Sunshine Dizon joins the growing list of celebrities venturing into business.
The drama actress decided to turn her passion into profit, and recently launched Mysa Nail Salon, which is located in Mandaluyong City.
She told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "Very passionate ako when it comes to nails and O.C. [obsessive compulsive] ako.
"Kapag nagpapagawa ako, kailangan pantay na paganyan, pantay pa na paganito.
"Hirap na hirap ako kapag hindi siya perfect. Doon nag-start yun.
"I have this girl na talagang dinadayo ko pa, kasi favorite ko siya na gumagawa sa akin.
"Masinsin siya. Pinapantay niya talaga kaya happy ako."
She added that even when she’s abroad, she always makes it a point to find a good nail salon wherever she goes.
"Nakapag-try na ako sa Hong Kong, nakapag-try na rin ako sa U.S.
"Mga Vietnamese naman ang gumawa, meron din Thai.
"Sa Hongkong, yun ang isa sa pinaka-nagustuhan ko.
"So yun na lang, since I’m very passionate about it.
"Might as well do something that you really love and you like, para you can share also," she rationalized.
GOOD SERVICE
The three business partners deemed it wiser to create their own brand instead of getting a franchise.
According to Sunshine, the word "mysa" stems from a Swedish word that means "comfort zone, time to relax."
She continued, "Instead of franchising, we did it on our own.
"We created this with love, on our own.
"Even with the designs, kami ang pumili. Ako talaga. May ibang gamit na talagang pinasadya namin.
"Some of them, we got from the mall. Bili lang ako.
"Ang goal talaga, we're here hindi para bulagin ang customers with the designs, but our goal talaga is to give good service. That's the goal.
"Kasi, personally, yun nga ang ano ko...I want to get my money's worth."
Sunshine also feels proud of partnering with Orly, an established nail polish brand known for its diverse palette of colors and textures.
But her salon also carries its own formulations as well as other more affordable brands well within the reach of their target market.
On top of that, it also offers other services such as waxing and massage.
"Meron din kaming mga products na formulated namin which is organic, and so far, nagugustuhan ng mga tao ang pang-spa namin.
"We also have massage and wax services.
"We're trying our best na competitive yung prices at yun nga, we want to give your money's worth,” she stressed.
Sunshine takes even greater pride in the fact that her business also turns out to be her advocacy.
Aside from making her own money, she said feeling just as fulfilled in creating work opportunities for the less fortunate.
She shared, “I think it's nice that we're able to give back, na makapagbigay naman tayo ng mga trabaho.
"Actually, si Congressman Alfred Vargas [Quezon City, 5th District Representative], I called him one time and asked him, baka meron sa lugar nila who needs work, TESDA graduate. We welcomed that.
"Para rin naman makatulong tayo, di ba?"
FOR MOMPRENEURS
Since most brands usually resort to getting endorsers to help boost their brand image and marketing, we asked Sunshine if she has plans of endorsing her own brand.
After all, the actress is best remembered for her recent character as the feisty martyr wife in GMA-7's recent top-rating teleserye Ika-6 na Utos, which became one of the most talked about and trend-worthy topics even on social media.
Shaking his head, Sunshine replied, "How do I explain it?
"I think the message that we want to put out is that it's the three of us.
"We are the faces of Mysa.
"And we want to encourage mommies out there to put up something that you're passionate about and do it with people you love, di ba?
"Kumbaga, we're mompreneurs.
"Kumbaga, ito ay hindi lang negosyo para sa amin, parang advocacy na rin,” she declared proudly.
Among Sunshine's celebrity friends who attended the salon's opening/blessing were Karylle, Diana Zubiri and husband Andy Smith, and Max Collins (not in photo).