That’s what I told Toni before I did this "body talk" with her, that line – Magpakatotoo ka! – having been taken from the Sprite commercial that propelled her into public consciousness. Remember the swooning girl who hugged Piolo Pascual and screamed her lungs out, "I love you, Piolo!!!"? That was Toni Gonzaga.
Toni did that commercial when she was already into her fourth year as a GMA 7 talent, doing bit roles in this show and that (one of them Bubble Gang), getting bigger breaks only after that landmark commercial started coming out. And then, we began seeing her more prominent in such GMA shows as Eat, Bulaga!, SOP, Lagot Ka! Isusumbong Kita!, S-Files, Daddy Di Do Du, etc.
A Methodist, Toni (Celestine Gonzaga in real life) studied at the United Methodist Christian School in Taytay, Rizal (where she still lives with her parents) and moved to Dominican College in San Juan, where she took up two years of her Masscom (but plans to resume her rudely-interrupted studies soon). At 13, she auditioned for GMA’s Artist Center and signed a two-year contract, going freelancer when it expired.
Recently, Toni moved to ABS-CBN (she has been co-hosting Wazzup, Wazzup for its sister station, Studio 23) and, in a way, stirred a hornet’s nest among her GMA colleagues like Bulaga co-host Joey de Leon who described Toni as "ingrata."
Is she – ingrata, that is?
"I don’t think so," said Toni whom some people find suplada and antipatika maybe because, according to Toni, "I don’t smile all the time, one thing which I’m trying to do more often now."
Isn’t she afraid that ABS-CBN might turn her into a, well, "frozen delight" like such recruited GMA talents as Onemig Bondoc and now Arnell Ignacio (suddenly jobless after MTB Ang Saya-Saya folded up in favor of Willie Revillame’s solo starrer Wowowee)?
"I hope not. Many people actually warned me about that. But my parents and I believe that the longevity of an artist depends not on what station she’s connected with but on her dedication to her work." (She signed a two-year contract with ABS-CBN where she’s now seen in shows like MRS with Amy Perez, Roderick Paulate and Marvin Agustin; the Saturday talk show ETK; and ASAP Mania.)
Toni is 21, one of two daughters. She stands 5’5"; weighs 98 lbs. ("Kapag puyat") or 102 lbs. ("When fully rested"); and wears small-size shirt (kids’ section), size 34 bra and size 8 shoes.
What kind of diet do you follow?
"I control my meals. I eat anything – in moderation. Small meals, you know. I know when I’m over-eating – bumibilog ang mukha ko. I avoid fatty and oily foods, those that I know are full of cholesterol. Snacks? Yes, cheeseburgers!"
What workout do you do?
"I usually worked out in the gym four times a week. But now that I have moved to ABS-CBN and they’re fixing my schedule, I can’t work out as often as I used to. I do the treadmill and lift weights."
What vitamins (and minerals) do you take?
"Just Vitamin C, 1,000 mgs a day. I also take Berocca."
How much liquid do you take per day?
"Six to eight glasses of water. No soda for me."
How much sleep do you have per night?
"These days when I’m so busy, only about five hours. Kumpleto na ‘yon. Less than that, tumitigas ang dila ko, I can’t speak well, so I try to exercise it by reading aloud. When not busy, I sleep for about eight hours."
How do you cope with stress?
"I sleep – even on the set during breaks. Or I read."
What kind of books do you read?
"Well, right now I’m finishing a book called Devil Wears Prada given to me by JC (Cuadrado), my co-host on Wazzup, Wazzup. I also read the novels by Nicholas Sparks and those by Dan Brown. I’ve read almost all the novels by Brown – Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code and Deception Point."
How do you pamper yourself?
"I go to The Spa, which is my sponsor, once a week. You know, the works: Massage, sauna, body scrub, etc. Or I play with my two dogs, Woo Woo and Tika."
Do you meditate?
