Andrew E: The rapper turned businessman
Twenty two years after he released the monster hit “Humanap Ka ng Panget,” Andrew E refuses to just sit back and bask in past glories.
He keeps up with the times. Andrew has turned to social media as a business. He created the website Sons of Dongalo and formed a livestreaming company which has documented his concerts here and abroad and the presscon of his latest comedy, “Raketeros,” with Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, Ogie Alcasid, Dennis Padilla and Long Mejia. It’s Andrew’s comeback movie after nine years (“A.B. Normal College” was shown in 2004).
Andrew doesn’t need to make movies again to earn a living. The lure of working with friends is just too good to resist.
His main work these days is related to, but is not directly concerned with the movies.
Andrew says his company, Broadlive/Phils, can convert videos into livestreams and promote all sorts of links. He can tap his showbiz friends to come up with a one-hour regular show he can promote via livestream.
Aiming high
He continues to aim high. Andew has applied for a bridging program, which he explains, will allow content to be seen in social media platforms.
“Kapag dumating na ang bridging program ng livestream, tagos sa Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn at sa webstes ito.”
Andrew admits it will cost him a cool half a million pesos.
All these, however, pales in comparison to Andrew’s other feat: getting a share in Facebook itself. In other words, Andrew says he’s a Facebook stockholder.
Before you roll your eyes in disbelief (the way I did), here’s Andrew’s story.
“Last March, I got a small share in Facebook – one is to 1,000 times ang value. I am the first Pinoy to do so,” he claims.
How did Andrew pull this one off? It was not easy.
“The first requirement is that I should be a US citizen,” he states.
But since he’s not, Andrew said that showed he had a bank account in the US.
“It means to say na nakapagababayad ako sa (US) government. May credits ako.”
The second requirement, he goes on, is that the applicant must be in the social network industry. Andrew showed proof that he created Sons of Dongalo one-and-a-half years ago, so he passed this requirement.
The third requirement, adds Andrew is that the person must not “be in the line of anti-(US) government sentiments. Andrew is in the movies, so he passed that one, too.
Andrew the Facebook stockholder
He adds that he has started the enjoy the benefits of a Facebook stockholder.
“Last June, pinadalhan ako ng electronic receipt sa bahay ko representing my dividend.”
He won’t reveal just how much it costs, but Andrew says he expects to get such return of his investment every three or four months.
“Kung wala lang akong concert sa Hong Kong nung June at di ko naayos ang mga papeles, I could have accepted the invitation to vote for the (FB) chairman,” he goes on.
As for the rapper side of him, Andrew reveals he helps a group of upcoming artists in his own little way.
“May mga rapper who have been with me for so many years. Ano ba naman yong magbigay ng pambigas man lamang? Pero hindi naman pwede yung pambayad sa apartment.”
Make no mistake. Andrew E’s new world is as exciting as the one he has moved on from. He has clearly reinvented himself.
