honestly ha, reality ito."
He also recounted his experience with a former friend, "Parang kapag may nakikita silang nakakalamang, kahit meron naman sila, mai-inggit pa rin sila or gusto nilang pabagsakin or ayaw nilang makitang isang taong umangat.
"So gagawin nilang lahat para pabagsakin or i-sirain or i-sabotage yung taong yun or kung anumang ginagawa nila sa work nila or whatever, right?
"So natuto na ako ilang beses doon dahil may mga past experience ako sa mga taong ganyan, di ba? Kaibigan ko na, ha."
FynestChina highlighted that even celebrities choose not to publicly disclose their alternative sources of income or the specific details of their earnings.
"But anyway, so, ngayon ayokong i-share yung business ko dahil private life ko na yun.
"Lahat ng mga artista diyan, hindi nagsasabi yung mga ganyan. Marami silang mga business, marami silang mga kung anu-ano na, hindi nila sinasabi sa social media.
"Yung sa akin naman, ako, hindi ko kailangan ng pera sa social media.
"Ito yung parang pang happy happiness ko lang, pang, you know, makamit ng mga tao or magpa-happy ng mga tao, magpa-good vibes, di ba?
"Pero hindi ko sinasali yung personal life ko dito in a way of, yung siguro mga family ko, mga travelings namin, pinapakita ko lahat yun yung mga ginagawa ko.
"Pero yung mga income ko na ganyan, puwede siguro mag-share to inspire."
FynestChina emphasized the importance of keeping certain aspects of his life private, particularly details about his profession and family business.
While he may have been sharing inspirational content on social media, he has been hesitant about revealing the specifics of his job and income.
"Yung mga trabaho na kung anu-ano... wala akong tinatapakang tao, yun yung importante na alam ko para sa sarili ko.
"Pero wala akong, you know, ayokong i-share yun dahil natatakot akong sirain ng mga tao.
"Honestly ha, ayokong masira yung pinaghirapan ko dati. Magbibigay ako siguro ng mga sige, real estate yung mga iyan, go, sige, meron ako nun.
"Pero yung mga pinagkakitaan or talagang living ko para mabuhay yung family ko, ayokong sirain yun dahil once na isang tao lang ang kailangan manira nun.
"Kaya I don't wanna share my job, I don't wanna share what I do, I don't wanna share how I make money.
"Pero kung yung mag-way ng pagbibigay ko ng money is social media or para to inspire people, puwede kong i-share yun kasi part yun ng social media, e.
"Pero yung part ng family namin, yung business namin ng family namin, ayokong mag-share ng mga ganun bagay dahil sa amin na yun.
"Ayaw na namin mag-share kung paano yung ganito, ganito, ganyan, di ba?
"Kung saan na para akong si Rosmar, let's say, example yung mga pang-beauty, kailangan ko ipakita sa inyo, kailangan ko i-advertise.
"Kaya kailangan kung mag-social media, ipakita sa inyo kung paano yung ako gumawa ng pera, kasama na po yun sa marketing.
"Pero yung sa akin kasi, hindi ko kailangan ng marketing, kaya hindi ko kailangan i-share o hindi ko kailangan i-show. You know what I mean?
"So puwede na kayong mag-expect, assume kung ano yung job ko, pero hanggang dun lang tayo. Hindi ako mag-oo, hindi ako mag-hinde.
"Pero puwede ako mag-share ng inspirational quotes or inspirational speeches or kung anu-ano yun, puwede pa ako dun."
Wrapping up the video, FynestChina offered advice on the prudence of refraining from sharing plans or business ideas too early.
He encouraged individuals to keep such information private until concrete plans have solidified.
"Pero tatandaan niyo, kapag meron kayong business or pinaplanong something sa kaibigan, sa family man, itago niyo muna yan before kayo...
"You know, kapag nangyari na, kung gusto niyo i-share yun, dun pa lang kayo mag-oo.
"Pero yung pinaplano niyo pa lang, tapos sinasabi niyo na sa iba, tapos wala pang set na plan, huwag kayong magsabi dahil hindi niyo alam kung sino pinagsasabihan niyo.
"Honestly, hindi niyo alam kung maiinggit iyan, hindi niyo alam kung masasayahan sa gagawin niyo. Kaya just keep it to yourself, honestly.
"Yan yung one tip ko ha. Keep your private thing private, keep your 'out there things' to be out there. It's fine.
"So just keep, you know, there's always gonna be privacy sa lahat-lahat ng buhay ng tao. Pero kung bulgar na bulgar ka, ikaw na yun.
"Ako, hindi ako ganun, e. Ayoko talagang masira yung kung ano mang, siyempre pinaghirapan kong ganun. Kaya that's all."
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