Alex Gonzaga co-authors next book with sister
WHILE fans miss seeing her acting in teleseryes, Alex Gonzaga remains just as visible these days. For besides hosting reality and variety shows for her home network ABS-CBN, the younger of the Gonzaga sisters has been a favorite product endorser for her brand of quirk.
It was this same quirkiness that the actress- host and comedienne brought when she hosted the open Snacktacular”—an annual event of the popular snack brand, which Gonzaga also endorses — on July 28 at Festival Mall in Alabang.
With her trademark high energy, she led a mob of young mallgoers around the activity area and willingly gave - ings all while keeping a big smile on her face.
Catching up with younger Gonzaga at the sidelines of the event, The Manila Times asked, what keeps her happy all the time?
“I don’t think there’s any secret in that--it’s just that I choose to have a happier and more positive outlook in life. I choose to enjoy it,” the 29-year-old gamely answered.
Besides obviously getting the glow from a satisfying relationship with her non-showbiz boyfriend Mikee Morada—the two remain inseparable, as seen on her Instagram account @cathygonzaga—among other great things happening in her life, Gonzaga singled out her close ties with her Ate Toni as her happy pill.
For, while some sisters drift apart when one of them gets married and starts a family, the Gonzaga siblings Alex Gonzaga are as tight as ever.
“Yes, I was afraid that we would drift apart when she got married but we actually became closer, especially with the arrival of Baby Seve,” Alex enthused, pertaining to Toni and husband Paul So
She shared how voice and video calls have been more frequent between them with the arrival of Seve. She would also accompany her sister and her nephew whenever her brother-in-law is away for work.
“Just like now, I’ve been sleeping in their house for two straight nights to keep them company,” Alex shared.
With this strengthened relationship, Alex revealed to The Manila Times that she and her sister are currently at the end stage of publishing a new book.
A title under ABS-CBN Publishing—the same publishing house she has worked with for her two best- selling relationship guide books “Dear Alex, Break Na Kami. Paano?! Love, Catherine” and “Dear Alex, We’re Dating. Tama, Mali?! Love, Catherine”—the Gonzaga sisters are expected to launch their the year ends.
and special because it’s with my sister. So we tackle sisterhood but not solely on the basis of blood relations like what we have. In a nutshell, we are sending out the message that sisterhood can be shared with your mom, your sister of course, or your best friend.” “Tomorrow is when I get the offer sheet from the other network, so let’s pray for that,” Aquino blurted out at her iFlix welcome, again skipping a major detail in her statement, that of the network’s name.
“I am not saying no to being on free TV because that’s where I started, but I am also very open to be on the newer platforms. I think that’s the great thing too with our country that we embrace all platforms.”
So did Aquino mean GMA Network? This was the hunch after talent manager Lolit Solis, who was her former co-host on “Star Talk,” posted bits of the conversations that took place at Rep. Alfred Vargas’ wedding just the weekend before. Both in attendance as principal sponsors, another ninang present was in the person of GMA Network Vice President for Entertainment Lilybeth Rasonable.
Solis’ post said, “Natawaakokay Tetay [her nickname for Aquino] Aquino has two roles for on demand video portal iFlix—as a talent for an upcoming original movie and key advisor for local content who have seen Donita Rose dabbling in cooking demos should know she isn’t just dabbling. Truth be told, the actress out of the Singapore headquarters—is a proud holder of a culinary arts diploma, with the kind of work experience any restaurant chef would love on their resume.
Rose studied at the Academy for International Culinary Arts in Pasig City, and from there pursued her internship with the Red Crab Group of restaurants. She then lived and worked in the kitchens of Crown Plaza Manila Galleria for try her luck in the United States in the early 2010s. There, she braved the tough competition in Las Vegas, and was hired by renowned chef Akira Back for the latter’s four-star Japanese restaurant, Kumi in Mandalay Bay.
“Yes, I’ve taken my passion for food quite seriously,” smiled the ever lovely and ever-sweet celebrity at a luncheon in GMA Network. She was promoting an upcoming cooking capsule show titled “Heart Mate Kitchen,” where she is excited to teach viewers recipes she personally developed using Jolly Heart Mate swift 12 minutes.
“Some people might think I went ahead this career path just to add something to my arsenal, but really, my motivation was simple though intense. I’ve just really always loved food!”
Rose shared how as a young girl, she has always been drawn to cooking shows more than anything else, and how kitchens fascinated her. “Actually, after my stint with MTV in Singapore was over, I applied for a job at Food Network because it was something I’ve always wanted to do. But since I had no background, they told me to come back again when did,” she giggled.
So serious was the actress in turning her passion for food into culinary school while she trained.
“I’ve always known that to be a chef is really a man’s job, because it requires so much more than just kitchen skills. It requires strength. So while women in culinary schools tend to go the way of baking, pastries, pastas, I said, ‘Forget it! I want to be hardcore.’ So I went for butchery! And it all paid off especially when I worked in Las Vegas.”
Done with exploring the world of food beyond the Philippines, the chef has come home eager to combine her pair of expertise—hosting and cooking, which is exactly what ‘HeartMate Kitchen’ will have her do.
F7