Toni Gonzaga on being "heir apparent" of Kris Aquino: "Walang papalit sa kanya dahil nag-iisa lang siya."

Sinabi ni Kris Aquino, during the time na nakaramdam siya ng fear tungkol sa kanyang hosting career, na kung may isa mang TV host na kinaalarmahan at nararamdaman na maaring pumalit sa kanyang trono—ito ay walang iba kundi si Toni Gonzaga.

Kilala sa kanyang frankness and honesty, mismong si Kris ang nagkuwento na napaginipan niya si Toni replacing her as the Queen of Talk; reflection lang na sa subconscious ng mahusay na TV host ay nandun nga ang takot at pangamba na mawala sa kanya ang titulo.

Last Sunday, February 15, ay nakausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Toni at kinuha namin ang reaksiyon niya tungkol sa sinabi ni Kris.

"Matagal na yun, last year pa yun," saad ni Toni. "Alam mo naman si Ate Kris, ganun talaga siya, palabiro lang yun. Pero napaginipan niya pala talaga ako, so ibig sabihin iniiisip niya pala ako. Iniisip ko rin naman siya palagi, pareho pala kami.

"Nung makarating sa akin 'yan, ano naman ang ipi-feel mo dun? Ayoko namang mag-feeling hanggang sa sinabi sa akin yun ni Ate Kris nung in-interview ko siya sa E-Live, siya mismo ang nagsabi sa akin.

"Si Ate Kris, kung ano ang nasa isip at nararamdaman niya, sinasabi niya talaga, walang siyang preno. That's what kakaiba kay Ate Kris. Siya lang yata ang nakakagawa ng ganun, yung hindi niya ine-edit kung ano ang nararamdaman o gusto niyang sabihin."

For Toni, wala pa ring papalit sa trono ni Kris as Queen of Talk.

"Alam mo, walang papalit sa kanya dahil nag-iisa lang siya. Hindi ako anak ng bayani at hindi ako anak ng presidente. Puwede lang siyang tularan o hangaan sa mga achievements niya. Pero wala sigurong makakapalit sa kanya dahil kanya-kanya namang estilo 'yan."

Toni recalled her fondest memories with Kris, lalo't sa simula pa lang ng paglipat niya sa ABS-CBN from GMA-7 ay wala itong pangit na ipinakita sa kanya.

"Mahal ko si Ate Kris, ang bait niya sa akin," sambit ni Toni. "Dati, nung bago ako dito, natatakot ako sa kanya kasi baka mataray or hindi namamansin sa mga bagong artista. Pero nagulat ako dahil kilala niya ako agad. She's really aware of her environment, kilala niya talaga ang mga tao sa mundong ginagalawan natin."

Bukod kay Kris, inisa-isa ni Toni ang iba pang mga TV hosts, mapa-local man o international, na hinahangaan niya.

"Pagdating sa seryoso, mga news, hardcore facts, si Ms. Korina Sanchez. Tito Boy naman when it comes to longevity of his career, pagiging spontaneous and the wisdom he has already in the business, kahanga-hanga. Sa international, I love watching Ellen Degeneres. Rachel Ray is funny. I also like David Letterman," paglilista ni Toni.

Toni having movie with Sen. Bong

Sa nakaraang thanksgiving party ni Bong Revilla para sa entertainment press ay nabanggit niya na pinanghihinayangan niya na hindi natuloy ang pelikulang pagtatambalan sana nila ni Toni sa Star Cinema.

Ayon sa actor-politician ay matagal na niyang gustong makasama sa isang proyekto si Toni, pero dala ng kanyang hectic schedule ay hindi ito magkakaroon ng katuparan sa ngayon.

Aminado si Toni na kahit siya ay nakaramdam ng panghihinayang sa nangyari. Pero positibo siya na matutuloy rin ito sa tamang panahon.

"Sayang nga, kasi siyempre Senator Bong Revilla yun. Kasi, lahat naman yata gustong makatrabaho ang mga beteranong artista. Nagkaproblema yata sa schedule ni Senator Bong kasi may gagawin yata siyang isang movie [Panday], nagka-conflict, hindi kakayanin. Pero may right timing naman ang lahat, siguro sa ibang pagkakataon."

Ayon kay Toni, napanood na niya ang ilan sa mga pelikulang pinagbidahan ni Bong with his respective leading ladies at nagustuhan naman niya ang mga ito.

"Napanood ko na sa Cinema One yung mga movies niya, mga action, yung movie nila ni Judy Ann [Santos], Sharon [Cuneta], kay Ms. Maricel [Soriano]... Actually, maganda yung movie nila ni Ms. Maricel, yung away-bati sila nang away-bati. Nagandahan ako dun.

"Yung sa amin, darating din yung time. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali, lahat naman nasa perfect timing lang. Hindi kailangang pilitin o madaliin," saad ni Toni.

