Alex Gonzaga. Image: Instagram/@cathygonzaga
Alex Gonzaga recounted being commended by director and Star Magic head Lauren Dyogi for her hit song “Chambe,” which is about her nephew, Toni Gonzaga’s son Seve.
The actress-vlogger regarded Dyogi’s compliment as an unforgettable achievement at the time, as per her exclusive interview with TV host Bianca Gonzalez on her YouTube channel yesterday, March 6.
“Hindi ko makakalimutan ‘yung sinabi ni Direk Lauren na tinap niya ko na parang, ‘Uy congrats. Continue making hits like that, ‘yung ‘Chambe.’ Sabi ko, ‘Hala, first time ever tinap niya ko,'” Alex recalled.
(I will never forget the time when Direk Lauren tapped me and told me something like, “Congratulations. Continue making hits like that, ‘Chambe.’ I told myself, “Gosh, it’s the first time he tapped me.”)
Though her song earned praises and millions of views, Alex disclosed that she doesn’t see it as one of the turning points of her career, adding how it still falls under the “shadow” of her sister, Toni.
“Everything was new so hindi mo talaga masasabi na, ‘Yeah, it’s like the best song,’ kasi nga, first, it’s still my sister. It’s still my inaanak, my pamangkin, so okay lang. Hindi siya ‘yung game changer for me,” she stated.
(Everything was new [back then] so I can’t really say that, “Yeah, it’s like the best song,” because first, it’s still about my sister. It’s still about my godchild, my nephew, so it’s okay. It’s not really a game changer for me.)
Alex then opened up on how she embraced her comedic identity instead of making other people and her sister’s achievements as her standard.
“Feeling ko they (bosses) noticed me ‘nung nag-[Pinoy Big Brother] ako, nag-housemate ako tapos feeling ko I lost the opportunity. Parang it was a wasted opportunity na nawalan sila ng gana sa akin. ‘Yung feeling ko is parang, ‘Shocks, paano ko maibabalik ‘yung trust nila?'” she asked.
(I felt like the bosses noticed me when I entered “Pinoy Big Brother,” when I became a housemate. However, I felt like I lost the opportunity. It was a wasted opportunity, that they lost hope in me. I remember feeling like, “Shocks, how would I earn their trust again?”)
“Narealize ko na parang dati gusto ko pa ng soap opera, gusto ko ng hit song, gusto ko ng movie — ang kailangan ko lang pala camera and si mommy Pinty. Matutuwa na pala ‘yung mga tao sa akin,” Alex added, referring to her mother, Pinty Gonzaga. “Dati tinitingnan ko ‘yung blessing ng ate ko, ng ibang artista — ito lang pala, nandito lang pala sa amin, sa loob ng bahay ko.”
(I realized that I once wanted to be in a soap opera, to have a hit song, to star in a movie. It turns out all I needed was a camera and mommy Pinty. People already find me funny with just that. Back then, I was looking at my sister and other celebrities’ blessings but mine was already here, here in our house.)
Alex’s song “Chambe” was released in November of 2018 and has garnered over 31 million views in her YouTube channel, as of writing.
Meanwhile, Alex recently spoke about how she sees Toni as a mentor and like a mother to her, as well as a person “equipped” against bashing. JB
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