Celestine Cruz “Toni” Gonzaga (born January 20, 1984), better known as Toni Gonzaga, is a Filipino singer, television host, and actress. Dubbed as the ‘Ultimate Multimedia Star’,she started her career with GMA Network, then later moved to ABS-CBN in 2005. She hosts the entertainment talk show The Buzz, and the reality shows Pinoy Big Brother and The Voice of the Philippines. She’s also a co-host and a performer in the musical variety show ASAP.
Early life and education
Toni Gonzaga is a resident of Taytay, Rizal and the eldest daughter of Carlito and Crisanta Gonzaga, who also acts as her talent manager. Her sister is Catherine Gonzaga, also known as Alex Gonzaga who’s also an actress and television host. In Taytay, she was an elected barangay kagawad for one term and a Sunday school teacher in her evangelical church. She studied Mass Communication at the Dominican College in San Juan, Rizal for two years. Later, she transferred to the Asian Institute for Distance Education (AIDE) and shifted her course to AB English, which she wasn’t able to finish due to her busy showbiz schedule. She is currently enrolled at the University of the Philippines Open University taking up her Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia Studies.
Career
1997-2004
Toni Gonzaga started in local entertainment at the age of 13. It was on 1997 where she joined a singing competition called “Tanghalan Ng Kampeon” aired on GMA Network hosted by Pilita Corales and Bert “Tawa” Marcelo. The singing competition television show also start the careers of two other Filipina singers, Kyla and Faith Cuneta. She did not win the competition.
Her biggest break in the Philippine entertainment industry was her soft drink TV ad with Piolo Pascual in 2001. In the same year, she released her eponymous debut album under Prime Music and “Paano”, a cover of Gary Valenciano, was released as its carrier single. And in 2002 she became one of the main hosts in the long time afternoon variety show Eat Bulaga. She also sung “Doon”, the theme song of TAPE, Inc.’s afternoon TV drama, “Ikaw Sa Puso Ko” which stars Star Struck finalist, Nadine Samonte and Oyo Sotto which aired on GMA Network. In 2002, she was cast in the primetime television series Habang Kapiling Ka starring Angelika dela Cruz. In March 2004, she joined Studio 23’s Wazzup Wazzup with Archie Alemania and Vhong Navarro.
2005-2008
In January 2005, she transferred to ABS-CBN Corporation. Later she became one of the main hosts of Pinoy Big Brother series and the Sunday musical variety program ASAP. Same year, she starred as one of the main leads in her first comedy-horror film, D’ Anothers in which Vhong Navarro was her love interest. In 2006, she released her second album and her first under Star Records entitled “Toni: You Complete Me” and starred her first prime time drama series “Crazy For You” opposite Luis Manzano. Moreover, her movie You Are The One with Sam Milby was released the same year upon which she was awarded by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation, Inc. (GMMSF) the following year for the said film. In 2007, Gonzaga released her third studio album Falling in Love and movie You Got Me!. In 2008, she had her first solo major concert at the Aliw Theater titled “Catch Me, Toni Gonzaga: First Major Concert” which had a repeat the same year. After the success of her first major concert, she released her fourth studio album entitled, “Love Is…”. Later, she launched her fourth film, My Big Love with Sam Milby for the third time. After the block-buster teamed up of Gonzaga and Milby, she once again starred opposite Vhong Navarro in the film My Only Ü.
2009-2011
In 2009, she starred in a Valentine’s Day Special episode of the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia, Maalaala Mo Kaya. She was then casted in the Gideon Flame Film Festival’s Best Film, A Journey Home. Later by February, a duet album with Sam Milby was released under Star Records. Before the year ended, Gonzaga was once again teamed up with Sam Milby in the comedy film, Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round which included Ai-Ai de las Alas and Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada as the main leads. Further in 2010, she became part of entertainment talk show program The Buzz. She is the SM Cinema’s Box Office Queen for 2010 alongside John Lloyd Cruz as the Box Office King for their movie “My Amnesia Girl”. Her 5th studio album entitled, All Me, was internationally released in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, and Japan.
In August 2011, her movie Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi in which her first ever team up with Eugene Domingo was premiered in cinemas nationwide in the Philippines. On September 30, 2011, she celebrated her 10th anniversary in Philippine entertainment industry with a concert at the Smart Araneta Center titled “Toni@10” with guests Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Vhong Navarro, Pokwang, Vice Ganda, Sam Milby, and her real-life sister Alex Gonzaga, with the special participation of Gary Valenciano. TAG Concept, the production and talent management group owned by the Gonzaga family, co-produced the show with Star Events and Epic Entertainment. Furthermore, for the continuation of the celebration she released her Greatest Hits album in which her singles from 2006-2010 were included.
2012–present
In March 2012, she starred in the first ever month-long special of Wansapanataym, which aired four episodes.
The 2011 Female Concert Performer award was given to Gonzaga by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation. In October 2012, Gonzaga finally launched her comedy film in which she teamed up with Vice Ganda and Luis Manzano entitled, This Guy’s In Love With You, Mare!. The movie is one of the highest grossing Filipino films of all time when it reached its third week of showing in cinemas nationwide; it earned P315 million. Moreover, she was awarded Best Female TV Host for her show, (ASAP 2012) by the PMPC Star Awards before 2012 ended.
On January 7, 2013, Gonzaga entered the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs contest with the song entry called “Kahit Na”, written by Jumbo “Bojam” De Belen. The contest featured songwriters who worked together with Filipino artists to create new OPM music. The song was chosen to be part of 12 Grand Finalists and was simultaneous promoted by Star Records Inc. The music video of the said song was directed by University of the Philippines. She performed the song in the grand finals on 24 February at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Overall, the song finished in fifth place as the Best P-pop Love Song, thus rewarding the writer of Gonzaga’s song Php100,000 in cash.
In February 2013, Gonzaga confirmed that she was the main host of the singing reality show The Voice Philippines. As part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Star Cinema, Gonzaga together with Bea Alonzo, Shaina Magdayao, Angel Locsin and Enchong Dee were teamed up in a film entitled Four Sisters and a Wedding, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. In June 2013, she hosted Kwentong Kusina, Kwentong Buhay, a morning cook show which aired every Sunday for 10 episodes. On October 8, 2013, Gonzaga won “Best Female Emcee” at the 26th Aliw Awards. By the end of the year, she is set to host the 5th season of Pinoy Big Brother. She is working on her sixth album under Star Records and is filming a movie with Piolo Pascual entitled “Un-Love You”, to be released next year. A sitcom called as Home Sweetie Home, with John Lloyd Cruz is already on pre-production.
