Alden Richards on being financially stable and settling down: "Puwede na po."

Alden Richards loves to cook, and considers steak as one of his specialties

Despite being a good cook, Pambansang Bae Alden Richards confesses that he hasn't really been spending much time in the kitchen lately due to his hectic work schedule.

However, during the shoot of his webisodes for Cookie's Peanut Butter, one of his latest endorsements, Alden was able to cook several entrees, much to the delight of his media friends and other guests.

He admitted, “Mahilig po akong kumain kaya nga ako nag-open ng restaurant, kasi malaking parte ng buhay ko ang pagkain.

“Maraming binibigay na kaligayahan sa akin yun.”

Alden said steak is one of his specialties as well as one of the recipes he used to cook a lot before.

He has also tried cooking his lola's recipe for pakbet, adobo, and, of late, kare-kare, which he learned from his collaboration with Chef Anton Amoncio.

Has he cooked for any of his fellow celebrities?

“Yung sa Mars!” he answered, referring to the Kapuso morning show.

“Si Ate Cams [Camille Prats] at si Ms. Suzy [Entrata], nanalo pa nga po ako.”

RESTO BUSINESS

Because of his love for food, it didn't come as a surprise when Alden chose to venture in a restaurant business.

Concha's Garden Cafe already has three branches—the first one opened in Tagaytay in May 2016 and was immediately followed by a second branch in Quezon City's bustling Tomas Morato resto district.

The third branch is located in Silang, Cavite

We remember how Alden enthusiastically shared some of his business plans early this year. Have any of those plans come into fruition?

“Na-achieve naman po.

“So next year po, may bubuksan po ako na another big business venture.

“Actually, dalawa po sila.

“Yung isa po, yung sa Concha’s namin at yung isa po, ayaw ko muna pong i-reveal.

“Pero first quarter po next year, may isa pa po akong bubuksang restaurant.”

Alden admitted that he's very hands-on in terms of running his resto businesses.

“Ano lang po ako, very limited ang time ko to deal with it kaya thankful po ako sa partner ko, si Ms. Jemma Sembrano. Siya po talaga ang hands-on sa business namin.

“Kasi ever since naman po yun ang usapan namin.

“Ako po, I’m willing to finance the restaurant na bubuksan natin pero hindi po ako makaka-commit ng time. Very limited.

“Pero so far naman po so good kami. I’m very much blessed with good business partner."

FINANCIALLY STABLE

The Victor Magtanggol star said he's lucky that he was able to channel his showbiz earnings into profitable investments.

When asked about his success formula, he answered, "Hindi ko po alam.

“Tinulak lang din po ako sa kung saan ako dadalhin.

“Ako po talaga, pag-aartista talaga ang gusto kong i-pursue hanggang sa tumanda ako.

“Kaya po ako nag-aartista para i-secure ang future ko at future ng mga mahal ko sa buhay.

“Talagang papunta rin siya sa negosyo.

“Hindi ko lang po na-expect na mas napaaga siya ngayon at the age of twenty-six.”

With all his achievements and showbiz earnings so far, is he already financially stable and ready to settle down?

Smiling, he remarked, “Parang masasabi ko naman po, parang puwede na po.

“Pero yun po, lalo na po kapag nagtuloy po na magbukas ang business namin next year, secured na secured na po talaga.”

We asked Alden who inspired him to invest his money wisely.

He shared, “Sa lola ko po talaga. Ang lola ko po ang nagturo sa akin to always be ready on the rainy days.

“Always save. 'Tapos, mas maganda yung merong sasalo sa iyo kapag nalaglag ka sa current position mo sa industriya.

“Naglalagay po ako ng mga safety nets outside showbiz para just in case lang po, anything else happen, meron po akong fallback."