Kid-friendly Toni Gonzaga

MANILA, Philippines - Being a celebrity is not just a job description written on someone else’s resumé or passport. It entails responsibility to be a role model, especially to an impressionable kid who considers his favorite stars his real-life superheroes. Becoming kid-friendly is a big accomplishment to stars like Toni Gonzaga.

“This is to justify my Anak TV (Seal) award,” says Toni as the featured artist on ABS-CBN’s fantasy-adventure series Wansapanataym on all Saturdays of March. “(The show) is for the youth. For actors, it’s an important (role) and a big responsibility to instill values and principles in children watching us on TV. In our own way, we can teach them how to live the right way. The young viewers will definitely learn lessons from Wansapanataym.”

Does Toni have any dream fantasy roles?

“I don’t have,” she answers. “I just enjoyed the roles I did for (Wansapanataym). They were easy, light and fun to do. I was happy with every role that was given to me.”

For last night’s episode titled Witchy Mitch, Toni played “a witch (learning) to control her powers.” Her mom played by Isay Alvarez advised Mitch not to use her special abilities to get things done. She wished her daughter to live a normal life. “In real life,” Toni adds, “when we have so much powers we can’t control ourselves and we tend to (tread) the wrong (path) because of these.”  

Hannah Panahon, on the other hand, sees Toni as “a weather girl of a morning show. She is given a break, gets to (enjoy a little popularity) and is cursed. Every time she gets angry, the weather is affected. Her (emotions and actions) also affect other people.”

“It experiences winter, spring, summer and fall,” describes Toni of her affair with director Paul Soriano. “That’s a healthy relationship. If it’s only experiencing summer, winter, spring or fall, (the relationship) will be boring. Nakararamdam kami ng iba-ibang klaseng panahon. (At the moment) it’s (experiencing) spring, blossoming and full of color.”

The last two episodes will revolve around a man about town who turns into a woman and a superhero.

If there’s a lesson kids can learn from Toni’s showbiz story, it will be the importance of knowing one’s dream early in life and chasing it with patience and hard work.  

“I don’t see myself doing things other than singing, hosting and acting,” she shares. “I’m so fascinated with the whole concept of being in the industry of entertaining people. This is something I dreamt of. And it feels great that I’m living my dream. That’s why I take good care of it and I’m grateful.”

However, her showbiz career is not “all dreams come true” as shows will always come to an end.     

“I definitely miss the people I worked with,” says the former host of Happy Yipee Yehey. “For the years that I’ve been here in the (industry), I’ve learned to (accept) that not all shows are permanent. There are no hard feelings. What’s important is we gave our best and we are working for one network. We are just here to entertain our audience. But the show will always be a part of me.”

Asked how she keeps herself sane and safe from the fancy trimmings of fame and engaging yet blinding klieg lights, Toni answers, “My parents and my sister keep me grounded. When I go home, I’m not the actress. I’m the daughter, the sister and also the relative (to the other family members). There’s no special treatment. I have a life separate (and different from) the industry. Mayroon akong personal na buhay na alam ko na yon ang totoo.”

Although she is kid-friendly, Toni also wants to “get roles that can challenge me in many ways other than showing your skin or doing love and bed scenes… challenging roles are definitely very much welcomed given the right story, the right movie and the right director.”

Meantime, let’s just enjoy Toni’s funny antics and bubbly personality.