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Source: lovelyabella_ (IG)
Celebrity Life

Lovely Abella shares inspiring story on how they paid off housing loan amid the pandemic

By Aedrianne Acar
Published April 28, 2022 11:22 AM PHT
Updated April 28, 2022 11:28 AM PHT

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Lovely Abella


“Kaya ikaw na nababasa nito, huwag ka mawalan ng pag-asa tulad niyo din kami nakipagbakbakan sa buhay.” - Lovely Abella

Actress-turned-entrepreneur Lovely Abella is still in cloud nine after she shared that they finally paid off their housing loan quickly and is a proud owner of a beautiful townhouse.

Lovely, who can be seen on Bubble Gang, is also the CEO of Seven Long Table Marketing.

In an emotional post on Instagram, she recalled the time when they took out a loan to buy their house three years ago.

She posted, “Three years ago. Bago mag Pandemic kumuha kami ng bahay LOAN, inipon namin ang DP [downpayment] na naghahalagang 1.3M. 'Di kami nagma-mall, 'di kami kumakain sa labas, natuto kaming magtiis, kahit ano pang trabaho tinanggap namin, wala kaming tinatanggihang mag-asawa Donbie Manalo.”

She added, “Sabi pa namin, 'Kaya ba natin yan babe?' Kaya yan! Nagtiwala lang kami kay LORD nung pinagdasal namin kasi sakto na halos 2 na lang na townhouse ang available.”

Unfortunately, the devastating COVID-19 pandemic hit the Philippines in March 2020 and just like many individuals working in the entertainment industry, she and her husband Benj Manalo lost their income, too.

Painfully recalling their experience, Lovely said, “Tapos nag-pandemic nawindang kaming mag asawa, nagka-anxiety, ang tanong namin paano na? Nawalan kami ng trabaho, walang pinagkakakitaan, ang pinagpapasalamat namin may na-ipon kami pero sabi ko hanggang saan aabutin?

“May pamilya pa ako na kailangan ng tulong ko, kaibigan na nawalan din ng trabaho, may anak na nag-aaral.”

Instead of giving up, Lovely decided to put up several businesses. And fast-forward to today, she now has a cosmetic brand, a coffee-slimming product, and you can buy luxury goods and jewelry via her BenLy's online shop on Facebook, where she does her live-selling gig.

The Kapuso comedienne continued, “Pero napakabuti ni LORD dito na nagsimula na nagpa-certified ako maging trainer para may income kami every day, sumunod nagkaroon ng Live selling. Ang daming nagsasabi artista ka diba? Bakit mo ginagawa yan.”

“Pero 'di namin pinansin ang importante samin, maka-survive kami at dahil dito nabago ang buhay namin, talagang binago, 'di kami makapaniwala,” she said. “Ngayon 3 taon na dapat 10 taon, amin na amin na ang bahay kung saan nagsimula kaming mangarap, nagsimula kaming magtipid, nagsimula kaming magtulungan, magkaintindihan, dito nagsimula ang lalong mahigpit na pananalig kay Lord.”

Lovely ended her post with this advice saying, “Kaya ikaw na nababasa nito, huwag ka mawalan ng pag-asa tulad niyo din kami nakipagbakbakan sa buhay, pero di kami nawalan ng pag asa, mas lalo kaming nagsumikap sa buhay. Ang sipag mo sabayan mo ng dasal sigurado ibibigay niya sayo ang pinapangarap at pinagdadasal mo.”

A post shared by Lovely Abella - Manalo (@lovelyabella_)

Source: lovelyabella_ (IG)

Meet the other celebrity girl boss and their inspiring story in this gallery.