With show business being infamous for making people superficial as they reach the peak of their careers, Toni has always been a picture of a talent who never forgets where she came from despite her success.
It has been ten years since Celestine Cruz Gonzaga, popularly known as Toni Gonzaga, played a schoolgirl fan rabidly fantasizing over Piolo Pascual in a softdrink commercial in 2001. Today, Toni is known as the country’s multi-media queen, excelling in everything she does as an entertainer.
Aside from her remarkable hosting skills at many top rating shows of ABS-CBN like the The Pinoy Big Brother, Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN), and The Buzz, Toni was also considered as a successful recording artist who recently launch her fifth studio album, All Me. She was also recently awarded as Box Office Queen by SM Cinema for her movie, My Amnesia Girl, which she top billed with Box Office King, John Lloyd Cruz.
Because of her natural knack for humor and genuine interest in people, Toni remains as one of the most visible and in demand performers today. Whether it may be in the big and small screens, Toni continues to shine. From Mondays to Saturdays, Toni hosts the noontime show, Happy Yipee Yehey!; and The Buzz and ASAP every Sunday. Her movie, Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi, with award-winning actress, Eugene Domingo, also recently premiered in local cinemas and is expected to be a blockbuster hit just like her last movie, My Amnesia Girl.
Her daily tasks may seem daunting, but Toni rather enjoys the workload. The actress shared in an interview that she’s “happy” she has to work every day. With Happy Yipee Yehey running live only from 12nn to 2pm, Toni said she is able to have fun doing other things like “shoot a movie, do corporate shows at night, and segue to shoots” without feeling exhausted.
With hosting as her apparent forte, Tony divulged that she still wishes to accomplish many things in life. Part of it is do business with her mother station, ABS-CBN.
“One of the reasons why I accepted the noontime show was because I told myself I would save money and later use it to buy a block time on ABS-CBN. And you know who I told this to? The staff of The Buzz! It’s not a dream; it’s a vision.” Saving her earnings from showbiz has played an important role in Toni’s life because it is from being frugal that she was able to put up a house for her and her family. Featured on Kris TV last July, Toni’s Victorian-inspired house was very elegant to look at, with its inside pool and a gazebo that overlooks the city. Starting out in show business with a car that was not air conditioned, Toni shared that the family’s eight black cars and SUVs parked in the garage represent her and her sister, Alex’s hard work. The younger sister of Toni, Alex, is one of the prime actors of the TV5 network.
Despite the big house and the sleek black cars, Toni shared the reason why she was able to “preserve” what she was as a kid until now. The actress said that her dad, Mr. Carlito “Bonoy” Gonzaga, always reminds them to live the simple life and not be extravagant.“Daddy ko nga minsan kapag ka ano, halimbawa sa TV nakikita niya ko na umaarte-arte ako sa The Buzz, sabi ng daddy ko, “nagpapa-sosyal ka, wag ka mag papa-sosyal, stick to your roots. Hindi ka naman lumaki sa Amerika bakit ka gano’n? Pasosyal-sosyal ka?”
A daughter to Methodist parents, Toni beleieves that God knows the perfect timing for everything, Toni always honors the advice of her parents especially her mom, Crisanta “Pinty” Gonzaga, who guides her decision-making especially when it comes to her relationship with her first boyfriend of four years, Director Paul Soriano.
At 27, Toni shamelessly confessed in the interview with Kris that she still follows a curfew, whenever she goes out for leisure; and 12 midnight if Paul comes over to their house to visit. Albeit her family’s approval of Paul, the actress revealed that she is still not allowed to travel with her boyfriend. The actress however, said that she doesn’t regret anything because it was her choice to follow the advice of her parents.
“I think people respect me more because of the way my parents brought me up so I don’t regret anything. “
Toni believes that in God’s time, traveling with Paul will be something she will look forward to if ever the two of them get married. Paul has been very open about his willingness to marry Toni. So when he was recently interviewed, the director took the chance to ask his girlfriend on when she is ready to tie the knot. Taken aback, Toni decided to elude the question at that time. It can be recalled, however, that the actress shared that she still wants to wait for three more years before settling down because she wants to enjoy every opportunities coming her way.
Stressing on the role of her family in her decision making, Toni said that she “realized after 10 years in the business, it’s very important to have a support system na pamilya mo. Kasi sila lang ang—that’s actually one of the reasons that’s why hindi ako bumubukod. Iba yung pag umuwi ka, mga totoo yung kaharap mo. Saka pag nasa bahay ako anak ako eh, hindi ako artista.”
(www.asianjournal.com)
(OCIE Sept 2-8, 2011 RedCarpet pg.2)
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