Toni Gonzaga hosted Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?

The Much Needed Vacation

After the success of Game Ka Na Ba’s new format, the actor, TV host and head of the Optical Media Board, Edu Manzano took a much needed but short vacation in Mexico and Los Angeles. During his vacation in Mexico and Los Angeles, the actor-host was overwhelmed because of the warm welcome he received from the Filipinos abroad.

“Salamat kasi kahit saan tayo magpunta ay parang pag-aari ng Pilipino,” Edu Manzano said in an interview conducted by ABS-CBNnews.com. He also added that the Filipinos abroad would talk to him about his famous dance steps, the Papaya dance.

He was surprised and happy about the fact the Filipinos outside the country are familiar with the show he is currently hosting.

The Temporary Hosts

During Manzano’s short vacation outside the country, the award-winning actress, singer and TV host, Toni Gonzaga replaced and took care of the hosting chores of the show, “Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba”. The veteran comedian, Brod Pete, joined Toni Gonzaga in hosting the said show. Avid viewers of the show were happy about the Toni and Brod Pete tandem.

When Edu Manzano, the real host of the show came back from his vacation, he thanked Toni Gonzaga and Brod Pete for taking care of the show and its viewers.

“I would like to thank of course Toni Gonzaga and Brod Pete for taking over while I was away,” Manzano said on the same interview conducted by ABS-CBNnews.

'Direk' Paul Soriano hopes to marry Toni Gonzaga

Actress, singer and TV host Toni Gonzaga and director Paul Soriano have been an item for only a year, but they're already setting their sights on settling down not soon, but eventually.

In separate interviews with The Buzz, both Toni and Paul expressed their desire for their present relationship to culminate in marriage, even as they revealed the gifts they exchanged to mark their first year anniversary.

Paul said he gave Toni a Tempur-pillow, it's a pillow made from high-tech "memory foam" that was once developed by NASA for its astronauts. Basically, pillows and mattresses made from memory foam mould themselves to the shape of the body or object placed on it. As a result, there's less pressure to the user who will sleep very well on the memory foam.

He must really want Toni to have very sound sleep wherever she goes after all, she's one of the busiest ABS-CBN talents with tapings and shows that last well into the early morning hours.

Toni on the other hand gave Paul a scrapbook filled with magazine clippings and other odds and ends that are souvenirs of the most memorable moments of their relationship in the past year.

The lovers only had good words about each other during their interviews. Toni described Paul as 'sweet. Marami syang ginagawa na unexpected". Paul on the other hand said that he appreciates Toni's efforts to see him despite her busy schedule.

"She finds ways to make time for me, for dinner, coffee, hang out," he said.

Paul also said that their shared Christian faith is a big help in keeping their relationship strong, despite the issues and intrigues local showbiz throws at them.

Remember when rumors spread about how Paul was supposedly one of the "suspects" who fathered the child of actress Camille Pratts? That proved to be false after the Pratts family announced that the father is Camille's childhood sweetheart, Anthony Linsangan.

Toni hasn't been spared: some very nasty remarks and accusations by still unidentified people were posted on her own Multiply blog.

Paul shared the secret of why their relationship is still going strong: "We pray a lot together. I think that's something her dad and mom taught us, we cannot do anything just the two of us, we need to put God at the center of the relationship."

Paul also said that he would want his relationship with Toni to go on for a lifetime.

"I definitely want this to lead to marriage obviously, that's why I put so much time and effort into this. I think she's the one for me, if you ask me, this is the direction I wanto to go," he said.

Toni, progressively sexy

Toni Gonzaga, the singer, is now tagged as the Most Certified Platinum Star. During the launching of her third studio album under Star Records, “Love Is…Toni Gonzaga” CD, Managing Director Annabelle Regalado-Borja explained Toni is now one of the highest selling recording artists with the platinum performance of her second CD. Her third CD is expected to be another platinum performer with its carrier single “Incapable,” as written by hitmaker Christian Martinez. Feeling a bit naughty, I asked Toni the following questions during the open forum as presided by Eric John Salut.

Which title do you prefer, Most Certified Platinum Star of The Ultimate Multi-media?

Ay! Hindi ko alam. Parang hindi ko alam kung alin ang type ko. Ang hirap namang mamili.

Most Certified Platinum Star refers to your recording career while The Ultimate Multi-media Star refers to your total career.

Hindi ko talaga alam. It’s not for me to decide, dahil hindi ba, ang mga tao naman ang nagbibigay ng mga title sa mga artista. Kung ako ang papipiliin, kahit ano, okey sa akin. Huwag lang Bomba Star! Kahit anong star, huwag lang ‘yon. Huwag ding sexy star, hindi po bagay. Parang comatose na ang level ko kapag ganu’n na ang title ko.

But your image has turned sexier?

Wow! Kailangan ‘yon. It comes with the time. Maturity rin. Nagma-mature na rin ang body ko, habang nagma-mature ang mga songs ko.

Did you discuss with (boyfriend) Paul Soriano the change in image?

Hindi naman talaga ako nagpapa-sexy. Kaya ko lang naman ginawa ‘yung mga leg showing, dahil concert ko ‘yon, para naman maiba sa mga ginagawa ko sa TV.

What does Paul think about it?

When it comes to that, hindi naman namin dini-discuss, kasi alam naman niya na hindi ako gagawa ng isang bagay na hindi ko pinag-iisipang mabuti, na alam kong makakasira sa akin. At saka, ‘pag nagsusuot ako ng mga seksing damit, ano naman, not to the point na mababastos na ako!

Did you wear stockings in the image behind you? (Note: It shows Toni kneeling while wearing a gown in paisley print, her back showing and her right leg exposed.)

Wala talagang stockings diyan, promise! Tanong niyo po sa photographer ko, si Ronnie Salvacion, wala talaga. Kaya namin ipinakita ‘yan, kasi ‘yun ‘yung time na may hinanakit ako, dahil hindi ako nakapag-summer vacation. So, nu’ng summer si Mariel (Rodriguez) and Bianca (Gonzales) tan, ako lang ang maputi. Sa opening ng “PBB Teen Edition Plus,” nag-spray-spray ako ng pang-tan. Peke ang tan ko. Maputi talaga ako.