Toni to sister Alex: Choose your male friends

After a slight misunderstanding between Alex Gonzaga and then admirer Ryan Bang, Toni advised her younger sister to be more careful in her behavior towards others and in choosing showbiz friends.

"Hindi kasi siya showbiz. Hindi siya yung kapag nakita mo, nakatalikod, iba. Siya pagtalikod mo, ganoon pa din siya. Hindi siya marunong magscreen, magfilter. So, sabi ko sa kanya, hindi mo kailangan magpaka-showbiz. Kailangan mo lang maging discreet. Know your limitations. I think she learned a lot from those experiences," Toni told reporters at the pocket press conference for her concert "Celestine," set the Mall of Asia Arena on October 13.

‘Echosera’

During the press conference of "Hawak-Kamay," Ryan reportedly called Alex "echosera" because he thought she reciprocated his feelings. However, Alex always said in interviews that Ryan is like a brother to her.

Ryan also reportedly said Alex’s jokes offended him.

"All this time, from the start, alam ko din na it was friendship. Pero it came off na ganoon. I told Alex na this is a lesson learned from you. Next time, you have to choose the people you entertain in your life kasi baka iba yung intention nila. Iyon pala yung intention nila maging girlfriend ka, eh ang intention mo lang ay maging friends. So, nagmumukha kang nagpapaasa," Toni said.

She clarified that all’s well between Alex and Ryan, who now has a Korean girlfriend.

Toni knows others might misinterpret Alex's friendly, 'happy-go-lucky' nature.

"Sabi niya, 'Sige ate, hindi na ako magiging ganoon sa mga tao kasi mini-mean pala nila na iba yung friendship na binibigay ko.' Sabi ko, 'Hindi lahat ng tao masasakyan ang jokes mo.' Kilala kita. Pero yung mga bagong makikilala mo, you have to adjust," Toni said.

The singer-host noticed that Alex has learned to guard her actions.

Shared stage

"Sabi ko mag-ingat na siya. Natuto na siya, ngayon careful na siya. Sabi ko be careful kapag nakikipagkaibigan sa mga lalaki sa industriya. You have to guard yourself, your heart, especially your mouth," Toni relates.

Toni wants to share the stage with Alex again, this time for the concert "Celestine" (Toni’s real name).

"Gusto ko siyang kasama kasi this would be the other side of me, that's why this is called "Celestine." I will always go back to my roots. Growing up, my sister has always been there for me. Malaking bagay siya sa pagiging Celestine."

Toni added that her upcoming concerrt, which she conceptualized over the past two years, will show who she really is.

"We will really feature musicality more than the production aesthetics. We're working on the repertoire. You will really know who I am. That is why it is called ’Celestine.’ Every year, a lot of things has happened, my world keeps changing but I realized it never changed me. It's still who I am."