Toni Gonzaga said she would always remember the first celebrity who showed her what kindness is all about when she was starting in show business.

During an interview for "TicTalk With Aster Amoyo" on YouTube recently, Toni praises Kapamilya star Jolina Magdangal for being warm to her when she was making a name for herself in the industry.

"Nag-front act ako sa show ni Jolina Magdangal. Grabe yung mga tao noon. Pababa pa lang ng eroplano si Jolina sa Dumaguete, nagtatakbuhan na sila. Akala mo si Michael Jackson yung parating at nagkagulo talaga sila," Toni told Aster.

(I was once a front act in a Jolina Magdangal show. When Jolina arrived in Dumaguete, everyone thought Michael Jackson was coming and the crowd went wild as they ran to greet her.)

Toni continued: "Love ko si Jolina. Love ko siya kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko, nung na-experience ko siyang makatrabaho for a short period of time, naging front act niya ako sa mga shows niya, sabi ko kapag nabigyan ako ng break, gagayahin ko siya.

(I love Jolina. When I worked with her briefly, I promised myself that if I ever got a break in showbiz, I would emulate her.)

"Ang bait niya sa mga baguhan. Dapat ganito. Kapag may narating ka na ng konti, dapat maging mabait ka sa mga baguhan kasi nila hindi nila makakalimutan yun.

(She is kind to newcomers. Always be kind to newbies because their first impression is likely to stay with them forever.)

"Hindi ko makakalimutan yung kabaitan na ipinakita niya sa akin na I was also there. I mattered. Kasi hindi ka naman papansinin dahil hindi ka naman kilala. Pero siya sasabihin niya, 'uy si Toni.' Tintin pa nga yata ang pangalan ko noon. Lagi niya akong sinasama na siya rin, siya rin.

(I will always remember the kindness she showed me. I mattered. If people don't know you well enough, they might take you for granted on several occasions. But she was caring.)

"Tapos halimbawa, papasok kami sa room at hindi ako ipapasok, sasabihin niya, 'kasama siya, kasama siya.'  She would also made you feel that you are important. You also belong," Toni recalled.

(For example, we would enter the room, but I wouldn't be allowed in. She would tell them that I belong to the group. She would make you feel important.)

Toni mentioned that some stars had not been friendly to her in the past, but she chose to understand them.

"Yung ibang naging katrabaho ko na hindi naging warm sa akin, siguro meron silang mga silent battles na pinagdaraanan. Meron silang mga inner struggles kaya hindi sila warm," she said.

(The other people I worked with were not warm to me. Perhaps they are dealing with their own struggles and challenges.)

Toni always remembers what her father had told her about being kind to people.

"Her dad said, "Kapag matampuhin ka, talo ka sa buhay. Kapag pikon ka, mapagtanim ka ng sama ng loob, matatalo ka sa buhay kasi ang bigat ng dinadala mo. Lagi kay may bitbit. Para bang maliit na bagay lang eh triggered ka. Matabig ka lang, natatapon ka na."

(If you are stubborn, you will lose in life. If you are weak, you will have a grudge, you will lose in life because of the weight you are carrying.)

Social media

Toni confessed that she isn't a fan of social media and prefers to keep special moments private.

"Nakakalungkot na kapag sinabihan ka na 'ang showbiz mo,' you are so fake. Ang showbiz kasi, it's a put on, parang show. Kaya nakakalungkot kapag nasabihan ka ng 'ang showbiz.'

"You will reach a point where some things are more beautiful when you keep to yourself, your inner core, and your family. Private moments are only shared with the people you love, the ones who are important to you and who you value.

"Darating ka sa point ng buhay mo, 'pwede palang hindi i-share lahat' lalo na in this day and age na everyone sharing everything.

"May nabasa rin ako eh. Try to keep personal events private because people tend to ruin beautiful things, such as an event, celebration, or situation. Kapag na-share mo na sa public, then can trash the moment. 

"Doon masisira ang mood mo. Na-open mo na siya for public judgment and opinion. Yung dapat sanang masayang nangyari sa buhay mo, pag-share mo na, minsan may tendency na masira ang moment dahil mahuhusgahan ka na.

"Pero as you mature in showbiz, ma-do-draw mo na yung line kung ano ang pwede mong ma-share or kung ano ang sa akin na lang kasi sobrang special nito sa akin," said Toni.

Showbiz heartbreak

Now married to director Paul Soriano, Toni laughingly remembered her first heartbreak in showbiz, although she refused to identify the person involved.

"Hindi kami magkasundo ni Alex (Gonzaga) noong bata pa kami. Lagi akong asar sa kanya at siya rin asar sa akin. Hindi talaga kami magkatugma. Magkaiba talaga yung personality namin.

"Nagka-ayos lang kami at naintindihan namin na magkakampi pala kami at saka magkaibigan pala kami noong 20s na ako .. noong na broken-hearted ako doon sa isa kong inaasam-asam na akala mo kayo yun pala hindi naman kayo.

"So sabi niya, 'So broken-hearted ka?' May girlfriend pala siya akala ko MU kami. Tapos umiyak din siya. Siya rin yung crush din daw niya. So broken-hearted din siya. Doon lang kami nagtugma. Oh my gosh! broken-hearted pala tayo. Pareho pala tayo nag-e-emote sa kuwarto natin hindi natin alam. Tapos siya rin pala umaasa doon sa school na may girlfriend na rin pala. Akala niya magiging sila. Sabi ko pareho tayo.

"Hindi ko naman kasi puwedeng sabihin sa presscon na broken-hearted ako. If they ask me, naging kayo ba? 'Hindi naman, semi. MU.' But that's part of your emotional maturity in love," Toni added.

Paul and Toni have two children: Severiano Elliott and Paulina. Toni currently stars in the Philippine adaptation of "My Sassy Girl" opposite Pepe Herrera.