Facelift ‘suki’

THESE days, Toni Gonzaga looks sexier.

"I purposely lost weight for my movie with Sam (Milby), co-starring us with President Erap (Estrada) and Ai Ai de las Alas.

"I want to look as slim as I was when Sam and I starred in our last project together, ‘My Big Love.’

"I saw Sam in his currently being shown movie, ‘And I Love You So,’ with Bea Alonzo. Aba, he looks fit," said Toni.

Toni informed us that she and Sam have yet to shoot a scene together for the movie, titled "Tanging Pamilya." It is scheduled for release in November.

"Pero, nakaeksena ko na si President Erap," Toni related. "And he was take one in all the scenes, ha.

"Ang bait niya," she further said. "Parang ‘di siya naging presidente."

Wasn’t she supposed to also do a movie with Vhong Navarro and Sarah Geronimo? What happened? Is it true that Sarah turned it down?

"Truth to tell, I really don’t have any idea," Toni answered. "Basta ang alam ko, busy si Sarah with her concerts in the provinces and abroad.

"In my case, as it is, I have no reason to complain where my career is concerned. Bukod kasi sa movie ko with Sam, I’ll soon start hosting for a new episode of ‘Pinoy Big Brother.’

"Tapos, ‘di ba may weekly job na ako with Luis (Manzano), Mariel (Rodriguez) and Bianca (Gonzales)? At ito’y sa ‘Entertainment Live.’

"These are enough to keep me busy," she added.

Alex Castro, Geoff Taylor, Jay Perillo, Camille Cortez, Francheska Farr and Zyrene Pareda were not necessarily raw talents when they joined the most-recently-concluded GMA 7’s reality search, "Are You the Next Big Star?"

More or less, they have had experienced competing in previous singing talents search or even doing gigs.

Alex, for example, he said, had appeared as an extra in two Marian Rivera movies. He is currently an elected councilor of Marilao, Bulacan.

Francheska has experienced being a torch singer. Jay was a contestant in the "Search for the Star in a Million," conducted by ABS-CBN which saw Kris Lawrence emerge as winner.

Geoff was a housemate of "Kuya" in the "Pinoy Dream Academy."

They had a common dream when they join "Are You the Next Big Star?" All six of them wanted a shot at fame, fortune and superstar status.

At the finals, all six had to go through three rounds of non-stop singing to ultimately test their vocal chops and over-all progress in the 16 weeks of the competition. For the first two salvos, the finalists were partnered with a veteran performer. Then they had their solo spots before the winners, one male and one female, were finally announced.

The guest singers included Basil Valdez, Joey Generoso, Renz Verano, Gian Magdangal, Maricris Garcia, Julia Clarete, Jet Pangan, Mark Tupas, Geneva Cruz, Kyla and Kuh Ledesma.

The judges who witnessed all the contestants’ performances were Ogie Alcasid, Danny Tan, Annie Quintos, Vernie Varga and Pops Fernandez.

Hosted by Regine Velasquez, the grand winners are Geoff and Francheska.

Their prizes consist of an exclusive management contract from GMA Artist Center, a recording deal with GMA Records, one million in cash from the SM Supermalls and a condominium unit from Avida Towers, New Manila and other prizes.

When a senior but still popular and well-admired singer appeared in a reality show finals recently, those who have known her and followed her career wondered how many times she has had a facelift.