Chito Miranda and Neri Naig Share Their Secret to Achieving Financial Success

On top of their showbiz careers, Chito Miranda and Neri Naig have also been making waves in the business field.

They kicked off their ventures with a pharmacy, a convenience store, and a tuyo business. Today, the couple owns multiple restaurants, a bedding and sleepwear brand, a salon, apartments, and even a rest house!

In an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Jessica Soho visited one of Chito and Neri’s restaurants in Tagaytay. The couple sat down with Jessica Soho to share their secrets to financial success and discuss their relationship as a couple.

"Lahat ng nabibili po namin, pinag-iipunan talaga din namin. Like, for example, this restaurant, may gig siya. Ako, kunwari may mga endorsements. Iipunin po namin 'yan," Neri said.

[“Everything that we have, we had to work for. Like this restaurant, for example, it came from our savings.”]

Chito said the process is long, and "it wasn't like we already knew the formula."

"From our mistakes, nagiging better 'yung mga decisions namin when it comes to investing," he said. “Hanggang umabot sa point na more successes na than mistakes. We are just very smart with our money po talaga.”

[“We learned from our mistakes, and we made better decisions when it came to investing. Until we made more successful decisions than mistakes. We became very smart with our money.”]

The couple highlighted that their success did not come instantly.

“Ang daming sablay din talaga,” Chito said. “When we get money, the game is how to make more money po.”

[“We made wrong decisions too. But whenever we get money, we think about how to increase our income.”]

Aside from hard work, the lead vocalist of Parokya ni Edgar noted the importance of “making the right decisions and having the right people to do it."

"'Yung mga taong kasama ninyo hindi dapat kayo pagandahan ng kotse.”

[“Surround yourself with people who won’t just talk about who has the nicer car.”]

And instead of feeling envious, Neri shared, “Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga ibang nagtatanong sa akin, ‘Tamang inggit…pag nakita ko, ‘Gusto ko niyan.’”

[“Whenever people ask me, I’d tell them to have just the right amount of envy. When you want something, see how they do it, and get inspiration from it.”]

“Dapat gayahin mo kung paano," she added. "Dine-discredit mo 'yung mga tao like ako, feeling nila dahil ako successful because of Chito. Hindi. Magkaiba pa nga po kami ng pera.”

[“There are some people who would discredit me and tell me that the only reason I’m successful is because of Chito. But they don’t know that we handle our finances separately.”]

“Natuto ako kay Chito, ‘Kung ano yung pera mo, itabi mo 'yan. Kapag may sobra na, then okay, pwede na,’” she added.

[“I learned it from Chito. He told me to handle my own finances, to save up.”]

Chito said that he got his capital when he started earning money through the band.

“What I did with my money was instead of spending it, I just invested it and invested it,” he recalled.

Meanwhile, Neri started doing business through her love for cooking.

“Dahil mahilig akong magluto, 'yung gourmet tuyo dun siya nag-start. Eventually, na-invite na rin ako sa mga bazaar,” Neri said.

[“I loved cooking, so I started gourmet tuyo. Then I got invited to bazaars.”]

Fast forward to the present day, and Neri now owns a factory, and the couple has several restaurants as well.

While at one of their restaurants in Tagaytay, Chito and Neri shared their bulalo recipe with Jessica Soho. The pair also shared a story behind one of Parokya ni Edgar’s hits.

Despite their success in the food business, Chito stressed the importance of diversification. He said that he bought properties he could rent out, so he would have passive income while busy with his band.

“Huwag ninyo isusugal lahat sa isa lang,” Chito said. “Kumbaga sa sampu na 'yun, kung may mag-fail man na lima, may lima ka naman na iba, totally different.”

[“Don’t risk all that you have in one business. Say you have 10 businesses. Even if five fails, you have another five that are in totally different industries that you can fall back on.”]

Chito added, “Always team up with smart people. Hang out with people who know what they're doing.”

Neri, meanwhile, educates her followers, especially women, about how they should have their own money.

“Just in case may mangyari, huwag naman sana, magloko si mister, at least hindi 'yung mahihirapan kang bumangon uli," she said.

[“In case something happens, it’s better to have your own money so you can start again.”]

She also said that being hardworking is not enough to achieve success. "Kailangan may plano ka. And non-stop learning.”

[“You need to have a plan and be open to continuous learning.”]

Chito, meanwhile, advised husbands to be supportive of their wives.

"Because what she's doing is important to her and it's important for the family also," he said.

The couple also shared that they never fight about money.

Instead, they only fight about “simple things” like turning the fan off or the television.

Getting through rough patches

When it comes to overcoming rough patches, Chito said that he remained supportive of Neri despite the "dark" circumstances.

“I think that dark part that you were talking about, I think it inspired other couples too," he said. "’Nakita mo ganito pinagdaanan nila hindi sila natinag o,’ and they saw us still continuing with our lives, being happy with each other. Hindi sumuko, tapos masaya pa rin kami.”

[“I think that dark part that you were talking about, it inspired other couples too. People saw what we went through, but we were able to continue with our lives, and be happy with each other. We didn’t give up.”]

Chito said, "Don't feel bad. When you step out, the world is not that bad. Paglabas niya, everyone was so kind sa kanya. Siyempre sa social media platform, talagang people are mean.”

[“When she started going out again, everyone was so kind to her. It’s still a different story online though.”]

He added that it may take time, even years, but he said that looking back, "it was a necessary detour."

"Kasi baka nga hindi kami ganito kalakas kung hindi namin napagdaanan 'yun," he said.

[“Maybe we wouldn’t be as strong as we are now if we didn’t go through that.”]

Neri quipped, “Pero huwag niyo gawin!”

[“But don’t do it!”]

'Wais na Misis (The Wise Homemaker)'

In addition to being an actress and businesswoman, Neri is now also a book author.

In October, she is set to release her book titled “Wais na Misis (The Wise Homemaker).”

“The book is about wais-misis. It's about my entrepreneurial journey din. May mga practical tips for young women,” Neri said.

[“This book is about my entrepreneurial journey, and practical tips for young women.”]

Chito boasted that the tagline "wais na misis" is now owned by Neri.

"Kasi 'yung wais na misis, tagline 'yan ng isang brand ng laundry. So, ginamit niya. Pina-IPO niya. Sa kaniya na ngayon. Ganoon siya kawais,” he proudly said. “Hindi na ngayon magagamit ng brands. If they need to use it, they need to pay her.”

[“That tagline was actually used by a laundry brand. But she worked to have the rights to it. She was that smart. Brands can’t use it anymore. If they do, they have to pay her.”]

Reflecting on her humble beginnings, Neri has truly come a long way.

“Saan ba ako ipinanganak? Sa papag lang -- 'yung parang linoleum lang. Lumaki ako sa hirap,” she said.

“Pero may pangarap ako," she added. "'Yung nanay ko, inalis kami dun sa lugar na 'yun. Pinag-aral kami kahit hirap na hirap, kahit promissory note lagi.”

[“I didn’t come from a rich family. But I had big dreams. My mom did her best to send us to school.”]

“Never focus on your disadvantages, and don’t focus on other people’s advantages. Tamang inggit. Find inspiration and use it as your guide,” Chito added.

[“Never focus on your disadvantages, and don’t focus on other people’s advantages. Just the right amount of envy. Find inspiration and use it as your guide.”]

Chito and Neri tied the knot in 2014. They have two sons, Miggy and Cash.

Chito currently joins SB19’s Stell, Billy Crawford, and Julie Anne San Jose as coaches for “The Voice Generations”. The newest spin-off of the world's biggest singing competition premieres this August 27 at 7PM on GMA Network.