Credit: Ana Kristine B. Valenzuela
Published in MOD August 2010
ANGEL Locsin has already proven herself well in showbiz so she endeavors on a new enterprise. And she is taking with her the things she learned from the entertainment industry as she fulfills a new role of an entrepreneur.
The Century Tuna endorser recently ventured into the food industry by opening her own bar and KTV in Quezon City, which is called Fuel Up. “It’s my first time to do this, to engage in a business, specifically a bar. Lately I’ve been going out a lot because I really don’t know what the people are looking for. The crowd in Makati is different from the crowd in Quezon City, right?”
It isn’t the competition that Angel is checking out as when it comes to her business, as she is hands-on. “There are times that I go to the bar and oversee things. I even mix drinks. Of course it’s just a new business. I really have to assist my staff and we need to work hand in hand. We are like one big family there,” she says.
She fondly recalls one incident when she gladly helped out. “There was one time we were shorthanded, and our bartender needed assistance. Our customers wanted some drinks and to take pictures with me. Then, I thought, hmm… why don’t I help out? I asked them, ano gusto n’yo? Our sales went double that night. Every time someone would take a picture they would need to drink beer or take a shot first. It was fun, tapos na-enjoy naman nila, kasi ako ‘ yung nagmi-mix talaga,” she says.
Of course like any regular establishment, Fuel Up also encounters some dilemmas. She shares, “One time, there was a group who went on a field trip in our bar. We didn’t know what to do. Kasi ‘di ba, why would you have field trip in a bar? They were all minors. If we turned them away, they would be offended. Also, our regulars and walk-in customers were there. Even though they were so many-- a bus full! --they weren’t really ordering much. Probably because they were still minors. So we just talked to them and stated our rules. Of course some were offended. But we really needed to do that.”
“Success is not all luck. There are certain opportunities that pass us by, may mga tsamba, but then you also have to prove yourself,” Angel says. “You wouldn’t be able to last in the entertainment industry if you don’t have the talent, proper attitude, and if you don’t work your fingers to the bone.”
Of course we know that Angel proved herself well by not passing by opportunities such as the youth show Click, and in the fantasy series Mulawin where she played Alwina. Even more, she proved her acting prowess via an Emmy nomination for her role as she-wolf in the teleserye Lobo.
“Some think that showbiz is all glitz and glamour,” she says. “No, it’s not just that. There are days when you don't feel the emotion the director calls for, but you just have to emote it. That’s how draining the work is.”
Up next for Angel is a movie with Aga Muhlach, tentatively titled Huling Sayaw, where she plays the role of a pole dancer ."When I was offered the role, my reaction was, ‘Are you sure that it is me you want to cast?’” Angel says. She added that she had to take up pole dancing lessons. "In this movie, I had to do everything that I didn’t want to do, as in lahat.
Problems such as having minors in a bar you own or being cast in a challenging role may be a regular rough patch on the road, but this girl can seem to solve it well, with a dose of talent and a shot of perseverance. “It just takes hard work for you to do your job well. Research, be on time, and be professional,” she said.
Angel Talks Fitness and Money
What’s your daily diet like?
I have to have a cheat day, where in I eat whatever I want. Before, I chow down on a lot of junk food, but now, I don’t eat as much anymore. I stopped eating junk food this year.
Do you have a sports regimen?
I do biking and belly dancing.
How about your exercise regimen?
I jog. I work out. There’s a video called Insanity. You should watch it. The workout is super intense. It is not that new, but it is slowly gaining a following.
How do you budget your money?
I have an accountant who helps me with my budget. I don’t spend that much. I only treat myself with food actually and, oh yeah, shoes. If I don’t need something then I won’t buy it. I keep my payments in the bank and withdraw cash only if needed.
What is one thing that you are saving for?
I already have a house, so I’d like to have more investments.
What do you consider yourself rich in?
I am rich in family and friends. I consider myself blessed for having that kind of family who supports me. At the same time, they don’t tolerate the bad things that I do. They treat you as a normal person and not as a celebrity
