Alex Gonzaga is no longer just the “kapatid ni Toni.”

Thanks to TV5, which gave her, in 2008, “a home para mag-shine ako dito nang hindi siya kasama.”

But her goal, she says, is not to step out of her popular sister’s shadow.

She tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the launch of her latest TV project at Elements in Centris, Quezon City, “In the first place, e, younger sister niya ako and ah… nakapasok naman po ako sa showbiz dahil sa kanya, yun.

“If it weren’t for her, hindi po ako makakapasok sa showbiz.

“I don’t mind… Siguro, I’m just trying… Right now, I’m really trying. Pero, I don’t mind nga kung sabihin nila na, ‘Ay, nasa shadow pa rin siya ng kapatid niya…’”

According to Alex, there never was any rivalry between them, and whenever people compare her to the Kapamilya host-actress-singer, she relates, “Kung lalaitin ako, pupurihin ang ate ko, kung lalaitin naman ate ko, pupurihin ako.

“So, parang either way, parang okay lang sa ‘kin kasi pinupuri nila yung isa sa ‘min.”

BEING A KAPATID PRINCESS. The Juicy co-host agreed when we said her transfer to TV5 was a good career move.

Alex affirmed, “Parang I have my own network. I have my own home. Parang hindi, hindi po ako nata-tag as ‘kapatid ni Toni’ kasi dito sa TV5.

“Tinanggap po nila ako talaga [as] Kapatid. So, parang… kumbaga kung… hindi katulad kapag andun ako sa network ng ate ko, siyempre kung kukunin nila ako, kukunin nila yung ate ko kasi mas nauna siya.”

With the current set-up, “We have our own venue to showcase what we have.”

Alex is presently busy with TV5’s Enchanted Garden, Juicy Express, and Lokomoko, while Toni is visible on ABS-CBN’s ASAP, The Buzz, and Pinoy Big Brother.

From time to time, they get to watch each other’s shows. 

“Minsan, sabi niya, ‘Ay, ayoko yung acting mo…’” says Alex, who also remembers telling her Ate, “Fake ng acting mo…”