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They are not just sweethearts in real life, they are business partners too! Dingdong Dantes and Karylle both co-own Circle Cafe and Centerstage.
They are not just sweethearts in real life, they are business partners too! Dingdong Dantes and Karylle may be busy with their acting and singing careers but they make time for their baby, Circle Café and CenterStage, the hottest spot in Timog area. Text by KC M. Abalos. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Circle Café is located at Timog avenue corner Tomas Morato. It is not only a restaurant--it is also a bar! Right beside it is CenterStage, the only videoke place where one feels like a star! All the things you wanna do on a weekend are all here. How did it all come about? We’ll let Karylle and Dingdong tell you! Karylle shares, “The concept is not ours, it’s our partners’. So nakisali lang kami and we are very happy that they accepted outsiders kasi usually they offer their businesses to their family. Their other businesses --Shabu-Shabu, Tong Yang, all very successful.” Dingdong adds that it is their partners, the Garcia Family, that handle the day to day operation but he is very hands-on! “But I make it a piont na I’m there at least once a week. I hold my meetings there. If I wanna have fun, I come there.” He says that his major contribution to the look of the place is the band set-up. It was supposed to be just a strictly classy piano entertainment place, but when the celebrity couple stepped in, it became a full band ensemble. This is not surprising since both Dingdong and Karylle love to sing and perform. Jaya and Aicelle Santos have both launched their albums in here! Just like a true businesswoman, Karylle talks shop. She shares, “One of the strongest points is the fact that you can have meetings. The function room can hold about 5 people. In the QC area, they always have conferences. Tapos, ang pinaka-punch line doon, puwede kayong mag-videoke after. So convertible [ang] room, from business to pleasure!” Dingdong echoes K’s statement with his own sales pitch, “it’s like a one-stop shop. Functions, may banda, good food, great ambience, 22 brand new KTV rooms!” We asked them what made them dabble in this business and Dingdong answers, “it’s something that I enjoy. I enjoy going to restaurants. I enjoy drinking and food. So I enjoyed getting involved in this kind of business.” Karylle admits that she is the more cautious one. She reveals, “it is really more of his [Dingdong] influence.” iGMA will also reveal this little tidbit, visit Circle Café and CenterStage during the weekend and you may just see Dingdong and Karylle there! Talk about Dong and K’s business in the iGMA Forum May kuwento pa sa iyo si DINGDONG and KARYLLE.Text DINGDONG and KARYLLE [Your Message] and send to 4627 for all telcos. Each text costs Php2.50 for Globe, Touch Mobile, Smart and Talk N’ Text subscribers, and Php2.00 for Sun Cellular subscribers. (This service is available is available only in the Philippines)