1. Marvin Agustin
Marvin Agustin is one of the many celebrities who didn’t let their success in show business stop them from pursuing their other passions; in his case, the food business.
“I’ve always wanted to put up a restaurant,” the latest advocate of the Bear Brand Laki Sa Gatas campaign reveals. “And I knew that with the kind of discipline that my mother taught us, I could someday make that dream come true.”
Marvin recalls it was during his stint as a restaurant server that he started dreaming of putting up a restaurant. Show business beckoned though, and he became one of the hottest matinee idols in the industry and paired off with some of the country’s biggest female celebrities.
Being the determined person that he is, he never let his success in the limelight stop him from fulfilling his dream of becoming a restaurateur.
“I enrolled at the International School for Culinary arts and Hotel Management to learn more about the business,” Marvin says.
His first venture into the food business started with the hugely successful Ricecapades, a chain of food stalls that serve rice topping variations. He then put up Oyster Boy Restaurant, which likewise gained a following among food lovers and now has branches across the metro.
“But my baby is Sumo Sam,” Marvin says, referring to the Japanese-American Restaurant which, like his first two ventures, has expanded to several branches.
These restaurants were soon followed by more —John and Yoko at Greenbelt 5, Café Ten Titas in Gateway Mall, Marciano’s in Greenbelt 3, and Samurai Chef in Trinoma. Soon, he will also open Harajuku, a Euro-Japanese restaurant to be located at Eastwood in Libis.
With his success in show business and the Restaurant Industry, Marvin is clearly a good example of people who don’t let their success get into their heads. Instead, they use them as stepping stones to pursue their true passions in life.
2. Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao is a Filipino boxer, and most likely the most famous man in the Philippines. He's set to fight Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6 in a WBC welterweight match.
If you thought some American athletes had lots of business endorsements (think Tiger Woods, Lebron James, and remember Michael Jordan back in his heyday?), then take a look at Pacquiao.He's had deals with Nike, McDonald's Alaxan, Xtreme Magic Sing, PLDT, and San Miguel Beer. The New York Times last year said Pacquiao earns "about $20 million a year, including endorsements. He owns a rooster farm, a boxing promotions company and a basketball team MP Warriors, which plays in the country's top league."
He has done commercials for beer, liquor, and fast food.
And by the way, his boxing contract reportedly guarantees him at least $2 million for each fight. Thinking of doing business in the Philippines? It would behoove you to talk to Pacquiao's management team. He's also appeared in video games, movies - and he's recorded albums.3. Chris Aquino
Being successful in her TV and movie career, Aquino ventured into several businesses. She owns Lena Restaurant and Sencillo, a Mexican restaurant in partnership with several celebrities, and Roberto Antonio, an upscale flower shop in partnership with Boy Abunda.She established a boutique ad agency in partnership with Boy Abunda but also including Nonon del Carmen and Agnes Maranan, and have decided to call it MAD (an acronym for their surnames, Maranan Abunda Aquino del Carmen).She and Abunda with other partners own Sierra Madre Water, which is promoted as a miracle water for life.
