We see her on TV almost every night, yet it is no
secret to a lot of her fans and followers that host-actress-singer Toni
Gonzaga is a homebody, and a daughter and sister dedicated to her
family. Despite hectic days in the city, Toni famously goes home each
and every night to the family home in Taytay, Rizal, which she lovingly
pertains to as a “province.”
“This is home for me, this is where I grew up, this is where I started dreaming up a lot of things that I am doing right now,” Toni told us as she settled down for our interview. “I think it’s very important to go home to where you feel you’re grounded; you’re far away from the glitz and glamor of show business."
"You come home to a place or to a house where everyone’s real, they remind you of who you are, where you came from, and why you’re doing what you’re doing.”
We visited Toni while she was shooting with her new Sony Home Entertainment System, and she showed us the side we don’t often see on TV — the Toni that simply loves being at home and with her family, detached from her work.
Here are 10 things Toni can’t live without:
1. Television
“I love watching cooking shows and daily news on E! Of course what’s happening in the world, the global news — I need to feed myself with a lot of information because of my job. Plus, I really love watching cooking shows on the Food Network, my favorite channel ever.”
2. Internet
“That’s where I get a lot of information about almost anything. That’s where I stay connected with my relatives in the US, plus [where I do] a lot of activities like managing my email.”
3. Aircon
“It’s so hot when there’s no aircon or electricity in the house. Ang init talaga! Mahina ako sa init. ‘Pag mainit, sabay-sabay umiinit lahat ng katawan ko, hanggang sa napupunta sa ulo.”
4. Water
“I love drinking water because I’m constipated! (laughs) And I don’t eat fruits so I opt for water. I eat vegetables, though.”
5. My bed
“My bed. My two pillows have been with me for 15 years. My mom just threw away the one that was with me since I was an infant. Sukang-suka na daw siya. Ayaw na daw niya makita.”
6. My laptop
“That’s where I do all of my work, and my email. Before, I could go for eight hours straight online, to keep myself informed about everything. I wanted to know the latest and would watch YouTube videos.”
7. My phone
“When I’m too tired to open my laptop, I use my phone instead.”
8. Tissue
“I always have to have tissue around or everywhere. I can easily be allergic. I sneeze a lot.”
9. “Chack-chak” (Hair clamp)
“You’ll find it in every part of our house and my car.”
10. My sweets
“I love sour candy, sour worms, chocolates, jelly beans. Right now my sugar is high, so I cut on my intake.”
Family girl
“I can’t live without my sister (Alex). We do a lot of things together, and our rooms are connected,” Toni said. “It’s so hard when she’s not around. I feel like a part of me is missing, like my other arm is not working.”
“We’re so connected in so many different levels — spiritually, emotionally — we have the same wavelength, same thinking, same everything. When she’s around, I feel like I have a partner in everything.”
“Of course I can’t live without my parents!” Toni added. “Every time I come home, they are the first two people will welcome me and ask me how my day was.”
The Christmas season has begun, and Toni shared with us how she prepares for it and shops for her gifts. Keep posted for that story!
By Kai Magsanoc | Yahoo SHE
