Ara Mina’s bold move: Entrepreneurship

Philippine economic prosperity cannot rely on the promises of politicians but must be built on the risk-taking spirit and hard work of entrepreneurs. The Philippines needs to create an entrepreneurial revolution similar to that which had made possible the "economic miracles" of Taiwan and Hong Kong. One possible role model for the country’s aspiring entrepreneurs is top actress-singer Ara Mina, popularly known as the voluptuous "Sex Goddess of Philippine Cinema," who’s now busy making a bold transition into entrepreneurship with two new business ventures.

On September 8, the 22-year-old entertainer and her younger sister Heidi opened Ara and Heidi Video House in Santolan, Pasig City. Next month, Ara plans to open an Italian restaurant on bustling Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City. Although she had confided the name of the new fine-dining Italian restaurant to The Philippine STAR, she and her partners are set to formally announce the new establishment’s name in the near future. Also next month, Ara Mina will start work on a film project that will present a new and different side of the actress.

Ara Mina’s going into business is the boldest transition in her life, perhaps riskier and more important to her future than her decision years ago to shed her clothes and become a sexy star. She started out in 1993 as a 14-year-old member of That’s Entertainment on GMA-7, then in 1996 she plunged headlong into bold movies and became an overnight star. She said that unknown to most people, her shift from sweet image to sexy roles was the worst crisis of her life. In a recent dinner which lasted past midnight at Padi’s Mindave’s restaurant bar on Mindanao Avenue, in Quezon City, the smart, articulate and beautiful Ara Mina bared her soul, shared her experiences, talked about her business ideas and dreams. Another recent meeting was at the Via Mare restaurant in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City.

Why did Ara Mina think of establishing a new Italian restaurant? What is her target market for this new venture? She replies: "I like Italian food, especially pasta. Kahit na walang rice, basta may spaghetti. My favorite is bolognese na may garlic with olive oil. My target market is the A-B crowd. Although a father and daughter are my business partners, most of the concepts and ideas are from me. I want the restaurant to have a relaxing and elegant ambience. It will have a 100-seating capacity with function rooms ideal for meetings. There will be a grand piano so that past 10 p.m., the place will become a bar with soft music. On other nights, I plan to have saxophone music, guitar and violin. On weekends, I hope to hire singers, similar to the lobby areas of hotels. Instead of building a five-star hotel, which I can’t afford, why not just bring the hotel ambience complete with singers to a restaurant? Although I’m in showbiz, exposed to many shows and big concerts with a lot of loud music, I personally prefer soft music."

On her new video shop in Pasig, Ara Mina explains: "My first business is a partnership with my younger sister Heidi, my daddy Romy, and my family on the Reyes side. It did not cost us a big amount of capital to start, and the lot was owned by the family. After school, my sister Heidi originally wanted to work in the US, so it’s better that we have this business which she now manages on a day-to-day basis. We do a lot of marketing promos for our video rental business, such as giving away free Regal Films passes to our customers. I get a lot of free movie passes from my home studio kasi."

What about rumors that her partners might be her newly-discovered politician-father or some rich suitors? Did she consider other business ventures instead of a restaurant? Ara Mina replies: "In showbiz, rumors are a fact of life. Even yung patay sa showbiz, subject to tsismis pa rin, and I’m not surprised. They claim na may rich benefactor daw ako, pero wala naman. My business partners are a father-and-daughter team na non-showbiz and low-profile. I have saved my own earnings from the movies, TV shows and my new singing career. Modesty aside, I earn big na rin in showbiz. No, my father is not my business partner. I have observed that many people are influenced by hype and uso, so you see the proliferation of Zagu businesses, water stations, now even billiard halls are everywhere. I’m not influenced by these fads, I decide based on what interests me. For example, a billiard hall business may be good but I don’t like to play billiards. I don’t enjoy drinking cool drinks, so I didn’t consider Zagu outlets. I like Italian food and pasta, which is the main reason I’m putting up this new Italian restaurant. I guess it’s a good idea to go into a business that you will enjoy."

