Feature Article:
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TRENDSETTER IN TEEN FASHION
Singer-actress
Jolina Magdangal is definitely one of the icons in teen fashion.
She was the first image model of the very first makeup line and
fragrance formulated for Filipina teenagers. That she is a
trendsetter even in the field of glamor is evident in the growing
clientele of her boutique, Jolina's Fashion Gallery.
Jolina is now the image
model of Zest-O, AMA Computer College, Image Emporio clothes in SM
North. Her contracts with Goldilocks, Teen Scents and Avon have
just expired.
Being tagged as a
fashion icon is flattering for Jolina. "I'm happy because I
can share my ideas on fashion. But sometimes, it's quite
stressful because you're obliged to come up with new things--new
look," she says.
She packages herself as
a typical teenager who always experiments on her look. "I don't
want to be ordinary or mediocre. I want to show new things
everytime," she relates. "Minsan naman, dinadaan na
lang ng mood ko 'yong fashion ko. If I feel like wearing it, the
I wear it; pero hindi ko lahat pinagsasabay suotin ang mga bago sa
akin."
Normally, she wears
colorful attires or Japanese-style clothing when she appears on
TV. Off camera, she's simple, and hardly wears makeup. "As
much as possible, I don't want to put makeup, unless the occassion
calls for it," she tells.
Her fashion business
now boasts of six stores nationwide. From the mother store
located at 86-C Road 1 corner Road 32 Project 6, Quezon City, five
franchise stores are now operating in Cebu (Gaisano mall), Meycauayan
(Bulacan), Butuan and Los Banos. And they're opening soon in
Baliwag and Cabanatuan.
"Business has been
bullish so far," relates Jolina. "Both young and adult
customers visit our store here in Quezon City. Some are even
excursionists and balikbayans."
She says she personally
designs some of the items sold in the boutique. But most of them are
imported and are sourced from their Filipino suppliers who always
travel in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.
Whenever she is free
she tends the store herself. "Sometimes, I would design at home
and bring them here," she tells. "I make it a point to
always have new designs and items. Perhaps, later on, I can
introduce my own original designs. Right now what we sell are
really intended for my young customers because my fans range from two
years old and above. But I plan to have items also for
grownups."
The most salable items
now are the bags (body bags), makeup with glitters, hair accessories,
clips, etc. "Halos lahat naman nabibili, pero may mga items
talaga na mabiling-mabili at hindi gaanong mabili."
Jolina decided to
venture into the boutique business through the prodding of her mom,
Paulita, who appears with her in a juice drink commercial.
"My mom has long
wanted to put up a business but she didn't know what to venture
into. Since I've been regarded as a fashion trendsetter, she
thought it wise to put up a fashion boutique," she relates.
"She told me: "Kung ano ang suot mo, gagayahin nila at
puwede nilang mabili sa boutique."
Jolina invested five
million for the building where the boutique is housed, excluding the
cost of the interiors and supplies. "It's a family business,
although, nakapirma rito ay ako, my dad and mom. Really putting
up your own business is not that easy. That's why we do our best
to make it work," she shares. "Ang sarap ng feeling na
pinaghirapan namin ang negosyong ito. Also, I want to have a
fallback just in case I'm not that sikat anymore. I know that
showbiz is not a stable job. While I'm still popular, I want to
give my best and to save for the future so I won't have regrets later
on."
Being a young
entrepreneur is both fun and strenuous, says Jolina. "You
should put your heart into it. Of course, not just in the
business, but in everything that you do. On my part, I have more
responsibilities because there are many people who look up to
me."
The singer-actress
But more than her
boutique business, Jolina is above all a recording star. Her
self-titled solo album under Star Records has earned the triple
platinum award (and soon to be quadruple platinum) and her songs have
been hitting the radio charts for more than 10 weeks.
Moreover, she has
garnered multiple awards from the academic, entertainment, civic and
government for her achievements and role modeling.
Her newest TV soap
opera, Labs Ko Si Babe (aired over ABS-CBN) is likewise, gaining
positive feedback.
Jolina is the same
on-and-off-camera. When at home she stays at home, sleep, listen
to CDs, read magazines, watch TV, and cellphone texting. She
says she's a responsible text messaging advocate.
She wants to be
remembered as a versatile young actress-singer. "I hope to do
concerts abroad (although I did concerts before in Guam, Taiwan and
Hong Kong). I want to go on a tour; it has been my long-time
dream since I was young. I want to go to Europe, Jerusalem,
Hollywood and Beverly Hills," she says. "The place
I've been to which I really love is San Francisco, California, a very
romantic place. Now I can say that I'm a hopeless
romantic. Kaya pala may kantang 'I Left My Heart in San
Francisco.'"
With all these
successes in her young life, Jolina says she was able to sustain
everything with the help of her dad, Generoso "Jun"
Magdangal, who is also her manager. And of course, through
prayers. "I know that even if I don't go to church every
Sunday, I say a prayer every night to thank Him for everything that
happened to me the whole day," she relates.©
[Source: Mirror
Magazine]
