On December 12, Eat Bulaga host Joey De Leon agreed with director Paul Soriano’s assessment that his wife, Toni Gonzaga, could be considered the ‘most powerful celebrity today.’
At the media conference for their upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 entry, My Teacher at the Winford Manila, De Leon praised how Gonzaga handled the online bashing after showing her support for President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.
“Nabasa ko yun. Mali kasi naman yung mga bashers. Pinuputol nila dun sa ano, e!
“Ang sinasabi ni Paul dun sa kabuuan, sabi niya, equally powerful yung mga tumitira kay Toni. E, hindi naman ito nagre-react, hindi natitinag. So powerful ito… mas powerful.
“Kasi hindi niya pinapansin, e.”
He also recounted how he accepted the project, citing that his Eat Bulaga co-host Vic Sotto didn’t have any MMFF2022 entry.
“Hindi siya gagawa, so sayang, sabi ko. Pinili ko yung kay Toni. Actually, ang daming offers. Meron talaga, hindi na ako nagpepelikula, e. Semi-retired na ako. So yun ang istorya
“Saka maganda ang istorya ni Paul saka ni Toni. Medyo madrama pero pinipilit kong– binigyan ako ng free hand ni Direk na sumundot sa–hindi ko matiis na hindi magpatawa, e.
“So may mga eksena dun na– pinayagan naman niya at saka lulusot naman. Hindi masyadong seryoso para kumpleto. Kumpleto yung pelikula, e. Saka na-miss ko yung Iskul Bukol, tungkol sa school ito e. Na-miss ko rin si Miss Tapia.”
Director Soriano stated on December 6 that his wife, Gonzaga, is probably the ‘most powerful celebrity today’ after citing how his wife has encountered criticisms from equally empowered personalities.
“You know, honestly, outside looking in, if I can take a step back and –you know, from a perspective of not being her husband, or her producer or her director, and just outside looking in, I really believe Toni is probably the most [powerful] celebrity today.
“Only because the criticisms and the hate that she’s getting are from equally powerful people too.”
As for their upcoming film, My Teacher stars Toni Gonzaga, Joey De Leon, Ronnie Alonte, Loisa Andalio, Pauline Mendoza, Kych Minemeto, Isaiah de la Cruz, Jackie Lou Blanco, Carmi Martin, Rufa Mae Quinto, and Kakai Bautista.
The MMFF 2022 entry, directed by Paul Soriano, opens on December 25, Christmas Day.
