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Aside from being popular celebrities, Benjamin Alves, Jelai Andres, and Jon Gutierrez are also budding entrepreneurs. In a recent episode of On Record, hosted by Oscar Oida and Mav Gonzales, the Owe My Love stars shared the inspiration behind each of their businesses and how their entrepreneurial journey is going so far.

Benjamin Alves and Team Jolai share their entrepreneurial journey on 'On Record' / Source: On Record

Benjamin Alves, who plays Dr. Migs, one of the lead characters in Owe My Love, owns a flower shop business called House of Roses, which he launched in August 2020.

Benjamin's flower shop specializes in Ecuadorian roses and was featured recently in GMA Lifestyle's list of online shops with beautiful flower bouquets and delivery services.

During his On Record interview, Benjamin said it was challenging to enter the flower shop industry, given that there are already more established ones in the country.

He said, “The very struggle is trying to get your name out there. It really is a struggle. Ang dami rin naman talagang very well-known, kumbaga kilalang-kilala na sila sa industriya.

But that didn't deter Benjamin from growing his business, for he knows too well that the possibilities for his flower shop are endless.

“Lagi namang may birthday, laging may Valentine's Day--always comes around--may Mother's Day, Father's Day, regardless of the situation we are in.”

He also said, “I want to be known as the flower shop that sells the best quality roses.”

He also gave some advice to new entrepreneurs who also want to enter industries that have more well-known, bigger players.

“Try to find a niche there. Try to find who you can cater to, without giving away too much of the marketing strategy.”

On the other hand, internet sensation-turned-TV star Jelai Andres, who's also Benjamin's co-star in Owe My Love, also has her own business venture.

In 2017, Jelai launched her own perfume line, which initially included two scents, Queen and Mi Loves.

In the same On Record episode, Jelai explained why she only resumed her perfume business last February 2020.

She said, “Nag-stop ako ng ilang taon. So, binalik ko lang siya ngayon, kasi medyo na-busy. So binalik ko lang siya ulit ngayon.”

Jelai also revealed that owning a perfume business has always been her childhood dream.

“Bata pa ko, mahilig na talaga ako sa perfumes. Tapos bata pa ko sinabi ko na someday gusto ko magkakaroon ako ng perfume line.”

Jelai reportedly enrolled in a perfumery school to learn how to concoct her signature scents.

“Nakagawa ako ng sarili kong scent na gusto ko, na 'yung gusto kong gayahin, 'yung amoy, ganyan.

“Nag-try muna ako ng ilang bottles tapos ubos agad. 'Di ba?! As in sold out agad. Ang bilis. Isang araw lang.”

The social media influencer-turned-Kapuso star said she's grateful that her business continues to thrive amid the pandemic and that she's also able to help others make a living.

“Kasi siyempre business naman ganun kailangan mapagana mo pa rin kahit pandemic. Tsaka lalo na ngayon, 'di ba hindi naman ganun karami ang mga work ng mga tao?

“So, pati 'yung mga worker ko, thankful din sila kasi meron silang work dahil sa business natin.”

As for Jelai's Owe My Love love team, Jon Gutierrez, he and other members of their rap group Ex Battalion launched their own pares and carwash business last October 2020.

Jon said, “JIMS Pairs and Hot Mommy tapos may car wash on the side. So, (aside from) the paresan, meron pa siyang car wash.”

The rapper-turned-actor revealed that since most of their projects were put on hold, he and the rest of Ex Battalion thought of putting up their own food business to generate income.

“Nag-isip kami ng paraan kung paano kami kikita kahit pandemic. And then we were just joking about it na 'Bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng sarili nating pares-paresan?'”

Jon also credited Jelai for making their food business a success, as it was reportedly her vlog about it that made the paresan-cum-car wash popular and enticed others to get their own franchise.

You can watch the full feature on the Owe My Love stars and their businesses in the On Record video below.

For more features like this, watch On Record every Tuesday, 11:30 p.m. on GMA-7's Power Block.

Viewers abroad can also watch 'On Record' via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

And for more lifestyle content, head to GMA Lifestyle's page.

Find out who else among Pinoy celebrities launched a food business during the quarantine period in this gallery.