Ikinuwento rin ni Toni sa PEP ang experience niya nang humingi siya ng tulong noon kay Senator Bong noong kagawad pa ang TV host-actress sa kanilang lugar sa Antipolo.

"Siguro mga two to three years ago pa yun, kalilipat ko lang sa ABS. Lumapit ako sa kanya before, pumunta ako sa office niya, sa Senate. Humingi ako ng dental chairs para sa mga kabarangay ko nga, and he was very approachable and accommodating. I think he was able to help kasi, siyempre, pagkatapos ko siyang kontakin, yung mga taga-barangay na yung kumontak sa kanya. Kumbaga, ako yung ginawang koneksiyon," lahad ni Toni.

Toni Gonzaga on success of team-up with Sam Milby: "Siguro dahil hindi kami."

Pagkatapos ng tagumpay ng tatlong pelikulang pinagtambalan nina Toni Gonzaga at Sam Milby—You Are The One, You Got Me, and My Big Love—marami sa mga tagahanga nila ang naiinip na sa susunod na pelikulang pagtatambalan nila. Wala man silang pelikulang gagawin sa ngayon, isang duet album naman ang handog nila para sa kanilang mga tagahanga.

"Siyempre, pinapasabik muna namin sila," ani Toni sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). "Pero mahal na mahal namin talaga ang mga Sam-Tiners dahil binigyan nila kami ng magandang opening movie. Yung first movie namin hanggang sa mga sumunod, sinuportahan nila talaga.

"May gift naman kami ni Sam sa kanila, bagama't hindi na kami nagsasama sa television or sa pelikula. We'll be coming up with an album. The title of the album is Love Duets, the whole album is a duet and it's under Star Records. Na-realize namin ang dami na naming nagawang movies, mga TV shows na magkasama kami. I think, this time, it's about time to give it back to our fans by giving them an album.

"Actually, we recorded seven cover songs na duet talaga, tapos mayroon na kaming na-record na before like 'If Ever You're In My Arms Again,' 'You Are The One,' isasama din yun. Last year pa nag-record si Sam; ako, this year ko nasimulan. Now, natapos na namin lahat ng kanta," kuwento niya.

Tinyak din ni Toni na magugustuhan ng mga tao ang album nilang ito ni Sam dahil kakaiba raw ang style at approach nito kumpara sa ibang albums.

"We made good music talaga ni Sam!" sambit ni Toni. "Narinig ko yung boses niya, tapos na-finalize namin. Natuwa ako kasi masarap siyang pakinggan sa tenga. It's something na masarap na pakinggan, so, sana magustuhan din nila. Hindi siya typical kasi may transition ang bawat kanta. Hindi siya pagkatapos ng track 1, track 2 agad. May transition music, may mga tawid. Lahat ng music, connected to one another."

Ano sa palagay niya ang mayroon ang tambalan nila ni Sam at kinakagat at sinusuportahan ito ng mga tao?

"Siguro dahil hindi kami," sagot ni Toni. "Narinig ko 'yan kay Ted Failon and Ms. Korina Sanchez. They've been partners for 15 years, tinanong sila kung bakit nagki-click ang tandem nila. Sabi ni Ted, because hindi raw sila ni Korina. Maybe because of the partnership, walang ilangan, kasi hindi kayo. If you're really friends and you work as partners, you bring out the best in each other. Siguro, yun ang mayroon kami ni Sam."

Toni Gonzaga puts heart, soul in relationship, says BF

"She's the best, for me."

This was how director Paul Soriano described his girlfriend, television host-actress Toni Gonzaga, who celebrated her birthday Saturday.

"She put her 100 percent, heart and soul into this relationship just to make me happy, to make me feel secure, to make me smile," Soriano said in a taped message.

"The best has just begun. I'm here, I'm gonna journey with you throughout everything," he added.

Aside from Soriano, Gonzaga's celebrity friends and family, including her grandfather who flew from the US, also greeted her.

A teary eyed Gonzaga, who spent the holidays in the US, shared that she requested her grandfather to come home so that she could spend her birthday with him.

Toni Gonzaga not leaving the Kapamilya network

Television host-actress Toni Gonzaga firmly denied reports saying that she was leaving ABS-CBN allegedly because of dissatisfaction.

Gonzaga said she was not transferring to another television station, saying that in the first place the Kapamilya network has lined up many projects for her this year.

The actress, who celebrated her birthday Saturday, added that she is “happy” in ABS-CBN.

“Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa ABS-CBN. Talagang naging ganap akong artista sa ABS. At may gagawin pa ako this year sa kanila so hindi ako pwedeng umalis,” she said.

Toni Gonzaga clarifies issues that came out during the holidays

Sa pagbabakasyon ni Toni Gonzaga, kasama ang buong pamilya, sa Amerika last holiday season, samu't saring mga intriga agad ang lumabas tungkol sa TV host-actress-singer.

