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3 years after scandal, Paolo Bediones returns - as entrepreneur

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Leah C. Salterio

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:50.0% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><div style="margin:8px 0 0 0;padding:0 4px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRDmJGBjw5c/" style="color:#000;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none;word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">Proud to be a student currently enrolled in the Master in Entrepreneurship program at AIM, ME 2018. Tonight I hosted the launch of their new logo and battlecry: Lead, Inspire and Transform. It was humbling to meet the founders and leaders of this 49 yr old pillar of management education in Asia. #LITAIM</a></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap">A post shared by Paolo Bediones (@paolobediones) on <time dateTime="2017-02-28T13:00:57+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Feb 28, 2017 at 5:00am PST</time></p></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>MANILA -- Pursuing further studies after graduating from college has always been a dream of Paolo Bediones.</p><p>He finished AB Interdisciplinary Studies (Dean’s Lister) at the Ateneo de Manila University, then was immediately given the chance to make a name for himself as a TV host and a news anchor.</p><p>“I remember that at one point, I was doing five television shows and a radio program,” Bediones shares. “There was no way I could squeeze in any kind of masteral education, but I was happy I was blessed with work.”</p><p>However, things happen for a reason. After the controversy he got enmeshed in three years ago, Bediones realized he had so much time in his hands.</p><p>“So, I decided to chase my dream and apply at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Mastering in Entrepreneurship. I graduate in March next year and I encourage anyone who wants to grow their business to be profitable and sustainable to check out the programs at AIM. Going back to school has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.”</p><div><strong>Business as therapy</strong></div><p>Bediones was prompted to take up entrepreneurship after putting up his restaurant and bar, Punta Mandala, in Mandaluyong City. Originally a Latin American-themed restaurant specializing in grilled items when it opened in 2014, it now serves unique bar chow and ice-cold beverages in a classy ambiance at an affordable price.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:40.18518518518518% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIuCPZ0h57b/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Punta Mandala (@puntamandala)</a> on <time dateTime="2016-08-05T07:52:03+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Aug 5, 2016 at 12:52am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>“There is nightly entertainment, where customers seated indoors or in our al fresco area, can enjoy the music of the performers and even jam with the band,” Bediones says. “We have hassle free parking in Mandala Park (formerly Liberty Center), along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong.</p><p>“I also market the place as a bespoke or customizable venue that can cater to any party or events needs. It’s basically a one-stop shop, where I have all the audio and video equipment, musical instruments, food, drinks, tables and chairs, decorations, entertainment roster to choose from, photographers, videographers, and competent staff. Although regular restaurant-bar hours are from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., the place can open as early as 6 a.m. for events, parties and other functions.”</p><p>Putting up the restaurant and running it after the controversy was undoubtedly a great therapy for Bediones.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:26.15740740740741% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQPnF6llJ6p/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Punta Mandala (@puntamandala)</a> on <time dateTime="2017-02-08T08:28:45+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Feb 8, 2017 at 12:28am PST</time></p></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>“It was a welcome distraction until the business side of things got real, real fast,” he asserts. “I realized I did not have the knowledge to own and run a business and I relied too heavily on industrial partners that claimed to know what they were doing.</p><p>“By 2016, it was just me, my sisters and one other partner operating the restaurant. While we did okay, we knew we had the potential to do so much better. It was then that I decided to enroll at AIM. By applying what I learned in school, we are now growing in the right direction, with me gaining new insights and lessons as every month goes by.”</p><div><strong>Elephant in the room</strong></div><p>Away from mainstream TV for more than three years, Bediones realized it was time to pick up the pieces after his self-imposed hiatus. He does not mind talking about the controversy.</p><p>“It does serve as therapy for me and in many situations, it is the elephant in the room,” he offers.</p><p>“In 2010, I had my laptop fixed which contained very sensitive content I had deleted. Three months later, I started receiving extortion letters for P3 million. I lived in anguish and fear for the next four years until July 27, 2014. The stolen material went viral and there was nothing the PNP or the NBI could do because it spread too quickly with too many uploaders.