Toni Gonzaga in a good space

Before her 28th birthday last Friday, she wished for two things — more wisdom and to skip any mention of her film director boyfriend Paul Soriano. The last request was certainly an odd one, especially with rumours about a possible split, but showbiz celebrity Toni Gonzaga was quick to explain. "Let's not discuss Paul… Don't discuss him because it's Sam [Milby] that I'm going to be with in Dubai," Gonzaga tells me in a telephone interview ahead of her first Dubai gig with Milby and her sister Alex on January 27. Rumours of a split hit a high after Gonzaga's family and close friends in showbusiness shared their wishes in a video recording for her pre-birthday bash on the talk show The Buzz. Soriano was not included in the video. "There's really nothing more he can say on air that he can't say to me in person," Gonzaga said in dismissal then. It almost sounded like a subtle hint that their relationship had hit the rocks, but in an interview with tabloid! Gonzaga clarified: "He is still a part of my personal life. It's just that he is behind the scenes, and he's used to it." Weirdly, there's no bounce in her voice during this interview, unlike her upbeat personality on TV, and I wondered if that was just the real Gonzaga off camera. The popular singer, actress, comedienne and TV host swore that things are "falling into place" right now. "I feel everything is going well with my personal life and my career," she said. Gonzaga has been on a career high for years — acting, singing and hosting popular TV shows in the Philippines like Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), talk show The Buzz and variety shows Happy Yippie Yehey (HYY) and ASAP Rocks. She was named Box Office Queen in 2011, which was also the year she completed 10 years in the industry. Does she ever feel exhausted? "In showbiz, it's all about timing. Now is my time to reap the benefits, so I shouldn't be complaining," she said. She loves her job, she declares, and it shows. In fact, on her birthday, this was her itinerary: "At lunch time I will be at the noontime show and then I'll go for PBB taping, and then after that I will head home and have an intimate dinner with some really close friends in the business and my family. I just like small celebrations." Asked about her birthday wish for more wisdom, Gonzaga said: "As what I always say, in everything you do, especially in this business, you need wisdom so that you know that you are heading in the right direction." For now, she's looking forward to her first trip to Dubai. "To my kababayans in Dubai, I am excited to spend time with you and I hope I get to entertain you in my own little way," she said. Excerpts from the interview: Will you extend your stay in Dubai after your concert? No, because I have to be back for [Pinoy Big Brother] eviction night taping. Are you excited? I am excited to see my fans. And I'm really excited [to see Dubai] especially after I watched Mission Impossible. So I'm looking forward to seeing the Burj Khalifa and the historic places there. Will you be shopping? I'm not really into shopping. Maybe my sister will. I just like bringing memorabilia. What's in store for your this year? I will still be doing PBB, HYY and The Buzz. HYY will be replaced with Showtime, so I will have more time for myself, but I will still be doing the daily show with PBB, and there's a movie coming and a TV series being prepared. When do you get to unwind? I am planning to go on a long holiday in June with my family. We have planned this for a long time. Is your work keeping you in shape? It runs in the genes. But I'm not getting any younger, so I do yoga twice a week. I also involve myself in dance class. I enrolled in ballroom and hip-hop dancing. There are rumours that you are romantically involved with another woman. It's a non issue for me. They can think whatever they want to think. I know the truth. They can create their own stories. It doesn't bother me. What was the best thing that happened to you in 2011? I was able to fulfil my biggest dream — my solo concert in the Araneta Coliseum — and celebrate my 10 years in the industry. I thought I'd never get to do it. Did you ever think you'd reach this point in your career? When I was younger, I always dreamed of making it big in the industry. My daddy told me that when you dream, you should dream higher than the highest, so that even if you don't reach the highest level, you are still higher than where you were. As a TV host, how do you know which questions to ask? I suppose it's because I started as a fan and worked my way up. So I know what I want to know about the artist. That's where I'm coming from. What's your dream interview? I'd like to interview Julie Andrews on how she was able to balance her career and her personal life. I grew up watching The Sound of Music. That must be how your love for music started… I remember my dad would always play the movie. He said it's the kind of classic movie that we should be watching. So [my sister and I] ended up watching it all summer and we memorised every line and every song! Do you like any music in particular? I listen to all kinds of music — from instrumental to jazz. In fact my iPod has music from all genres. But if I want something relaxing, I prefer alternative music. Your parting shot. If you hold on to your dreams and if you have faith in yourself and faith in God, everything will happen in God's time. Don't miss it Catch Toni and Alex Gonzaga, with Sam Milby, at Dubai Festival City on January 27. The event starts at 8pm. Tickets are priced Dh75 and Dh250 for VIP. For more visit, chiefbevents.com