Alex Gonzaga has officially entered a new chapter in her entrepreneurial journey—this time as a business partner of the wellness brand Chef Ayb’s Paragis.
On October 16, 2025, Alex officially marked her shift from ambassador to co-owner as she unveiled the brand’s latest product line at an exclusive launch event in Whitespace Makati.
At the event, Alex spoke about the brand and its newest offerings—Chef Ayb’s Paragis Gold and Paragis with Moringa and Guyabano food supplements—while sharing what inspired her to take on a bigger role.
In an interview with members of the press, including PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Alex explained that her decision was fueled by her genuine belief in the product.
"What inspired me is because yung unang beses nga na binigay ko siya sa mga kaibigan ko, sa mga kahit hindi ko mga ka-close, 'Hey, try niyo ito.'
"And then all the positive feedback, talagang na-realize ko parang effective pala talaga 'to and even with my mom and dad.
"So we, we tried it, and yun nga, laging okay naman yung mga, ano namin, mga test namin. And then we got naturally pregnant after three or four years.
"So that alone really speaks for itself na yung product is really effective. So sabi ko, 'Alam mo Chef Aybs, tutulungan natin 'yan.
"Gusto ko na makilala ang Paragis, Chef Ayb's Paragis sa buong Pilipinas or buong mundo para maraming matulungan."
The event turned into a family affair, with her parents, Pinty Cruz and former Taytay Vice Mayor Carlito "Bonoy" Gonzaga, not only showing support but also joining as official brand ambassadors.
Alex also brought her husband, Mikee Morada—Vice Mayor of Lipa—on board, who also accepted the role of brand ambassador.
Adding to the excitement, Alex’s sister Toni Gonzaga came to cheer on her sister’s newest venture.
The star-studded launch also featured celebrities like Rufa Mae Quinto, Jennica Garcia, Alexa Miro, Marial Rodriguez, Zara Lopez, and Gina Pareño, among many others.
WHAT IS PARAGIS?
Paragis (Eleusine indica) is a tropical grass commonly known as “goosegrass” and tagged online as a “miracle grass” for its reportedly traditional healing properties.
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This powerful plant is the core ingredient of Chef Ayb’s Paragis PH, an FDA-approved and Halal-certified wellness brand founded in 2017 by Iva Surio, popularly known as Chef Ayb.
The idea for the brand was inspired by Chef Ayb’s own experience watching her mother brew Paragis tea to ease arthritis pain.
In a September 2017 episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, naturopathic practitioner Dr. Algy Bacla highlighted Paragis for its reputed medicinal benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.
Several preclinical studies have examined its potential health effects, identifying antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties, among others.
ALEX GONZAGA: DISCOVERING PARAGIS
Alex went on to say that she first discovered Paragis as a food supplement in February 2024 through actress Sherilyn Reyes.
The bubbly vlogger recalled, "Actually si Miss Sherilyn Reyes yun [nag-introduce sa akin]. Sabi niya, Alex, gusto mo bang mabuntis?
"Sabi ko, 'Ah, Ate nagpapa-work-up ako para makapagbuntis kasi last pregnancy ko was 2021 nang natural but it was blighted ovum.
"And then 2023, hindi ako nabuntis ng 2 years. So sinabi ko, mag-IVF ako pero hindi din siya naging okay.
"So ang sabi sa akin ni Miss Sherilyn, 'I-try mo ang Chef Ayb's... Siyempre, itry mo lang, subukan mo lang.' So sabi ko, tignan natin, baka maka-help."
At the time, Alex admitted she was initially skeptical about its effectiveness.
"Hindi ako naniwala, siyempre, [parang], 'Bakit naman?'
"Although, love ko si Ate Sherilyn pero parang sobra naman ang claim nito na marami rin natutulungan na parang pa-miracle na daw ang Chef Ayb's Paragis."
That changed when she started giving the product to friends and family for free—and every single one of them came back with positive feedback and noticeable results.
Alex recounted, "Bumabalik na lang sila with positive reviews. So sabi ko, parang, 'Okay pala talaga itong Chef Ayb's.'
