Showbiz Chika

Ever since it was announced that Toni Gonzaga and Mariel Rodriguez would both be on Happy Yipee Yehey!, people have been wondering how they would work together after their controversial falling out last year. But during the press con of their upcoming noontime show, they refused to say how they managed to overcome their misgivings about their friendship. “Kasi kung i-elaborate pa namin, ang haba na e. Tsaka ang hirap na rin pong mag-explain at magkwento dahil ang tagal na. Kahit ano pang sabihin namin, yung ibang tao may mindset na about us, so hayaan na lang namin. Ang importante, kaya kami nagkasama ulit ni Ma, hindi dahil may show, pero dahil matagal na rin kaming naging okay, actually last year pa naman. Siguro ngayon magiging sensationalized lang dahil ngayon lang ulit kami makikita na magkasama together,” said Toni who previously accused Mariel of betraying her several times.

Mariel admitted that she was scared that they would never be able to revive their friendship. But one thing she learned from what they went through is the fact that anything could be solved through proper communication. “Ako nagkaroon ng ganong worry na baka hindi na maibalik yung dating samahan, because the friendship matters. If you don’t care about the friendship, [deadma na] ‘di ba? Pero yun nga siguro yung magic dahil maganda yung foundation ng friendship namin [kaya nalampasan namin yung misunderstanding namin noon]. But it’s what happens after which matters now, na ngayon okay na kami.”

Toni further shared that they didn’t expect to be part of the same show soon after their reconciliation. But it’s definitely meant to happen especially because they can’t deny the fact that they work so well together as hosts. “Ako sobra akong na-excite sa idea na inofferan ako ulit mag-noontime show, mahirap naman tumanggi. Si Mariel naman, setting aside yung mga pinagdaanan namin, we worked together for many years already. Yung chemistry at rapport na nabuo namin, hindi mo makukuha na yun, buo na yun. So ang sarap ng feeling na magkakasama kayo sa isang show.”

At this point, Toni and Mariel were honest enough to say, however, that they’re not yet one hundred percent okay with each other. Not because they have lingering doubts about their friendship, but it’s just that they’re still in the process of working things out. “When you experience new storm or a bump in the road, tapos magsisimula kayo ulit, you take it one step at a time. It’s a work in progress,” said Toni. To which Mariel added, “Parang sa mag-boyfriend at girlfriend ‘di ba? Ganon naman talaga yun e. Ito yung natural na nararamdaman namin ngayon. Hindi naman yung mine-measure na, ‘Ay mas close kami noon!’ Hindi na pinaplano, meron siyang tamang panahon.”

For now they’re still planning when they would spend quality time with their good friend Bianca Gonzalez who’s really thrilled with Mariel and Toni’s reconciliation. “Siya ang pinakamasaya ngayon. We still have to set a date kasi ngayon we have dry runs for the show. Basta dadating tayo d’yan,” Mariel stated.

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