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.

Toni Gonzaga to host Pinoy Dream Academy Season II

After her hosting stint with Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus, actress and host, Toni Gonzaga will join the dreamcredible team of Pinoy Dream Academy Season II. Toni Gonzaga joins Nikki Gil and Billy Crawford in hosting the said show.

Toni Gonzaga will host the primetime edition of Pinoy Dream Academy Season II while Nikki Gil will give periodic updates on the show throughout the day. The newest Kapamilya, Billy Crawford will take care of the hosting chores for Pinoy Dream Academy Uberture, the counterpart of Pinoy Big Brother’s Uber.

The 32 hopefuls will be introduced on the public starting June 9, 2008 on PDA Season 2: The Dream BIGins. The program will air from Monday to Friday, after My Girl.

After PDA Season2: The Dream BIGins, a grand live premiere will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the Pinoy Dream Academy Concert hall where we get to know who would be the scholars.

Aside from her hosting and singing career, Toni Gonzaga is set to do a movie with Vhong Navarro within the year.

Toni Gonzaga on Star Studio Magazine

Toni Gonzaga is the cover girl of the latest issue of Star Studio Magazine! Star Studio Magazine gives us an update on the relationship of Toni Gonzaga and Direk Paul Soriano as they celebrate their first anniversary as a couple.

Also in the same issue is Kim Chiu, Mario Dumaual, Phoemela Barranda, Ginger Conejero, and Marie Lozano.

Grab StarStudio’s June 2008 issue, out now for only P85.

Toni & What Love Is

Toni Gonzaga shows some sexiness on the back cover of her third album titled Love is… Toni Gonzaga but her music remains sweet and is never sappy. After all, it’s Toni’s easy-listening kind of music that has made her songs reach the charts. She doesn’t have to strain her voice to make another gold or platinum album.

“I’m trying to be bolder with this album,” refers Toni to her daring, edgy image on the promotional photos for her latest album. She is in a backless dress revealing her flawless skin and legs.

“The album, on the other hand, is a combination of original and cover songs. I also had a say in the song choices. I think my music depends on time and trends. I have to go with the flow like what the listeners want. If they prefer covers, we will give them that. As the title of my album implies, it is all about love and the listener will define for himself what love is.”

Love is… Toni Gonzaga is the follow-up album to You Complete Me and Toni Gonzaga Falling In Love. Both reached gold status with the record sales of more than 25,000 sold copies. The latter was certified platinum. Toni’s music has a market of its own that’s why Star Records is never afraid to take a gamble on her. They think Toni always delivers.

For a recording artist whose debut album started on the right foot and who surpassed the sophomore jinx, there’s no other way for Toni but to come up another one and explore her range musically.

“I’m thankful that they have entrusted me this one,” says Toni, winner of MYX Most Downloaded Artist award. “(My) success, to quote actor Anthony Hopkins, is 80 percent luck, 10 percent talent and 10 percent attitude. I think it also comes with hardwork and patience. You have to visualize what you want and focus on it. Whatever respect and success I’m enjoying now, it is something I have earned for the past years. I still have a lot more to prove myself. I have to do it year after year.”

Love is… Toni Gonzaga will show that the singer-actress can make a kill not only on original compositions but also on the songs of the other artists. If you grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, you will have a blast listening to the carrier single One Hello, If Ever You’re In My Arms Again with Sam Milby, Take Me, I’ll Follow You, Insensitive, Steep and Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye. You can’t help but sing along the songs with Toni. Besides, these ditties are familiar tunes. But if you’re looking for the real sounds of Toni just the way she did in chart-topping singles We Belong and Catch Me I’m Fallin’, she serves you up songs like Incapable, If I Give You My Heart and I’ve Been Waiting.

What else do we look forward to in Toni’s career aside from her hosting stints on ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 2, Entertainment Live and ASAP? A lot.

Faces & Curves, a beauty clinic which offers cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery, got her and sister Alex as its endorsers. The place, located at Suite 204 The Victoria Plaza, Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan, is staffed by board-certified plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists and dermatologists.

Toni, a regular customer of Faces & Curves, was chosen because of her wholesome image, and her versatility as singer, actress and host.

“It was Faces & Curves that reconstructed part of my face when I met an accident while shooting a TV commercial,” says Toni. “Look, you don’t notice any difference anymore, do you?”

She goes on, “I will also make a movie with Vhong Navarro.” The Star Cinema project is Toni and Vhong’s big screen teamup after D‘ Anothers. Toni adds that she is in her best element as an actress in comedies and light romances like You Are the One and You Got Me. Many think she is also perfect for the title role of Betty La Fea which has given America Ferreira Golden Globes and Emmys. Toni is a funny girl in her own right.

With the many hats she is wearing, Toni wishes to be known as a singer “who sings from the heart, and in the future, (I hope) someone will make one of my songs a cover.”

Toni Gonzaga: ‘I’m just lucky’

Toni Gonzaga is the star of several hit movies, host of a number of hit shows, and singer with two platinum-award winning albums. But for all of her success, she believes that it’s all due to luck.

“I think sa business na ito, 80 percent ang luck, 10 percent ang attitude, at 10 percent ang talent. That’s it for me. I’m speaking for myself,” she explains during the recent launch of her third album, Love Is… Her third album contains her renditions of all-time favorites, such as You’re In Love, If I Give You My Heart, Take Me, I’ll Follow You, Insensitive, Steep, I’ve Been Waiting, and Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye. There’s also an original composition, Incapable, included in the album.

“I know that I can do so many things. But I also know that someone out there can do so much more and so much better than I do. I’m just so fortunate that I’ve been given the chances and the breaks and I was blessed with luck.”

Luck is definitely on her side. Toni is currently one of the bestselling local recording artists. Her second album, Falling In Love, is a big hit, selling a whopping 29,000 units–despite the music piracy problem. Her record label, Star Records, adds that the album is continuing to sell well.

While she is flattered with the platinum and multi-media star monickers that have been bestowed on her, she realizes that they also carry some pressure. “When you’re in the business and people start to appreciate you and recognize your abilities and how you do your work, it’s flattering and overwhelming. But at the same time, it’s something that you don’t want to put into your head,” Toni explains. “Gusto ko lang siyang i-embrace pero ayoko siyang ilagay sa sistema ko.”

She believes that these names mean she has to live up to them, to prove herself worthy. “You have to prove yourself more and more every year and it does not stop,” she ends.