Cogie buckles down to business

Vina Morales has Ystilo. Ogie Alcasid has Ogie Doggie.Marvin Agustin has Ricecapades and Mr. Donut. Dominic Ochoa has Thumbs Up.

And now, Cogie Domingo, his dad, lawyer Rod Domingo and other partners have come up with One Greenhills Shopping Plaza at the corner of Eisenhower and Annapolis st., Greenhills.

The four-storey tiangge-type mall will open on Jan. 28, Sunday, with a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony that starts 9 a.m. A free concert will be held at the main entrance with guests Sam Milby, Shirley & D’ Empire and Cherry Lou in the afternoon. Joining Cogie in hosting chores are his loveteam mate Lovi and Chokoleit.

Autograph-signing follows after every guest star’s performance.

Cogie is heeding his dad’s advice about having a fallback position because, as the old saw says, showbiz is not forever (neither is lawyering, says the older Domingo). The Bakekang star and some friends have pooled their resources to put up a stall selling car accessories in the place.

"I’m fond of car gadgets," explains the 21-year-old Cogie.

And he plans to back up that passion with sound business sense. That’s why Cogie plans to take up a business management course soon.

Cogie has a suitable business mentor in his parents. Atty. Rod‚ whose parents owned a small grocery in Sampaloc, where they lived. Cogie’s dad, who was then in high school, would help out in the store.

"Nagtatakal ako ng bigas tuwing hapon‚" he recalls.

Cogie’s mom won’t be left behind. She sends nurses whose families abroad have petitioned for them.

Both are pleased with their son’s involvement in One Greenhills Shopping Plaza, which they envision as a good starting point for other budding entrepreneurs.

"There is a demand, as long as the merchandise is reasonably-priced," says Atty. Rod.

Thus, the new shopping place offers stall rentals at "30 to 50 percent less than what they are at malls." And the savings is passed on to consumers who pay lower prices for goods.

Aside from stalls selling clothes, shoes, bags, food, watches, jewelry, home decor, cosmetics, fragrances, electronics, etc., the place will also have medical clinics and ATM machines.

Bent as he is in learning the ropes of the trade, Cogie is still holding on to his dream of turning director. That’s why he plans to take up a filmmaking course in the US, too.

The guy aims high and dreams big. And who can fault him for that?

Cogie Domingo is young, well-provided for; with parents who support him all the way. Let’s cross our fingers he turns these blessings into opportunities for growth, not just for himself, but for others as well.