Toni Gonzaga
 | This article contains promotional content. (April 2009) |
|
Toni Gonzaga | |
|---|---|
| Born | Celestine Cruz Gonzaga[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Host (event TV Host), Singer, Actress,model |
| Website | http://www.tonigonzaga.com.ph |
Celestine Cruz Gonzaga (known for her screen name Toni Gonzaga), is a Filipina actress, TV host, singer, recording star, concert performer, commercial model and kagawad. She started her career as one of the stars of the GMA Network but later decided to leave the network and transfer to other network, ABS-CBN, which made her career soar even higher.
Biography
Toni Gonzaga was born on January 20, 1984, a 6.8 lbs baby girl to Methodist parents, Carlito and Crisanta Gonzaga.[1] She has a younger sister named Catherine Gonzaga (also known as Alex Gonzaga), who starred in the let's go and the Philippine remake of My Girl.[2] Toni was baptized during her infancy and later confirmed at a United Methodist Church in her hometown of Taytay, Rizal in the Philippines. She is currently the girlfriend of director Paul Soriano
Gonzaga began participating in various singing competitions at age seven.[1] She took up mass communications at the Dominican College (San Juan), where she studied for two years. Later, she transferred to the AB English program of the Asian Institute for Distance Education (AIDE).
Career
Gonzaga started in show business at age 13 where she joined a singing contest with Kyla and Faith Cuneta.[3]
Gonzaga started as a talent of GMA Artist Center and landed small roles and went freelance after four years. While attending high school, Gonzaga actively participated in auditions, competitions and VTR screenings of advertising agencies. At 16, she struggled as a lounge singer in several Philippine hotels and bars at night while attending school during the day. Her agent later informed her of an audition for a local TV commercial for Sprite.
She received offers for guest appearances in various TV shows and earned her regular stint in the GMA sitcom Daddy Di Do Du. TAPE Inc., the show's producing company, offered her to be one of the hosts in the noontime show Eat Bulaga which undoubtedly launched her acting and hosting career. While hosting Eat Bulaga, she also co-anchored Wazzup Wazzup on Studio 23, an ABS-CBN UHF Channel.
Two years later, Toni Gonzaga was tapped to sing "Doon", the theme song of TAPE Inc's afternoon TV drama, "Ikaw sa Puso Ko" which was topbilled by Starstruck finalist, Nadine Samonte and Oyo Boy Sotto. It was aired in GMA Network.
2005-2006
She transferred to ABS-CBN in May 2005 and after signing with the said network, she became a co-host of Most Requested Show (MRS), with hosts Roderick Paulate and Amy Perez. She was also a part of Entertainment Konek (ETK) with Ogie Diaz. She, then, became the lead host of Pinoy Big Brother, the Philippine franchise of the Endemol reality show, Big Brother.
She had her first movie for Star Cinmema, which is the blockbuster horror-comedy D Another's with Vhong Navarro She released her second album, You Complete Me under ABS-CBN's record label, Star Records. Its carrier single, "We Belong" proved to be a big hit, reaching the top spot in several music charts in the Philippines. It also stirred controversy because of its tune being surprisingly identical to Utada Hikaru's "First Love". Nevertheless, after about two months, the 7-track EP has already been a certified gold record with 15,000 units sold. It was later re-released in line repackaged version with the airing of the television series, Crazy for You, which also starred Toni Gonzaga. The repackaged version included the theme song of the said TV series which is a remake of Madonna's 80's hit which is of the same title, as well as the movie edit of "You Are the One" featuring Sam Milby. This was been one of the hit movie of Star Cinema reaching more than 111 million total net gross of the movie. "Kung Kaya Ko", the Gonzaga-penned song and the last single from the album, received moderate radio airplay but was not as commercially successful as "We Belong". "We Belong" is a song that is very similar to a song by Utada Hikaru (First Love [released in 1999]). The melody and sound of both these songs are very compatible.
2007
She hosted two seasons of Pinoy Big Brother which is Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 and Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 which in the latter season, Big Brother trapped her inside the house with the housemates then she became the second houseguest for the season. She only stayed inside the house for four days because she has showbiz commitments to do.
Her third album was released titled Falling In Love. The 11-track album proved to be even more successful. "Catch Me I'm Fallin'", the album's carrier single, received massive radio and TV success being in regular rotation in top radio stations and music channels during its release. The single, along with its music video, dominated the pop charts for weeks. It is one of the most successful singles in the Philippines in 2007 and can also be considered as Gonzaga's biggest hit to date. The album exceeded 30,000 copies in units sold being awarded the platinum status in two months.
The follow-up single, "Perfect World", was used as the official soundtrack of MPPORG's online game of the same title. It was a moderate success reaching the top ten in music charts. "Kasalanan Ko Ba?", a remake of the 90's Neocolours-hit and the album's final single, was simultaneously released with "I've Fallen for You". The latter was used as the movie theme song of the same title which starred Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu. Both singles failed to crack the top ten and match the success of the first two singles.
