THERE are a number of young people who undoubtedly want to make it big in showbiz. However, it is rare for an artist who already experienced being in front of the TV cameras and the glare of the klieg lights to leave and pursue a different career.

That is what happened to Bryann Foronda, who earlier ventured into modeling. He also tried singing with the group named Five Az 1, then managed by Carlo Orosa under Stages.

“I had five guys who could sing with me, three were Filipino-Americans,” Bryann granted. “We’re like a harmony group. We released a single with Star Records.

Five Az 1 joined a reality show, Kanta Pilipinas, on TV5, produced by Marvin Agustin. The group even went to Japan to perform.

“I was trying to get into acting, but for some reason, there was always something missing,” Bryann lamented.

Bryann is convinced he previously joined showbiz for the wrong reason. “Maybe if I’m really serious and passionate as an artist and that’s my core, I don’t think that’s me,” he maintained.

“Now, looking back why I didn’t become successful in that field, I realized I’m an artist who can’t really express myself.”

He won the title in Mr. Philippines Youth. That started his modelling career. He made it to billboards and graced print ads with the likes of Anne Curtis and Rhian Ramos.

Pageant mentor and talent manager Jonas Gaffud of Mercator Artist and Model Management, also helped Bryann secure successful modelling stints through the top three agencies in the West Coast from 2010 to 2016.

“Competition in modelling is different in the US,” Bryann explained. “While here in the Philippines you are considered an artist, the ones I encountered in my go-sees in the US, they are going to be a model or an artist or they’re going to die an artist.”

Admittedly, Bryann was a struggling model back in LA that’s why he had to look for an alternative job.

“Just realizing myself throughout the years, I do like to make people happy, but I’m more into, serving my family, other people, doing something that’s valuable to them.

“I respect artists, the actors, the singers. They are really passionate about what they do, especially those who have been in the industry for a long time. I cannot think that seriously. That was a gift.”

He later realized he is more business-minded. “I was thinking is this some other way to give value to people, other than being an entertainer? I was lured to start a business.”

Bryann was fortunately introduced to an accounting firm, where he learned the ropes of taxation. He worked doing data entry for an accounting firm in LA. He attended different institutions including UCLA to pursue being an enrolled agent, the highest tax practitioner in the US.

In 2016, Bryann established his own company, Silver Aries. He was April-born, that’s why. He eventually parted ways with the company he was previously affiliated. The company saw the new skills he learned.

“I started doing it for family and friends who were giving me the opportunity and I learned what I’m doing. Every tax season, I was doing the job for a very minimal fee, enough for coffee. I was more after the experience and I was almost doing it for free.”

With his growing clientele, Bryann started outsourcing, getting software to automate things and hiring other employees to do administrative staff for him. Even his uncle who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and dad now who has years of experience running a corporation are helping Bryann’s Silver Aries company.

He started giving talks in different business events to promote taxes and holding seminars when his business got successful. For now, he decided to focus on taxation and serving more clients in the US for the 2025 tax season.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio