David Licauco is proud to be part of several business ventures at the age of 23.
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, he took up Business Management (Major in Computer Applications) at the De La Salle University in Manila.
"I was also brought up in a house, in a family where business is a thing," he told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an exclusive interview last September 20.
"Indirectly, tinuturuan na ako ng dad ko na maging businessman.
"Yung buong family ko kasi talaga business-minded na talaga."
David's parents have been constantly telling him to spend his money wisely.
"Now na nagshu-showbiz ako, kailangan talagang mag-invest.
"I don't want to generalize, but most showbiz people kasi, they are magastos.
"Siguro kasi hindi sila sanay na may money sila so ang nangyayari, ginagastos nila.
"So ako naman, yung money na nakukuha ko sa showbiz, it's also a chance for me to invest in other ventures."
STARTING HIS OWN BUSINESS
His family has a number of businesses—several fast food franchises, a gas station, and a trucking business.
Being the eldest of four siblings, he will probably have to take over these businesses in the future.
But the Kapuso actor himself is already a co-owner of a boxing gym and a milk-tea place.
He told PEP.ph, "Nag-i-invest ako sa bangko, sa boxing gym, and ngayon, a milk-tea place sa probinsiya.
"And yung online app ko, gusto kong ituloy. Siguro, mag-help din ako sa family business namin."
For his first-ever business venture, the Alpha Fitness Club in Taft Avenue, Manila, he teamed up with four of his closest friends.
When asked how it started, he narrated, "It started with passion like I'm really passionate with boxing, with working out.
"So I thought, why not turn my passion into a business, di ba?
"So that's how it all started, and then I asked my friends kung sino ang willing makipag-partner sa akin so ayun.
"I have a few business partners so from there, talagan pinag-isipan namin tuluy-tuloy, yung MMA, Muay Thai, boxing."
His next goal is to open food-related businesses.
"Medyo nahihilig din ako sa pagkain, so I'm planning to put up a business na puro pagkain."
He later added, "Sobrang takaw ko talagang tao, kaso hindi halata. Mahilig ako mag-work out, pero nagwo-work out ako para kumain, alam mo yun?"
He's also working on a mobile app where users can book household services.
David got the idea after attending a business forum with his dad in Singapore.
He said, "Ang feeling ko na kaya is laundry or maglinis ng condos kasi ang mga condo people, on-the-go, e.
"So ang puwedeng gawin dun, puwede gumawa ng app na puwede mag-book ng cleaning services."
HANDLING HIS FINANCES
Does he splurge on luxury items?
The young actor admitted that food is one of his guilty pleasures.
"Matakaw ako talaga, like for me, okay lang gumastos as long as sa pagkain.
"Since yung mga damit naman kasi, may sponsor naman and parents ko kung may gusto akong damit.
"So yung damit, hindi ako magastos dun, pero yung pagkain talaga."
The Kapag Nahati ang Puso actor added that he would rather invest his money in a start-up business than buy a new sports car.
"Feeling ko ngayon, kaya ko na bumili ng sports car, e.
"Pero hindi ko ginagawa kasi gusto ko mag-invest para if ever mawala naman ako sa showbiz, meron akong fallback."