She starred at the post-valentine movie You Got Me with her partner Sam Milby and introducing Zanjoe Marudo. After this movie, Gonzaga and Marudo had an Love Spell episode for a month.
Toni Gonzaga won awards like "Women of Style and Substance" from People Asia Magazine and was one of the "Top ten most admired TV personality" by Southeast Asian Foundation, Anak TV Awards.
In December, she was cast along the Maging Sino Ka Man stars in the second part of the teleserye. Some fans protested by giving Toni such a small role, being a supporting cast.
2008
The success of her third album helped lobby her first major solo concert. Catch Me... Toni Gonzaga was held on February 9, 2008 at the Aliw Theater, Manila. The concert was a sold-out that a repeat was held on May 2, 2008 entitled Catch Me Again.... A pre-selling of her anticipated fourth album was done during the repeat.
Finally, on May 5, 2008, Love Is... her fourth solo effort under Star Records was released. The album contained a majority of revivals and only three original cuts. Its carrier single, "One Hello", which was originally done by Randy Crawford was used as the theme song of the Star Cinema-movie, When Love Begins. The single was a moderate success reaching number one in several radio music charts. The second single, "Incapable", received very limited radio airplay with no accompanying music video. "Take Me, I'll Follow", a Bobby Caldwell original and the album's third single, is now enjoying rotation in several radio stations.
She starred at two movies from Star Cinema. The triumvirate post-valentine movie, My Big Love, which was aired on February with Sam Milby and Kristine Hermosa and My Only You with Vhong Navarro on October which was part of 15th anniversary of Star Cinema.
She hosted Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus and Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2. She was once again awarded as one of the "Top ten most admired TV personality" by Southeast Asian Foundation, Anak TV Awards.
2009
There were rumors circulating that Toni will transfer back to her mother station GMA Network, but Toni will remain a Kapamilya star. She renewed her two-year contract with ABS-CBN. She also reunited with her box office love partner, Sam Milby with a collaboration album called Love Duets under Star Records and this May is set to do a one-night concert with Sam Milby . Also Toni starred in her first Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pendant episode with Jason Abalos and Ryan Eigenmann for a Valentine's Day special. The said episode was one of the top-rating Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes, beating the shows of the rival network. She had her concert tour in Canada for the month of March titled "Perfect Combination" with Erik Santos. She will also make her return to television, this time partnering with Derek Ramsay for a precious heart episode.Toni Also released her album with Sam Milby entitled "Love Duets" under star records. While releasing Love Duets, her third album released last year awarded as gold in status. She also had her one month concert tour on United States with Vice Ganda and Ara Mina.
She will be starring on her upcoming movie under Star Cinema with Joseph Estrada, Ai-Ai de las Alas and reunited to her love team partner Sam Milby.
Filmography
Television
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Producer | |
| 2008 | My Only U | Winona Benigno Aunor | Star Cinema | |
| 2008 | My Big Love | Aira Capistrano | Star Cinema | |
| 2007 | You Got Me | Inspector Amor Moe Santander | Star Cinema | |
| 2006 | You Are the One | Purita "Sally" Malasmas | Star Cinema | |
| 2005 | D' Anothers | Maan Tuken | Star Cinema | |
| 2003 | Pakners | Angela Dimayuga | Star Cinema |
Discography
You Complete Me
- Released: 2006
- Label: Star Records
Fallin' in Love
- Released: June 17, 2007[4]
- Label: Star Records
- Singles: "Catch Me I'm Fallin" (from Which Star Are You From? soundtrack), "I've Fallen for You"
Love Is?
- Released: April 29th, 2008[5]
- Label: Star Records
References
- ^ a b c Ramos, Ethel (November 13, 2005). "TONI GONZAGA'S INVESTMENTS". Studio Whispers. Malaya (via Philippine Headline News). Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ "Toni Gonzaga defends sister Alex on parrot tag". abs-cbnNEWS.com. September 30, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Cruz, Marinel (July 23, 2007). "Toni Gonzaga has found her man". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Mata, Paul (June 4, 2007). "Star Records to launch Toni Gonzaga's Fallin' in Love". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ [1]
External links
- Official Website of Toni Gonzaga
- Toni Gonzaga at IMDb
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (April 2009) |
- Articles with a promotional tone from April 2009
- Unreferenced BLPs from April 2009
- Wikipedia articles needing rewrite from April 2009
- 1984 births
- Filipino actors
- Filipino child actors
- Filipino television personalities
- Filipino singers
- Filipino female singers
- Filipino child singers
- Filipino Methodists
- Filipinos of Spanish descent
- Game show hosts
- Living people
- Pinoy Big Brother
- Pinoy Dream Academy