Una na rito ay pagkakalabuan daw nila ng boyfriend na si Paul Soriano. Ikalawa ay ang napipintong paglipat daw ni Toni sa ibang istasyon dahil sa kakulangan ng mga proyekto na ibinibigay sa kanya ng ABS-CBN.

Sa panayam ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Toni kahapon, January 11, sa dressing room ng ASAP '09, ay binigyang-linaw niya ang mga isyung ito.

"Regarding kay Paul," simula ni Toni, "I left na malungkot dahil hindi siya nakasama in States. But I left with a happy heart dahil may babalikan ako pag-uwi.

"Siguro kaya may mga issue na ganyan, kasi hindi kami masyadong napagkikita. Hindi rin kami nagpapa-interview. For me kasi, I think sapat na I was honest enough to admit na I have a boyfriend, I'm committed now. Tapos hindi na ako nagpa-interview about it para hindi na nakakalkal."

Last Friday, January 9, lang nakauwi si Toni from their vacation. Hindi nakasama sa nasabing bakasyon si Direk Paul dahil bukod sa lakad yun ng buo nilang pamilya, alam ni Toni na may sarili rin namang pamilya na dapat makasama ang boyfriend sa special occasion na yun.

"Galing kami ng L.A., New Jersey, New York," kuwento ni Toni. "Family lang, exclusive for family, it's our first White Christmas... Bonding, updating sa mga nangyayari sa amin, so talagang excited kami nun. 

"Actually, gusto sana naming isama siya [Paul]. Kaya lang, siyempre Christmas and New Year is panahon para sa pamilya. Puwede naman kaming mag-spend ng Christmas namin every day."

Gab Fab: Vhong, Toni triumph in new romcom

Cathy Garcia-Molina has fans and by that I don’t mean those people who don’t miss the movies of certain directors because they’re fans. Molina’s fans cheer and even bring their own streamers, as if the director is some much-hyped and much-photographed high-profile actor. I witnessed this myself during the recent premiere of My Only U

from Star Cinema.

Then again, such reaction shouldn’t be surprising. Cathy has been churning out fan-friendly films, from last year’s blockbuster One More Chance, which cemented John Lloyd Cruz’s rep as a bankable movie actor; and Close to You, which launched the movie career of Sam Milby; to, more recently, the widely popular A Very Special Love, which gave Sarah Geronimo movie-star bragging rights.

For her latest outing, My Only U, Cathy’s fans cheered her at the premiere of the comedy starring Vhong Navarro and Toni Gonzaga. The movie has been rated “B” by the Cinema Evaluation Board, allowing it to receive a 50-percent tax rebate.

The movie is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Winona (Gonzaga), a bitter person who has lost hope for the future—that is, until she meets Bong (Navarro). He has always had feelings for Winona but could never summon the courage to do anything about it. Until a ghost comes in to provide assistance. The movie packed with wild and wacky antics—and then, there’s the surprise ending which, of course, I won’t give away.

What I will say is that Vhong Navarro, as usual, is a comic genius. His comedy is very Pinoy—slapstick, very emotional, sprinkled with a bit of wit. He’s no Hugh Grant but Hugh is English and so while his movies will never muster lines at the box office of Starmall, Vhong’s will.

Vhong even shows a dramatic side in the movie and while that scene is filled with clichés, Vhong’s brilliant acting saves it—and according to Vhong, direk Cathy helped him fully understand his character. I won’t be surprised if Vhong brings his own streamer for Cathy at the premiere of her next project.

Meanwhile, another comedy I got to see recently is Pineapple Express (screened exclusively in Ayala Cinemas), from Judd Apatow and stars Seth Rogen and James Franco. It’s typical Apatow—nasty dialogue, scenes that are borderline obscene, but with a certain smartness informing the entire proceedings.

Pineapple Express is no different.

Denton (Rogen) is a mailman who spends his days delivering subpoeanas and buying dope from his trusted dealer Saul (Franco). The two try out the latest weed variety, called Pineapple Express, and then Dale witnesses a murder on his way from their pot session. Before long, the two are pursued by hitmen, cops and the whole world.

The movie zips along with abandon and it remains hilarious even if by the middle it gets loopier and disconnects with the plot. Apatow movies have never been about plot, after all. It has always been about witty dialogue, the sly ripostes between the characters. The movie is pointless but it’s so funny that you wouldn’t mind. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes, such as the madcap car chase and an out-of-control ninja scene. But what is shocking is that, in some scenes, you’d even sympathize with the pothead characters.

What is also special about Pineapple Express is that it does what the three Spider-Man blockbusters failed to accomplish: make James Franco a star. Franco is a very talented but underrated young actor. He has always amazed me with his talent, but I’m now blown away by his range showing us his sterling comic skills in this movie.

There will be no Oscar nominations for this movie, I’m quite sure, but if you want to just laugh the days away, then watch Pineapple Express. You might be able to forget the horrors you’ve seen recently on TV...and I’m not talking about those lame Halloween specials over the weekend but the news about Bolante and de la Paz.