Toni: Media started intrigues

CEBU, Philippines - Toni Gonzaga refuted notions that she and fellow ABS-CBN talent Maja Salvador are conveniently using each other, by employing the oft-common tactic of dangling their personal lives for tabloid fodder to create buzz for their respective films.

The actress-host has a movie Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi now showing nationwide, while Maja topbills the film Thelma set to open this September 7 and directed by Paul Soriano, Toni’s boyfriend of four years. It’s the Paul connection that had Maja sobbing during her own press conference, allegedly hurt at insinuations that she’s trying to steal the handsome film-concert-commercial director away from Toni. Toni, on one hand, has gotten a lot of press time answering queries whether she’s secure with her relationship and if she truly has a rift with Maja.

In a presscon held last Friday backstage of Gaisano Capital-Colon’s activity center, Toni told Cebu entertainment writers they had no hand at encouraging any of the issues, and instead pinned the blame on media for initiating all the gossip.

"It’s hard for us to comment because we're in a ‘damn if you do, damn if you don’t’ situation. Whatever we do, the fact that we both have movies now, ang talagang iisipin ng tao, lahat gimik o kanya-kanyang paraan ng promo. But all these didn’t come from us. It was the media who speculated on all those intrigues. I guess we’re just answering what we’re being accused of just to clear out that these aren’t true. Other than that, we’re not trying to make it even bigger because whatever we said before, that was it. And I think we both worked hard for our movies. Instead of selling our personal lives, we’re selling the movies that we worked hard for," Toni explained.

She was joined by young co-star Miles Ocampo in the brief Cebu visit, where after Colon they marched off to Gaisano Capital in Mactan for another mall promo.

The recently-hailed SM Cinema Box Office Queen has come to accept how endless rumors come with showbiz territory, so much so that she and Paul initially agreed not to work together to avoid unwanted attention. "But even then, hindi na nga kami magkatrabaho at iba yung film niya, pero naiintriga pa rin kami," she lamented.

A study in contrast

In Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi, Toni fleshes out the character of Belay, a shy, modest, soft-spoken teacher/folk singer from the province forced to work as a Japayuki to uplift her family’s financial condition. When she returns home from Japan after three years, she has transformed into a liberated, loud-mouthed and skimpy-clothed woman who’s also an excited bride-to-be to Zanjoe Marudo’s Oca. Belay’s quandary is how her reluctant, conservative fiancé can live up to her wedding whims and as to how her old-fashioned Catholic future mum-in-law will accept her new personality.

Toni’s partner-in-crime is Cinemalaya 2011 Best Actress Eugene Domingo (for Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank) who portrays her first cousin Precy. While Belay is eager to get hitched, Precy is an exhausted wife who wants out of her marriage. Eugene here is paired with Wendell Ramos.

"I personally did not have a hard time doing the film. Although it is a comedy, everything that happened here also happens in real life. It’s all situational. It just gets magnified on-screen that’s why the scenarios came out funny," Toni expressed.

Together, the two main leads with opposite goals explore lessons on getting married and getting separated. It questions the sanctity of marriage and the possibility of annulment when things don’t work out between a couple who swore lifetime commitment before the altar.

Toni added this about the film’s central themes: "It just happened that Ate Uge is a comedienne and nagpapatawa rin ako ng konti that’s why our movie was tagged as a comedy. But it’s really a story of the relationship within families, what many women go through when they want to get married and when they want to get an annulment. In those contexts, nakakatawa naman pala talaga. Medyo seryoso ang topics pero pag pinanood mo yung mga problemang pinagdadaanan, nakakatawa pala talaga."

Jose Javier Reyes, who helmed the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo starrer about married life Kasal Kasali Kasalo and its sequel Sakal Sakali Saklolo, directed this joint venture by Star Cinema and OctoArts Films.

All praises for co-star

This is Toni and Eugene’s big screen reunion after first working together in the 2006 flick "You Are The One" with Sam Milby. Back then, Eugene wasn’t the critically-awarded big star that she is now. Yet Toni notes that fame and fortune has not affected the in-demand actress.

"She hasn’t changed. Since the first time I’ve worked with her, more than her star factor, one can really see her passion and love for her profession. That’s what I admire in her. At yung husay at pakikitungo niya hindi nagbabago. I think that’s one of the reasons why she has lasted this long."

Acknowledging her limits

Comedy is undoubtedly her forte, and her film outfit has been utilizing well her knack for the genre. If given the choice, Toni would like to get involved in projects that offer more than just laughs. While she doesn’t have a specific preference, she hopes her next roles will be attached with social relevance.

"I would like to tackle serious, relevant characters that people can relate to. Or something that’s out-of-the-box like the films Erin Brokovich or Million Dollar Baby, aside from the usual romantic comedies that I love doing," said Toni, who ticked off Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock as her favorite Hollywood rom-com regulars.

Asked if she doesn’t feel limited by her recurrent rom-com assignments, she replied that for now, she’d rather stick to her element than do something half-baked. She’s open to serious roles someday, but is in no rush to compete with the drama actresses of her generation.

"So far, this is what management has been entrusting me with. I’m happy and thankful with all the opportunities they’ve been giving me. I can take on other mature roles eventually when I’m totally ready. I take it one step at a time. It would turn out better if I’m already ripe for a project, as opposed to including me in a heavy drama when I’m still unprepared for it."

Expecting to replicate box-office success?

Her last film My Amnesia Girl was the highest-grossing local movie of 2010 based on data provided by SM Cinema, thus she and John Lloyd Cruz were crowned Box Office Queen and King respectively. She claimed not feeling burdened to top off, or equal that feat.

"We never talk about how much the movie will make. Especially Ate Uge, as one of those passionate actors. What’s important for her is to improve in her craft. At the end of the day, we know it’s also important for our film to profit. We pray that the people will have the same reception to her Babae Sa Septic Tank and to My Amnesia Girl."

Next leading man

Lastly, she shared a script is being cooked up for her and Piolo Pascual by Star Cinema, which she feels is an interesting collaboration, since she began her career ten years ago through a softdrink commercial with the hunky actor wherein she screamed the now-famous line "I love you Piolo!"

As to possible kissing scenes with the beau of her The Buzz co-host KC Concepcion, Toni quipped in jest, "Ay hindi ako papayag na wala!"

The busy star is a mainstay of Happy Yippee Yehey!, The Buzz, ASAP Rocks and will soon begin a new season as host for the fourth edition of Pinoy Big Brother.