SEXY star Ella V, who left showbiz in 2007 to start a family in the US, has long been out of the local entertainment scene. Two years back, she returned to Manila not to resume her career, though, but to launch her skincare products and business that started only this pandemic in the US.

“I simply want to create noise and publicity about the products,” Ella V said. “I came back, but not in showbiz. I did guestings only to remind the public who is Ella V. They need to remember who I am, so they will patronize my VGlow products.”

Ella V’s VGlow products were brought to Manila two years ago. She returned to Manila at that time.

“I always wanted to do the aesthetician program,” Ella V asserted. “Thanks to Dr. Vicki Belo, I am always inspired by how she started her Belo clinic. It started from there.”

Skincare expert Dr. Vicki Belo inspired Ella V to start her business. “I always remember her story, how she found herself ugly before, she was discriminated and that led her to start her clinic,” Ella V shared.

“I’m always a fan of Dr. Belo. She’s so successful. Who doesn’t want to be successful like her? That’s why when I learned that I was going to meet her then, through Katya Santos and Quark Henares, I was super excited.”

Ella V tried her hand in the skincare business only three years ago. “I love being in the business not just employment-wise to give work to other women who are in need, but this a way for me to help them become successful.

“Skincare is one of the biggest motivations for me. I always want to be in the skincare industry. Since I started in the entertainment industry, skincare is investment in the business. I also want to help other women.

“How you are and it defines my personality, my mission and vision. This is also my way for small-time business to prosper even more. They can distribute the products.

“America has a lot of beauty businesses. I believe it’s not just a trend there. America is the easiest place to start your skincare business, because you can start from the house. As long as you finish the course.”

Ella V took up the aesthetician course at Garden Grove Advance Beauty College at Orange County in California.

She is accompanied by her spa manager, Joyce Leasure, who also took up the same program. “We both decided to put up the spa,” Ella V said. “The course only takes six months, but I finished it in ten months.”

Ella V started taking up the aesthetician program at Cerritos College in 2012, then got pregnant four times. So she had no time to finish the course and subsequently transferred to Orange County.

She met Joyce Leasure, who took up the course to work at Ella V’s facility for developmental disability. In 2019, Leasure worked part-time. When Ella V learned that Leasure is a licensed aesthetician, the former was egged on to start her VGlow Beauty Bar.

“I always want to have glowing skin,” admitted Ella V. “In our spa, one can have the best hydro-facial treatment, the deluxe.

“We want to hold a workshop with Esthemax here, so we can demonstrate how we do a facial massage. Esthemax is the leading hydrogel max worldwide. Together with our organic products, the facial massage creates more glowing efficacy.

“The hydrogel max came from algae, infused with electrolytes, so it’s very organic. Ideal for all skin types. Even after your procedure from facial, you can use the max to make the inflammation subside.”

The smoothing peel and toning mist are the spa’s best-selling products to date. “Especially here is the Philippines na very polluted ang surroundings with smoke and dust, this toner mist can really help. It even comes in travel sizes.”

VGlow also has the hydrating moisturizer, glow restore serum, exfoliating glow and calming cleanser.

Back bars are for pre-cleansing, double cleansing and exfoliation, normally used by spa. “We are going to have online workshops, even live workshops, but that will entail membership,” Ella V informed.

Ella V started one spa in Costa Mesa in February 2022. Then, Torrance opened in March that same year, followed by Northridge – all in California. She also plans to start a spa in the Philippines.

Having four kids with hardly any time to go to the parlor for facial is what prompted Ella V to start her VGlow products.

“When I did this, I wanted to launch a product that could really help the maintenance of everybody – single mom, adolescents – so it was be easier and affordable.”

Ella V has four registered nurses in her spa and three aestheticians, with very dependable staff who can run the spa even without her around.

The spa is open six days a week, Mondays to Saturdays, with Sundays by appointment. They are open for hiring other staff who are available to work on a per-day basis.

“So they are not officially full-time, only for appointments, until we get busier,” she granted.

The spa also offers medical services like PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatment, Botox and fillers.

“We are on the edge where we can do anything and make the patient beautiful. It’s not to be perfect, only confident. Especially the women today who are driven and more conscious.”

Her campaign is not just a dream for Ella V. She has turned it into a reality with the products that she recently launched. “Everyone is going organic these days,” she attested. “Our environment here in the Philippines, we really need to use organic products.”

Ella V started to work at Viva initially as a receptionist, her entry level in the office back in 2003. Then, she joined Viva Video as marketing assistant and that became her stepping stone to join showbiz.

She finished her Mass Communications degree at Dominican College and initially wanted to become a newscaster. “I looked up to Karen Davila at that time,” Ella V said.

However, while working for Viva and seeing the showbiz stars constantly, Ella V subsequently wanted to join showbiz later on.

“Ang saya ng mga stars while working at Viva,” she recalled. “Lagi akong tinutukso to audition for Viva Hot Babes. But I started getting bit roles in Viva movies and projects already.”

She appeared in the Salbakuta video, Stupid Love, Lyle Sacris’ First Time (2003), Mac Alejandre’s Lastikman (2004), Jon Red’s Boso (2005) and even in Chito Roño’s Caregiver (2008), with megastar Sharon Cuneta.

Ella V became a mainstay of ABS-CBN shows like Home Along da Airport, with ace comedian Dolphy, as well as the erstwhile reality show with Carlos Agassi, Kaya Mo Ba ‘To? and Judy Ann Santos’ teleserye, Ysabella and Sa Piling Mo.

She met her hubby, Shane Manalang, in 2007 at Embassy, then a night haunt at The Fort (now BGC – Bonifacio Global City). They tied the knot on March 21, 2008.

To date, Ella V owns six caregiving homes in California. “I tried to make a name for myself to be known in the caregiving industry,” she said. “I learned to like caregiving and I love to advocate developmental disability. I want to sound professional and inspiring at the same time.”

Ella V has four kids – one daughter and three sons. Eldest Isabella is 11, followed by Jayden, 10, Justin, seven and Jordan, four.

“There [in the US], most of the people are always too serious, no time for jokes,” Ella V lamented. “Never ending ang work. When you get home, you only want to lie down and sleep. Everything is too tiring.”

Manalang initially finished his Physician Assistant course in 2012 and graduated cum laude. “He’s like a doctor, but he only prescribes,” she explained. He finished his Psycho-Biology master’s degree at UCLA.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio