Actor-turned-entrepreneur Marco Gumabao is riding two waves at once — the Philippines’ pickleball boom and his own return to physical form — with the launch of Dink Loft, his newest business venture in Marikina.
The name is sport-specific shorthand. “Dink” refers to the soft, strategic shot played near the net — “the kitchen,” in pickleball parlance — while “Loft” nods to the elevated lounge space built into the facility. “May VIP rooms kami sa itaas na everyone can just chill,” Marco explains, describing a design meant for spectators as much as players.
Built entirely from raw land over six to eight months, the warehouse-style venue opened its doors this year despite constant rain delays. “Hindi po madali. Mahirap po to build,” he admits, “pero happy kami kasi kahit tag-ulan nakapag-grand opening na po kami.” A soft opening quietly tested the waters three months prior — and demand has been anything but quiet since. Dink Loft now bills itself as the only 24-hour pickleball court in Marikina, a claim Marco says is no exaggeration: “Kahit 2 am, 3 am, may mga taong naglalaro.” Even he, an owner, has had trouble booking a slot.
The business isn’t a solo bet. Marco co-founded Dink Loft with childhood friends and partners Carl and Ton-Ton, who first scouted the property and pitched him the idea. “Kababata ko, kapitbahay ko ever since like I was 6 or 7 years old,” he says of the group’s roots — a trust he credits for making the venture feel low-risk despite the leap into an unfamiliar industry.
He sees pickleball’s popularity as more than a passing trend, pointing to its appeal across age groups — a pattern he first noticed through his sister in Florida, where the sport caught on years before it reached Manila. “Everyone’s into fitness. Ako, hyrox — iyon naman ‘yung kinakahiligan ko ngayon,” he says, tying the business directly to his personal push toward long-term health rather than short-term fitness spikes. To mark the opening, Dink Loft is running a four-day tournament across novice, intermediate, and advanced divisions, with roughly ₱1 million in total prizes on the line.
Dink Loft joins a growing portfolio for Marco, who has previously invested in restaurants — including Tipsy Pig — and various bars. He’s candid that not every venture has paid off: “Meron na rin akong na-investan na talagang hindi nag-materialize. And it’s okay. Sugal naman lahat ng business eh.” His safeguard, he says, is vetting people before capital — background checks, established trust, and choosing partners with track records beyond the deal at hand.
He’s also open about his own physical dip last year, a burnout period that followed the relentless fitness demands of his “Los Bastardos” and “Just Strangers” era. “Tumaba ako last year,” he admits plainly, before describing the moment the realization hit and pushed him back into training — an arc that now runs parallel to the gym he’s reportedly eyeing next, alongside an upcoming Hyrox competition in Bangkok.
Asked whether the business momentum signals he’s ready to settle down, Marco is unambiguous: he isn’t rushing anything. “Wala pa nga akong girlfriend, settling down agad? Wala, I’ve been single since January,” he says. He acknowledges the constant public speculation that comes with being an actor frequently photographed alongside co-stars and friends, but shrugs off the noise. “Ako, wala namang problema sa akin na i-link,” he says, “but don’t worry guys, I’ll tell you kapag meron nang nagpapatibok ng puso ko.”
For now, his focus is squarely on Dink Loft’s growth, his own fitness comeback, and the community he hopes the court will build — one dink at a time.