MANILA, Philippines — Watching her on TV5’s Lunch Out Loud (LOL) or following her vlogs is always a fun time to many. Alex Gonzaga exudes good vibes that brighten up one’s day. It can be attributed to her bubbly, amiable personality.
Beyond that demeanor is a hardworking wife to Lipa City, Batangas Councilor Mikee Morada. They had a simple wedding ceremony at Alex’s residence in Taytay, Rizal last November.
“When I have work, I wake up early,” said Alex of her typical day in a virtual media call via Zoom. “Me and Mikee would usually go to our respective work. My pastime (while working), my glam team knows this, is online shopping. (I just) surf and surf. Now with the curfew (hours being imposed due to coronavirus), I go home early.”
After attending to her showbiz commitments and while waiting for Mikee to come home, Alex cooks a dish for him or orders food if she is pressed for time. If her schedule grants Alex a free day, she will give herself time to recharge and be ready for another day of work.
Alex certainly knows how to work hard and reward herself.
“Yes, it is,” shared Alex about shopping as a form of relaxation, “that’s why the word window shopping was invented (and coined). Punta ka lang sa mall. Mag-window shop ka lang, parang ang sarap ng feeling na may nakita ka na gusto mo. If you can’t afford it just yet (because of budget constraints, at least,) you have a goal (to save up and) buy it later. For me, it’s a way to reward yourself.”
From shopping in physical stores, people have embraced online shopping and enjoyed its advantages even before the pandemic.
“When you want something, you can ‘add to cart’ it first,” said Alex. “Then you can go back to it again anytime when you have the money at nakita mo na OK na yung deal (and when you have the best deal).”
Being the face of Shopee’s Payday Sales is one of the blessings that Alex has received these trying times. She headlines the brand’s TV commercial.
“I’m very happy to be part of its family,” she said. “I never expected to be part of the brand that Filipinos really trust. I’m a user of Shopee and check out new deals every night. I consider it a very big blessing. There’s (one thing) on your wish-list that you can’t just check out and (what you can do at the moment is) add it to cart, but it’s the Lord who will check it out for you. I’m very happy to be a part of the campaign.”
Her recent interview with the select media members revealed that the then young Alex was a shopaholic. But, like most of us, she has learned the value of managing her finances and saving for the rainy days.
“My husband is very matipid,” said Alex. “He favors Shopee deals. Since he doesn’t have an account, I am the one who buys things for him. Laging for two ang binibili ko ngayon (I’m always purchasing items for two persons). He is very practical and asks me to purchase (face) masks. Siya yung nag-sasabi sa akin na, ‘May nakita akong magandang mask.’ And then, he will send me the link. I’m the one who checks out the item for him. My most recent purchase from Shopee, which he enjoys so much, is the portable sauna.” Face shields and anti-bacterial stuff are also on the list of Mikee, Alex added.
“When Mikee wants to buy something, whether it is a big purchase or a small purchase, hindi niya binibili agad (he doesn’t buy it right away),” shared Alex of husband’s shopping habits. “Pinag-iisipan niya ng 3,000 times na ganung level.” Alex recalled that when Mikee was planning to buy a laptop in the States, they went to four stores. He would compare prices and talk to the staff. Mikee was simply valuing his hard-earned money.
“He told me when I want to buy electronic (gadgets) or appliances,” said Alex, “I just have to add them to cart for the meantime. Tapos balikan at balikan ko lang (daw). At (kung) gusto ko pa (ito) after two weeks or three weeks, bilin (ko) na.”
In a press statement, Shopee Philippines marketing head Ruoshan Tao said that Alex was tapped to guide shoppers on how to spend their money wisely by helping them look for the best deals available on the platform. “We hope Filipinos will be able to maximize their money’s worth this akinse with all the discounts and rewards Shopee has to offer at the 5.15 Payday Sale,” Tao added.
The Shopee 5.15 Payday Sale is promising the best deals with all-day free shipping. There will be P15 deals or 15-percent cashback with no minimum spend. Discounts up to 90-percent off are offered on Shopee Mall. Exclusive ShopeePay deals will be available for cashless transactions. To win cash prizes and more freebies, watch Shopee’s TV segments and play Shopee Prizes.
By the time you’ve read this story, Alex has already started a lock-in shooting for a movie to be directed by Theodore “Ted” Boborol. The location is in Lipa, Batangas, the place where Mikee works.
“Ever since Mikee is very supportive of my career and projects,” said Alex. “This is my first movie na kasal na kami.”
However, it is not the first time Alex would go into a movie bubble. Last year, she did a film with sister Toni Gonzaga and they had a two-and-a-half week lock-in shoot in Nueva Ecija. The Gonzaga sisters project was written and directed by Fifth Solomon, Alex’s good friend. “It was supposed to be (an entry to the) MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival). These are the movies being line-up for me.” Fans will just wait for the official announcements of Alex’s movie releases.
Aside from that, Alex, who is one of the top YouTubers in the country, will gather fellow vloggers and collaborate in gastronomic cooking content. Definitely, the host-actress’ plate is full these days.
(For details, visit https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale. Watch Alex’s Shopee Payday Sale commercial on TV and on Shopee’s official Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts.)