"No. But I’ve made it a point to read one or two chapters of The Bible before I go to sleep. I’m now reading the copy given to me by Toni Rose (Gayda)."
What part of your body is your favorite?
"My legs. I’m long-legged."
What part of a man’s body do you look at first?
"The eyes. And the hair. I’m attracted to guys who are clean-cut."
Is your boyfriend clean-cut...does he have nice eyes and nice hair?
"I don’t have a boyfriend. I haven’t had any boyfriend pa."
What about Luis Manzano?
"He’s not my boyfriend. He isn’t even courting me. Never have we hung out or eaten out, although he often texts me, inviting me out. But I always politely say no. I try not to go out with anyone muna."
Is it true that Luis was one of the reasons why you moved to ABS-CBN?
"That’s the rumor but it’s not true."
What about Jeremy Marquez (Joey’s son)?
"I was with Jeremy only because we were then doing the Haller segment of S-Files. That was all."
What part of your body do you think needs improvement?
"My eyes. Medyo maliit. Chinita, e! They disappear kapag full shot ako sa TV."
How’s your nightlife?
"None. Wala akong nightlife since birth. It’s a personal choice. I’d rather stay home."
What do you do at home?
"I sleep or play with my dogs. Or I do the Internet."
What about your love life?
"Wala ngang boyfriend, e! Zero!"
Isn’t it boring?
"Mas masaya nga, e! I can see the other artistas na may boyfriend during the taping at parang problematic sila because nagaaway sila ng boyfriend nila, ganoon. I don’t want my life to be that way. Abala sa trabaho ang boyfriend-boyfriend."
What’s your zodiac sign?
"Capricorn/Aquarius. I was born on Jan. 20, the transition between Aquarius and Capricorn. Sometimes I’m an Aquarius and sometimes I’m a Capricorn."
How long does it take you to fix yourself?
"Medyo matagal-tagal. I love to scrub myself in the shower. That way, I feel clean. It also relieves me of stress. I sleep well, after scrubbing myself."
What’s your clothes preference?
"No particular brand. I wear anything I’m comfortable in. When I go out, I usually just wear jeans and T-shirt and rubber shoes. Kaya madalas akong napagkakamalang kamukha ni Toni Gonzaga; never nilang nasisiguro na ako na nga ‘yon. They often mistake my sister for Toni Gonzaga."
Do you have hobbies, collection?
"I collect books, those that I buy and those given to me. When I don’t read, I feel stagnant. So I keep on reading para naman ma-broaden ang horizon ko."
What perfume do you wear?
"Thierry Mugler. According to Richard (Gomez), mu-ler daw ang pronunciation n’un, hindi mug-ler. That’s the one I’m wearing now. Actually, I prefer men’s cologne. Cool, parang amoy bagong paligo."
Are you the sporty type?
"I used to be. I used to play badminton."
Do you apply anything on your face? You have flawless complexion.
"Of course, I use Careline products, especially the Body Butter moisturizer. Otherwise, I won’t be endorsing them."
Do you have any phobia?
"I have a fear of flying, especially long flights."
Do you have any favorite fantasy?
"Nothing heavy. Basta ma-meet ko lang sina Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan and Johnny Depp. ‘Yon lang."
You prefer older men?
"Parang! When I started doing Eat, Bulaga!, I was the youngest at ang mga kasama ko lahat matatanda. I enjoyed their company and since then, mas type ko makasama ‘yung mga mas matanda sa akin."
Name three men you find with bodies-to-die for.
"Freddie Webb who, I think, looks like Richard Gere. Johnny Depp. Pierce Brosnan."
And three women...
"Jennifer Love Hewitt. Julia Roberts. Sandra Bullock."
Using body language, how would you make a guy know that you like/admire him?
"Iba ang style ko. I pretend to ignore him. Kunwari suplada ako – you know, deadma!"
Who do you think is the most "crushable" Pinoy?
"Freddie Webb!"
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)