Paul kay Toni — she’s one of the strongest and most powerful women in the Philippines today

SHOWBIZ KONEK
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio

TO the max kung purihin ng bagong talagang Presidential Advisor on Creative Communications at direktor na si Paul Soriano ang asawang si Toni Gonzaga.

Pinuri ng direktor ang katapangan at paninindigan ng kanyang asawa. Kaya napakasuwerte ni Toni dahil ganoon na lamang ang paghanga niya sa asawa.

Natanong kasi si Direk Paul sa isinagawang mediacon para sa pelikulang My Teacher, official entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 ng TEN17P at TINCAN  na ginanap sa Winford Hotel, Manila na sponsored nila kasama ang Godfather Production ni Joed Serrano kung ano-ano ang mga natutunan niya kay Toni sa ilang taon nilang pagsasama bilang mag-asawa.

Ang tanong ay kaugnay ng sinabi noon ni Toni sa kanyang 20th anniversary concert na napakarami niyang natutunan kay Paul pagdating sa negosyo,  pakikipagrelasyon, at pagkakaroon ng sariling pamilya.

At ang sagot dito ng direktor, “You know, honestly, outside looking in, if I can a step back and just, you know, from a perspective of not being her husband, or her producer or her director, and just outside looking in, I really believe Toni is probably the most powerful celebrity today.

“Only because the criticisms and the hate that she’s getting are from equally powerful people too. You don’t rattle relevant people if you’re not doing something better than them, ‘di ba?

“And you know, of course, you know, I’m her husband, and I’m very extremely proud of her. She’s also one of the strongest people I know, right.

“And I’ve seen her in her darkest moments. I’ve seen her being very vulnerable but she chooses to get up every day and face that camera.

“She could have easily just moved out, taken all the criticisms and just, you know, go somewhere else.

“But what did she choose? She chose to create her own show. She chose to make a concert. She chose to make a film. She’s facing it head on.

“If that’s not powerful, I don’t know what is, right? Ahhm, you know I always tell her, ‘You are at the right place at this right time.’

“Because if you also study the path of her career, she’s also been one of the most heavily criticized. If you go back to her transfer, her network transfer and all that stuff…she’s been on very high profile shows.”

At walang kagatol-gatol na sinabi pa ni Paul, “So I really believe she’s one of the strongest and most powerful women in the Philippines today. And she’s not stopping. So that’s quite remarkable.

“Whether you love her or hate her, you have to give credit where credit is due. For me. You don’t agree with her politics, you don’t agree with what she’s doing, but you have to give credit where credit is due.

“She’s not stopping and I don’t think she ever will. Even if I try to tell her to slow down, wala. Diretso-diretso. She has her mind on the prize and she’ll claim it.

“So, if she’s all praises for me, I’m extremely proud of her and I, you know, learned so much from her and you know just being happy being her husband.

“I’m proud to be her husband as well. Parang I feel so blessed,” sambit pa ni Paul.

O ‘di ba naman! Sobra-sobra ang pagmamahal ni Paul kay Toni. Tiyak marami ang maiinggit at marami rin ang mamba-bash.

Anyway, bukod kay Toni kasama rin sa pelikula ang Henyo Master na si Joey de Leon gayundin sina Ronnie Alonte, Loisa Andalio, Carmi Martin, Rufa Mae Quinto, Kakai Bautista, Jackie Lou Blanco, Pauline Mendoza, at Kych Minemoto.