‘Weighty’ issue

Author: Ethel Ramos
Column: Studio Whispers

NOW that her younger sis-ter Alex Gonzaga is mak-ing a name as an entertainment talk show host, Toni Gonzaga is definitely happy.

Alex, in an interview, said she was not keen on following her elder sister’s footsteps. But Toni encouraged her.

Alex was contented being known as Toni’s younger sister who happily went with her Ate everytime Toni had a taping at ABS-CBN.

Besides, foremost in Alex’s mind was to finish her studies at the University of Asia and the Pacific. She has actually not quit her studies and has no intentions of doing so, she is quick to add.

"So far, so good naman," says Alex of her decision to combine work and studies.

She was introduced in the ABS-CBN youth-oriented show, "Let’s Go."

"It was in ‘Let’s Go’ where I earned my moniker Alex, the name of my character. I formerly used my real name, Kathy Gonzaga. Pero sabi ni Direk Bubot (Edgar Mortiz), sa susunod kong assignment, Alex na ang gamitin kong pangalan," she relates.

Her biggest break came via "Tiny Tony," where she was the leading lady of John Prats, who was assigned the title role.

It’s in "Juicy," an entertainment gossip show on TV5 where her skill as a host is put to the test.

In "Juicy," aired daily, Alex and co-host IC Mendoza, grandson of the late "Queen of Talk" Inday Badiday, dish out items that may not be consistently "juicy," but because of their rapport, plus their ability to laugh at every boo-boo they make, they are quite engaging.

Commented a daily viewer of the show: "They make my day."

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After being criticized for gaining unwanted pounds, Francine Prieto is back to her sexy self.

She turned heads when she arrived at the wake of Mommy Seiko (real name: Aurora Tan) with someone who has long been rumored to be her beau. (He is known to showbiz folks but is not a movie star.)

In the last few months, Francine looked uncomfortably huge. She blamed her weight gain to an eating disorder.

Now that she is back in shape, she has a new series in her mother network, GMA-7. This is aside from her regular show, "Bubble Gang."

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Another star who needs to shed some pounds pronto is Roxanne Guinoo. Ay, sus, ginoo! You should see her when she’s with her fellow stars in "Banana Split." Beside Angelica Panganiban, Princess Ryan, RR Enriquez, Valerie Concepcion and Cristine Reyes, that’s when her unnecessary weight gain becomes obvious.

That she is happily in love with a rich and young Chinese businessman is good but it is not an excuse for her to stop counting her calorie intake. Unless her new boyfriend prefers a heavyweight girlfriend, that is.

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Meanwhile, let’s give it to Maja Salvador for maintaining her curves. Her dancing helps her maintain her weight, she admits.

"Kaya nga I look forward to my rehearsals as well as my performances every Sunday in ‘ASAP,’ where bigay-todo talaga kaming nagsasayaw nina Shaina (Magdayao), Rayver (Cruz) at John (Prats)," she says, "Ang sarap kapag pinagpapawisan ka."

Maja, who has been in the news lately because of her current endorsement, the sanitary napkin, Sisters, impresses her co-workers, specifically, Albert Martinez and Dina Bonnevie, who play her parents in the top-rated series, "May Bukas Pa."

"She can act," both Albert and Dina say. "And she registers very well on screen."

Until they worked together in "May Bukas Pa," Dina had no idea that Maja is the niece of the late Mina Aragon, who was her mentor and adviser when she was doing films for Viva Films.

The late Mina is the better-half of Viva Entertainment big boss Vic del Rosario.

"She was a good boss (referring to Mina). At grabe ang pulso niya when it comes to stories which she thought would click," Dina recalls. "I’d say that I did a lot of good movies which, likewise, were big hits at the tills."

Source: Malaya

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