Toni’s new movie with Piolo is ‘most important movie of her life’

MANILA, Philippines – “Pinakaimportanteng pelikula sa buhay ko” (The most important movie of my life), said actress Toni Gonzaga of her latest film with actor Piolo Pascua, Starting Over Again.

In an interview with Buzz ng Bayan on Sunday, February 10, Gonzaga candidly shared how the film changed her perceptions on love.

“Pag mahal mo pala ang isang tao, ipaglalaban mo talaga kasi magsisisi ka sa huli,” she told Buzz ng Bayan. (When you love someone, you will fight for them or else, you will regret it in the end.)

This, she said was also the challenge for her while working on the film. She claimed to not be as “desperate” as her character Ginny, who chases after men and begs for their attention.

But this challenge, according to Pascual, proved Gonzaga’s acting prowess. He said he was “scared and intimidated” by how Gonzaga could look confused before a shoot, yet nail every scene after only one take.

According to Gonzaga, director Olivia M. Lamasan told her to stop overthinking the scenes. “Actors do not live [in the head] they live [in the heart],” she said.

Watch the trailer here:

The fan and the dream boy

Gonzaga started off as a moon-eyed fan girl in a soda commercial, swooning over showbiz heartthrob Piolo Pascual with that memorable “I love you Piolo!” (Watch for the nod to that in the trailer.) In the same way, Gonzaga plays a student with a crush on her teacher, played by Pascual. They eventually become a couple in the time following her graduation, but Gonzaga’s character suddenly ends their relationship for unknown reasons.

Over a decade after their first soda commercial, Gonzaga said Pascual still remains a dream boy, albeit one whom she regards with much respect.

Interestingly enough, Pascual admitted to once courting the actress during her early days in showbiz.

But what would have been a dream come true for any fan, was for Gonzaga, a far-fetched idea.

“Hindi talaga eh,” she said in the interview. “Kasi alam mo yung nagsimula ka na fan, so parang nilagay mo siya sa pedestal, yung parang eskaparate. Dream boy ka, hindi ka pwedeng maging akin.” (It really can’t be. When you start out as a fan, you place the person on a pedestal. You’re a dream boy, you can’t be mine.)

In the same way, Pascual told Buzz ng Bayan that he stopped pursuing Gonzaga because he did not want to “limit her capabilities” while she was still buinding her career.

Both agree, however, that their current relationship is now built on mutual respect. Gonzaga is in a long-term relationship with filmmaker Paul Soriano, while Pascual has, over the years, been linked to several actresses, including KC Concepcion and most recently, Shaina Magdayao. 

Watch their soda commercial here:

– Rappler.com

‘Starting Over Again’ opens in cinemas on February 12.