With her success as a movie star and her recording contract with Star Records, why did Ara Mina suddenly venture into business at this time?

The entertainer says, "As a child, my dream was to be a flight stewardess or doctor. Gusto ko ring maging singer and actress because I love to sing. When I was 18 years old and already in showbiz, I started to save money. Nag-iipon talaga ako, kasi gusto kong magnegosyo by the time I reached 20. When I was 20 years old na, ingat na ingat pa ako, it took me two years of thinking, so now I think I’m ready. For me, it’s an investment in the future. I am aware that it’s not all the time that one will always be hot and popular. I wouldn’t always have movie, TV or concert offers. Feeling ko, workaholic ako. With a business enterprise, kung wala akong ginagawang movies, at least may inaasikaso ako that will be good for my future. I am also concerned about the future of my younger sisters and brothers. By going into business, I also want to help other people by creating new jobs. With the economic crisis, mahirap na ngayon maghanap ng trabaho, so people who open new businesses are actually helping create jobs for others. I agree with your idea that entrepreneurs enrich the country and more businesses mean more jobs, no matter how small the businesses are."

What are her comments about the government’s economic policies? What should the country’s leaders do to boost economic growth and improve the business climate for entrepreneurs like her? Ara Mina laughs, then says: "Wala akong comments sa mga political issues na yan or how the government should handle the economy. Of course, na fee-feel rin natin yung hard times. I just hope that our political leaders will stop all these panggugulo at pangungurakot. I hope there will be less corruption, less political quarrels. Let’s face it, money is the major problem of our people. Our leaders should sana concentrate their time and efforts on improving the economic life of the people, not on trying to destroy each other. My guess is that many politicians nagsisiraan dahil din yan sa pera. Sana pairalin nila yung mga puso nila, sayang kasi marami sa kanila na ang dinidiyos ay pera... If our politicians will do their jobs, help strengthen the economy, then more businesses will prosper and our people will have better lives."

Any advisers or inspirations on her business and investment decisions? Ara Mina says, "I consider Ate Sharon Cuneta as my adviser on how to invest my money. I admire her so much. In fact, people say that our faces look similar daw, and she often calls me her younger sister. Actually, sabi ng mommy ko pinaglihi daw ako kay Sharon. I recently modelled in a fashion show at the opening of her new Sari-Sari Store in Shangri-La Mall. Last year, I bought a house and lot in the Commonwealth Avenue area in Quezon City as an investment. I have learned to be prudent with my earnings. I also invest in jewelry. There are mga artista na hindi iniingatan ang kanilang pera, it is not good to waste one’s earnings."

What are the problems of starting a new restaurant? Ara Mina recounts that she originally planned to put up a small eatery, even just a cafeteria. But when she found the site of a former restaurant and got a partner, she decided to demolish and rebuild a new structure for a restaurant on 400 square meters of land. For the past months, she has been going over many nitty-gritty details of building – from the septic tanks to the foundations, to the hiring of new personnel. Beside her proposed new restaurant, she plans to open a smaller bar which she hopes to launch soon. She visits the construction site of her dream restaurant two or three times a week.

Advice for future entrepreneurs? Ara Mina says: "Huwag pumasok sa negosyo na hindi pinag-iisipan ng mabuti. When I decided to go into the restaurant business, I think I thought about it not only 100 times. I am confident that since I’m a workaholic, the Italian restaurant will do well. I think what I should watch out for is good management at i-maintain ang food quality. I want customers to patronize my restaurant, not because of me as owner, but because of the good food and good ambience. I think I’m dedicated to work, kasi I’m the eldest in our family. I want to be a role model to all my brothers and sisters. In life and in business, I’ve learned na kung walang hirap, mabilis mawawala. I learned this lesson from experience. Patience, hard work and enduring any hardships, all these are important. You know why I invest and save money? Kasi kung pinaghirapan ko, mahirap pakawalan, kasi sobrang sakit sa loob ko if mawala. Hindi naman ako kuripot, gastadora rin ako minsan, but I know the importance of savings and investments to secure my future."

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