Toni ready for big changes

MANILA, Philippines - Having done various roles in the past, it is only now that Toni Gonzaga will portray as a wife via the ABS-CBN sitcom Home Sweetie Home which she topbills with John Lloyd Cruz. It is no longer new for them to team up in a project but it will be the first time for both Toni and John Lloyd to star in a sitcom which plays out scenarios in the typical Pinoy family household.

In Home Sweetie Home, John Lloyd and Toni play the married couple Romeo and Julie who live with the latter’s family under one roof. Julie’s mother (played by Sandy Andolong) is indubitably not in favor with Romeo for a son-in-law due to his reputation as a ladies’ man. She prefers Jay-Jay (Jason Gainza) who she deems as a responsible and loving man. Still, love prevails. Julie ends up at the altar with Romeo who, in turn, has to deal with his wife’s family in the best way he knows how.

Toni, in a presscon held Friday, said that the project just came at the right time when she is ready to embrace whatever is about to unfold in her career in the coming new year.

“Ever since I transferred to ABS, it’s been part of the contract to do a sitcom but since I was not into doing TV series before and the sitcoms in ABS were shelved, the plan for me to do a sitcom was put on hold until eventually it came at the right time and the right age for me to portray a married woman,” began Toni. “Dati kasi I was 22 or 23 na parang alanganin siguro ang maibigay ko sa role but now that I’m 29, the role fits me and I believe it’s about time to venture into something different aside from doing those kilig types. Siguro may transition na din ng konti.”

Even in her personal life, Toni welcomes whatever change will take place, including that aspect of settling down with her longtime boyfriend, director Paul Soriano. Reportedly, Toni hopes to swap “I do’s” with Paul when she turns 30 — now less than a month shy of her birthday on Jan. 20. “I’ve reached that point that whatever it is that life is going to offer me, I’m going to take it wholeheartedly, like this show when this was offered to me, it just came out of nowhere. I didn’t ask for it and never did I expect that it will be offered to me. I told myself, “Ah okay, many surprises are coming in to my life.’ So when that time (of getting married) finally comes, of course, that’s something that I’m going to embrace wholeheartedly.”

Besides, Toni said that at her age now, she could say that she is prepared for marriage, “parang ang hirap naman sabihin na 29 na di pa ready.”

Asked if there’s something that hinders her from plunging into marriage, Toni said that it will happen in God’s perfect time. And just like what she said in recent reports, “The ball is not in my court. It’s his (Paul) part.” 

She added, “Before, I used to tell him not to propose. That was in 2008 then same in 2009 and 2010. But I’ve come to the point that I’m no longer asking him that parang ‘di na kita pipigilin kung saan mo ma-feel sa puso mo na sabihin sa’yo ni Lord.’”

Toni also admitted that when she was 25 years old, she would set goals that she wanted to achieve, but that changed by the time she turned 27 or 28. “I said I don’t want to set goals anymore because His goals are better than mine.”

And as Christmas Day nears, Toni will celebrate with her family sans splurging. “Wala masyadong materyal. Instead of buying material things, it’s better if we share to others, unfair naman mag-celebrate na may Kapamilya na di pa nakakaahon. Same with Paul. We just support each other. We’re not also into material things; yung commitment, loyalty, honesty mas yun ang binuo namin kaya siguro kami ganito tumagal.”

How would she assess her 2013?

“It’s been very challenging for the whole country parang it’s so hard sometimes to celebrate the personal successes or achievements that you received because of what is going on around you. This year has taught me so much — to be more selfless, more compassionate and aware of what’s happening around, and to reach out parang tigilan muna natin maging makasarili, isipin natin kapwa… na makatulong. It feels good to help.”

And what are her plans for 2014?

“There are many, di ba it is said that many are the plans in a man’s heart but always His purpose that will prevail. Parang 2014, I will just let it go, I will just go with whatever He’s going to give me and bless me wala ako plano this year. I will just give my best in whatever I will do.”