Toni on a higher level

"This is what I‘ve always wanted to do – sing."

That was what an overwhelmed Toni Gonzaga blurted out when she recently launched her solo album, You Complete Me under Star Records. After eight years in the entertainment business, Toni gets to fulfill a dream by having an album she can be proud of.

"The album is a dream-come-true for me and it would definitely complete me as an artist," Toni added.

The seven-track You Complete Me is the latest jewel added to Toni’s crown. Her voice, charm and witty sense of humor have endeared her to her audience over the years. She has proven herself an in-demand TV host by virtue of her several shows on ABS-CBN‘s ASAP ‘06, Entertainment Konek, Gudtaym, Pinoy Big Brother and Wazzup, Wazzup. On the big screen, she also scored big as a female lead with the comedy flick D’Anothers, a certified box-office hit.

Although she has consistently been a sought-after performer, Toni gets to seal her singing career only now with the release of her album. Containing a varied mix of music styles combining both new and classic elements, Toni’s album is a sound experience in itself.

Carrier track is We Belong, an original tune penned by Christian Marquez. The single is now enjoying favorable airplay in local radio stations. The song‘s music video with Piolo Pascual has also been getting extensive exposure on Myx. We Belong has also been used as the theme of ABS-CBN’s newest Koreanovela, Wonderful Life.

With her debut album, Toni got to flex her songwriting flair with Kung Kaya Ko, her original composition written last year. "That’s what makes the album special," Toni says. "I am so thankful that Star Records allowed the song I wrote to be included in the album."

You Are the One is a duet with Sam Milby and was used as the theme of the Raymart Santiago-Claudine Barretto wedding last March. Toni also sings her own version of Love Fool, from the soundtrack of the Hollywood film Romeo and Juliet. The song was suggested by ABS-CBN VP for talk, variety and reality, Deo Endrinal and Toni was happy it got included in the line-up for her album.

A self-confessed Donna Cruz fan, Toni also got to revive what is perhaps Donna’s biggest hit, the upbeat ditty Kapag Tumibok ang Puso.

Toni admits she got her flair for singing from dad Carlito, who encouraged her to explore her God-given talents. She started singing when she was only seven, with Rachel Alejandro’s Nakapagtataka as her favorite piece. At eight, Toni became part of the Papuri Kids and recorded an album of gospel tunes. When she was nine, she auditioned for a Repertory Philippines musical, but slept while waiting for her turn. Her dad brought her home and vowed never to make her audition again.

Toni has been in the business long enough to have experienced the highs and lows of being a showbiz celebrity – from a fledgling TV personality to one of the most prominent stars in the local entertainment scene today.

Now 22, Toni is neck-deep in work so that she does not have time for romance. Despite the guys who have been pursuing her, including Luis Manzano and Sam Milby, Toni insists she is not ready to jump into a serious relationship.

"I don’t want to get involved at this point, that‘s why I‘ve been keeping my distance from the guys around me," Toni says. "I have no problem with Luis. He’s very smart and intelligent. He’s good-looking, too. Sam is also very nice. But I want to concentrate on my work. That’s my priority now."

Up to this day, Toni shares that whenever she makes a decision about her career, she still consults her parents. "Iba ang discernment ng magulang," she reasons out. "I always tell them everything. I’m glad I always listen to my parents."

Raised as a God-fearing daughter in a predominantly Christian family, Toni drew up her values from the Bible. "My parents introduced faith in God to me ever since I was a kid," Toni says. "That has been my sustaining power up to this day. You’ll never realize that God is all you need when God is all you’ve got."