It's been over a year since Alex Gonzaga started her own vlog channel, which now has more than 1.8 million subscribers.
The 30-year-old Kapamilya star even won an award—the E!’s Look Who’s Trending award at the E! Bloggers Ball 2018 held in Shangri-La at The Fort in Bonifacio Global City.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Alex admitted being overwhelmed by the support she has been receiving from the viewers of her vlog.
She said, "Hindi ko in-expect kasi nag-vlog lang ako para meron akong outlet. Pang-outlet ko lang siya to express myself 'cause I felt na parang my real self wasn't being shown or parang nali-limit siya.
"So parang I just needed an outlet for my creativity, na no script or parang I get to be creative and get to be the boss of my own content."
PEP.ph had a quick chat with Alex at the launch of Block & White Sakura White last Tuesday, October 16, at Market! Market! mall in Taguig City.
STARTING OUT
The Kapamilya host further revealed she had only thought of it as a back-up plan in case ABS-CBN, her home network, would not renew her contract.
Alex recounted asking her sister Toni Gonzaga to watch her act on YouTube "kasi feeling ko baka walang manood, e."
She was actually fortifying herself against criticisms and possible disappointments.
"I felt na parang when I go to YouTube, alam ko sasabihin ng mga tao, 'A, walang career kaya nag-YouTube na lang, hanggang diyan ka na lang.'
"In-expect ko na yun, and I didn't expect talaga a lot more kasi nga feeling ko rin, during that time, na my network will not din renew me naman.
"So parang sabi ko, sige, I'll just do something na at least I'm doing it. I'm not earning a lot, that's what I thought.
"Parang, 'I'm not earning a lot because it's just YouTube, pero at least...' or 'I'm not gonna be popular or hindi ako mapapansin ng tao pero, at least, I'm still doing something that I love, so that's fine.
"Pero after a few months, na-realize ko na, 'Ah, napansin na ng network!'
"So parang iisipin mo, parang every thing fell into place talaga kaya nangyari yun."
A MILLION VIEWS
In less than a week, her uploads racked up a million views from varied audiences—from millennials to moms to sosyal friends.
"May matanda, may bata na I never thought na I would have that large audience," Alex gasped.
"Nagugulat din ako 'tapos sasabihin ng mommy ko, 'Ba't kaya sila natutuwa sa iyo?' Nakaka-touch kasi parang may mga taong lumalapit sa iyo tapos alam nila yung buhay mo.
"Yun yung actually nata-touch ako at sa mga taong umiintindi ng humor ko.
"Mga tao na minamahal yung family ko, mahal yung mahal ko, mahal nila yung boyfriend ko, mahal si Mommy Pinty, mahal nila si Seve."
She added, "It's very surreal na minsan may sobrang sosyal na nanonood, nagugulat ako, 'Hala nanonood ba ito ng ano ko?'
"Meron naman sa labas, 'Nanonood din po ako ng vlogs niyo!'"
Even her fellow celebrities, including Exes Baggage star Carlo Aquino, watch her vlogs.
"Kasi iko-congratulate ko siya sa Exes Baggage 'tapos sabi niya, 'Kakapanood ko lang sa 'yo kahapon...'
"E, kaka-upload ko lang [ng vlog] nung gabi, 'Kakapanood ko lang sa iyo kahapon, ginu-good time mo mama mo!'
"[Inisip ko], 'Hala nanonood din si Carlo Aquino ng vlog ko.'"
GOOD VIBES ONLY
More than anything, Alex said she just wanted to spread good vibes and make her audience laugh through her vlog.
"I really wanted people to see me as someone who gives them a good laugh.
"Sometimes I share my hardships, lalo kapag sa testimonies ko sa church pero with my vlog, I really want them to parang...
"People are giving me ten minutes of their time, five minutes of their time na they're really focused on it.
"Unlike TV na nakabukas lang, ito talagang five minutes and ten minutes [papanoorin ka] so I wanted to make sure.
"Lalo kapag nag-e-edit ako, kapag hindi siya nakakatawa for me, parang ayokong sayangin yung time nila na parang, 'Ano ba 'tong ginawa ko?'
"Gusto ko kahit papa'no natawa sila, nakalimutan nila problem nila, basta natawa sila.
"Minsan may nagme-message sa akin na namatayan sila or they're very sad, they just go to my vlog and nakakalimutan nila yung problem nila, and that's really what I wanted."
But how does Alex set her limitations on what to share and what not to her subscribers?
"Yung mga serious moments ko in life, yung mga solemn moments ko, I really don't share, but I haven't tried on my vlog.
"Parang that's really me kasi in real life, I always want to see the brighter side of things.
"Pero 'pag nagpunta ako sa O.A. mode, O.A. talaga ako na cry-cry ako.
"Pero ngayon, I'm in a happy position, I'm in a happy place, I don't think about negativity talaga.
"So I don't have to actually filter, but hindi ko rin naman kailangan ipakita kapag nag-away kami or nag-ano kami.
"Yun yung pinaka-number one ng ate ko, e, we don't air out our dirty laundry, yung mga away niyo na personal.
"Pero sometimes we discuss it pag okay na... sinasabi ko sa ibang tao, 'O, inaway ko nga iyan kahapon kasi ganito...'
"Pag na-settle na namin, then we could talk about it. Pero if it's still going on, hindi."