</p><p>“Yes, I did suffer from severe depression and I despised myself. For the next few weeks, I isolated myself from the world and started reading social media posts and messages. Good, bad, nice, nasty, encouraging or scathing, I read each one whether it came from a person I knew, a friend, family member, fans, strangers, posers, trolls and all sorts of avatars.</p><p>“What I discovered was what helped me on my road to recovery. Usually, when bad things happen, we focus on the bad things around us: the chatter, the negative energy and the sad thoughts. These get magnified whenever we encounter them and we tend to think they represent a greater percentage than they actually do.</p><p>“We tend to just scroll through the good and positive messages, not giving them the attention that they deserve. Ninety-eight percent of the messages I received since that incident were positive and encouraging in nature. Only two percent came from people who did not know me, who hid behind the anonymity of the Internet, who clearly just wanted to bring me down, people who were quick to judge and those who simply wanted to call attention to themselves.</p><p>“It was when I read and appreciated the words of comfort and love from so many people that I realized it was truly not the end of the world. With each message, I felt myself feeling better and my desire to pick myself up became stronger. I decided to end my self-imposed exile and step back out into the world. I was surprised that the affection I received online was what I also received in person.”</p><div><strong>Missing TV</strong></div><p>When Bediones was asked to return to work on television after his leave of absence for more than a year, he realized his heart was not into being a news anchor anymore. “I knew then that my options were few and I basically gave up hope to return to the industry that I lived and breathed for almost two decades,” he realizes.</p><p>He tried acting in the films before – “Walang Kapalit” with Sharon Cuneta and Richard Gomez, “Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll XI.” However, Bediones’ acting stints proved to be few, far-between and short-lived.</p><p>“Although acting definitely appealed to me and I was getting very encouraging feedback, I knew it was not something I could be excellent at,” Bediones admits. “It would require so much time and effort for me to be able to study the craft and always give quality performances. So, I decided to stick to what I could do best – what I had the most experience in – being a professional host.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:50.0% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHEHtnzBB0i/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Paolo Bediones (@paolobediones)</a> on <time dateTime="2016-06-25T04:40:22+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Jun 24, 2016 at 9:40pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>“There aren’t a lot of opportunities for newcomers to hone their craft and I aim to change that through my hosting workshops. Hosting has allowed me to live a fun and comfortable life and I’d like to pay it forward by sharing what I’ve learned so far.”</p><p>He really thought he could walk away from television or the entertainment industry after the trauma, but in January of this year, Bediones started a project that married his two passions: hosting and music.</p><p>“Without a clue as to how I could possibly monetize it, I invited 12 OPM bands and recorded them at my restaurant-bar,” he explains. “Using my stint as an MTV VJ as inspiration, I created a show where we could hear the stories behind the songs and witness the organic nature of music while showcasing the undeniable global talent and creativity of the Filipino artist.”</p><p>Apparently, there’s absolutely nothing that Bediones doesn’t miss about TV. “I miss the daily grind, the 24-hour tapings, the adrenaline rush of being on camera and the creative juices that flow endlessly. I miss hanging out with my staff and my crew and the producers.</p><p>“I miss the connection with the viewers and the fans and I also miss those days isolated on an island or hundreds of meters below the earth. I miss having to squint from the glare of the sun while trying to finish my spiels under the sweltering heat. I miss the responsibility that comes with being a TV personality.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:50% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVwfom9DANd/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Paolo Bediones (@paolobediones)</a> on <time dateTime="2017-06-25T09:35:30+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Jun 25, 2017 at 2:35am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>“Aside from the entertainment side, I also became a serial entrepreneur, both investing and running several companies in various capacities.”</p><p>Still, Bediones is thankful for everything that comes his way, trials notwithstanding. “When God heals you, He makes it is a slow and deliberate process, making sure you learn the lessons and encounter the right people along the way. I have been blessed by countless individuals who want nothing but the best for me, who remind me each day that they are just there if I needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to lean and depend on.</p><p>“The fans who are unwavering in their support are a huge factor for me climbing out of the hole. All of that, though, would be rendered useless had I not learned the most important lesson of all: To love myself again. Only when I stopped blaming myself and looking at myself with so much disdain can true healing begin.”</p>

<p>Pursuing further studies after graduating from college has always been a dream of Paolo Bediones.</p>

Pursuing further studies after graduating from college has always been a dream of Paolo Bediones.