"Kahit yung mga nasa Amerika, mga kaibigan, ang dami na rin natutulungan. So sabi ko, 'Okay, itatry ko to.'"'
ALEX GONZAGA ON HAVING ENDOMETRIOSIS
One significant factor that strengthened Alex’s trust in the product was her own experience.
Since she began drinking the tea in April 2024, she said she was able to conceive naturally after years of trying.
Although the pregnancy did not progress, the experience gave her renewed hope that she could still get pregnant without medical intervention.
Elaborating: "I started drinking regularly by April. And then by June, sabi ng doktor ko, your body is ready for pregnancy, I think.
"So yun yung last year nung nag-launch kami, sinabi ko na I am ready to be pregnant.
"And then on October, I got pregnant naturally. And it's first time na nakakita po kami ng embryo and first time na umabot kami sa ganun with a heartbeat.
"So hindi man po natuloy, pero grabe yung saya ko kasi after 3 or 4 years, naturally na pregnant ako na hindi ko in-expect. It was really unexpected."
Alex shared that the supplement has helped her manage endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pain and sometimes infertility.
"Yung period ko po, regular na on the dot na. Dati ang period ko, umabot ng 50 days. Ang dami ko na pong nasayang na pregnancy test.
"Kasi akala ko buntis na ako, hindi pala ako buntis. May endometriosis pala ako."
Alex quipped, "O diba in-announce ko? Wala na mga medical secrecy."
Continuing, she added, "So after noon, nung nalaman ko na parang, 'Shocks, grabe, hindi ako nakaka-period lagi, bakit ganito?'"
According to Alex, her endometriosis flare-ups are often triggered by stress, frequent travel, and changes in climate—factors that sometimes cause her menstrual cycle to stretch from 28 up to 50 days.
The actress/content creator revealed, "28 to 50 days ang cycle ko. Every month hindi ko alam po kailan siya dudugo. Biglaan na lang kami, 'Ah!,' yung ganon."
She managed her condition through a healthy lifestyle, supported by Paragis food supplements.
"Nung nag-Chef Ayb's ako, alam niyo po on the dot, kahit nasa ibang bansa ako, on the dot, 30th day may period ako, 30th day magkakaroon ako at hindi na po sobrang sumasakit ang puson ko.
"Nagugulat na lang ako, 'Ah, ito na, lumabas na siya.'"
ALEX GONZAGA: GETTING IN THE BIZ
The consistent positive feedback and her own experience gave Alex full confidence in the product. Instead of accepting payment as a brand ambassador, she waived her fee and joined as a business partner—a move that surprised Chef Ayb.
“Sobrang nagulat ako sa tiwala na binigay ni Miss Alex, pati ng family niya at ni Sir Mikee,” Chef Ayb shared.
"Kasi sino ba naman si Chef Ayb's way back para pagtiwalaan ng mga malalaking tao?
“Hanggang ngayon, sobrang overwhelmed kami at sobrang pasalamat kami sa Gonzaga family.”
Alex now plays an active role in marketing and brand awareness.
Alex shared, "Si Chef lang lahat ng product. Ako lang, all I can share is, 'Chef Ayb, gawin natin 'to, try kong i-tap si ganito para makuha natin yung market nila. Para mas maraming makaalam sa market ng Chef Ayb's."
She continued, "So, yun lang yung tinutulong ko sa kanila, mostly about marketing and mostly about... pero meron kaming gagawin soon.
"May ilalabas kaming mga bagong product. So yun. Ano lang kami, very collaborative si Chef Ayb's, so.
"Pero when it comes to the product, yung concoction niyan, kung paano ginagawa, lahat yun si Chef Ayb. Ako lang yung sa marketing.
"Ako lang yung suggestions kung paano pa mas maraming makaalam ng Chef Ayb's."
With their combined efforts, Alex aims to turn the welness brand into a household name in the Philippines.
She said, "Sinabi ko talaga na kailangan maraming makaalam ng produkto mo na talagang napakaganda at nakakaganda ng pakiramdam. Talagang yun po yung aim."
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