Vhong Navarro and Toni Gonzaga are better off as friends

by Rachelle Siazon | October 22, 2008 9:29 AM | Share this article

When Vhong Navarro says that Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina and Toni Gonzaga are his “My Only U,” he’s pretty serious about it. “Akala nilapunchline yun eh. Totoo yun dahil marami akong nagustuhan sashooting. Na kahit na alam naming pagod na pagod kami, everydaypuyat, yung bonding, yung friendship,nandon. At saka yung sa trabaho, may natutunan ka. Hindi lang nagtrabaho ka na wala lang. Nag-eenjoy ako na may natutunan ako kaya love na love ko si Direk Cathy,” he explains. What about his feelings towards Toni? “And then si Toni My Only U because after a long timenagkasama kami ulit. Sobra ko talaga siyang na-miss. Parang mas marami akong nakikita sa kanya ngayon na ‘di ko nakikita before. Kaya lang that time siyempre hindi na pwede so mas mabuting ganito na lang,” he stresses.

The comedian also clarifies that the closeness and affection he and Toni have are not just a publicity gimmick. “Hindi ito pang-promo. Kahit dati pa balikan natin yung mga sinulat na interview namin noon, meron naman talaga. Kaya lang masyado lang ako naging honest sa kanya. Pero siguro ganun din siya sa akin kasi sobrang close namin. Pwede naming sabihin lahat sa isa’t isa,” he exclaims. They even reached the point where they both grew aware of a growing mutual attraction. “Una talaga hindi ko masabi, parang pahaging lang. Mahilig ako yung, ‘Oy may nagkaka-crush sa ’yo ang initials V.N.’ Parang ganon. Hanggang sa tinutukso na kami sa set ‘pag nagbibiruan kami,” he reveals.

According to Vhong, Toni also tried to subtly tell him that she felt the same way. But the fact remained that he was already committed to someone else at the time. “Pwe-pwede na palang oo ‘di ba? Bakit hindi mo pa itinuloy? Pero ayoko talaga eh. Si Toni ayaw din niya. Kasi mahirap lang din na alam mo’ng merong pumipigil eh,” he maintains.

But aside from all the hindrances he mentioned above, Vhong wanted Toni to end up with the perfect guy and he knew that he wasn’t it. “Maganda naman ang intensyon ko eh. Pero kung sakali, ako ang first boyfriend ni Toni [nung time na yun]. And then siyempre, ang gusto ng parents niya yung lalaki naman na talagang nababagay sa kanya. Kasi ang hirap para sa side ko na daddy na ako, ilang taon na ako. Kumbaga siyempre gusto ko kung magkaka-boyfriend si Toni, gusto ko kasing-age din niya, yung binata. Siyempre may ilang factor eh,” he admits.

Both of them have no lingering regrets about what could have been, especially now that they’re both happy with their respective partners: Toni with Direk Paul Soriano and Vhong with Desiree del Valle.