Actress-TV host Alex Gonzaga frankly admitted that it's not easy living under the shadow of elder sister Toni.
During the press conference of TV5's showbiz talk show Juicy held at Max's restaurant on Scout Tuazon, Quezon City, the bubbly television personality cited her sister's squeaky clean image as a source of pressure.
Explained Alex, "Minsan po siyempre, like kunwari po dahil nakita nila Ate ko ang bait-bait sa magulang, hindi nag-boyfriend... So kunwari konting umarte lang ako, ‘Ay naku, ‘yong Ate nga niyan ang bait-bait 'tapos siya ganun!' Siyempre, pressure na kailangan kahit papaano try mo sundan 'yong footsteps ng Ate mo. At the same time, pag ginaya mo naman ang footsteps ng Ate mo, [sasabihin ng iba] ‘Ano ba ‘yan sobrang manggagaya!"
Alex pointed out, however, that she considers Toni as a role model worth emulating. Money wise, Alex confessed that they're completely opposite when it comes to that department.
"Doon ko siya ina-admire," enthused Alex. "Hindi siya magastos. Hindi din siya kuripot. ‘Pag alam niyang too much, tama na... Alam ng Ate ko kung saan niya gagastusin pera niya."
She also acknowledged Toni's huge contribution in paving the way for her in show business.
"Natutuwa din po ako sa Ate ko kasi if it weren't for my sister, hindi ako makakapasok sa showbiz. 'Tsaka nakita ko po kasi ‘yong difficulties pagpasok lalo na ‘pag wala kang backer. Talagang makikita mo 'yong frustrations.
"Although sinasabi na sa ‘kin ng Daddy ko na may possibility kang makapasok sa showbiz kasi pinave na ng Ate mo ‘yong daan para sa ‘yo. So nung nagbukas po 'yong opportunity, I grabbed it!"
ZERO LOVELIFE. Alex is single and definitely unattached. According to her, "Walang nagpaparamdam."
Not that Alex is allowed by her parents to have a special someone at this point either. Toni experienced parental strictness for years before she was allowed to have a boyfriend in the person of director Paul Soriano.
Asked if she feels constricted by her folks' being over-protective, Alex said, "No."
The Juicy host added, "Kasi nakikita ko naman ‘yong benefits... 'Tsaka sinabi naman din ng Daddy ko na, ‘Sino bang magulang ang ayaw ng best sa anak nila?' 'Tsaka sinabi ng Ate ko na it pays daw to be obedient."
Alex is cautious, however, not to sound self-righteous, particularly on the issue of early motherhood.
"Siyempre ayoko naman magsalita ng tapos," she reasoned with genuine honesty. "Mamaya sinabi ko, ‘Uy, di ko gagawin ‘yan, tapos kinabukasan magpa-presscon ako, buntis po ako!' Nakakahiya naman ‘yon. Kaya ayoko muna po magsalita nang tapos, pero sana po hindi."