Toni wanted different ending for 'Starting Over Again'

MANILA – Now it can be told: Toni Gonzaga and Piolo Pascual initially did not agree on the ending of their movie “Starting Over Again.” Gonzaga revealed that she wanted the film to have a fairy-tale ending but was eventually convinced that the film’s “bold ending” was more realistic. “Babae ako eh. Gusto ko ng ine-expect ko sa isang love story. [Si Piolo] ayaw niya na ganung ine-expect. Nagtalo kami, siya gusto niya, ako ayaw ko. Pero na-convince din ako. Ang sakit na kasi [sa character ko],” she told ABS-CBN News on the sidelines of the movie’s thanksgiving party on Tuesday. In hindsight, Gonzaga said she is glad that the scriptwriters stuck with the ending. “I realized na the reason why people break up is because something is already broken… I’ve learned so much sa film. I feel like I’ve grown a lot because of everything that I’ve been through, of the emotions that I experienced. Ang dami kong life lessons na binaon, hindi lang bilang aktres, kundi bilang isang individual,” she said. According to Star Cinema, “Starting Over Again” has already earned P375 million three weeks since it premiered in theaters nationwide. Overwhelmed by the film’s success, Gonzaga said it could not have been possible without director Olivia M. Lamasan. “We just really feel so blessed. I said it earlier na more than the artists na gumawap sa pelikula, what really made this film phenomenal is because of the story, that way it was written, the way it was directed by Inang. It’s such a beautiful film. We credit that to the people behind the camera,” she said. Gonzaga also believes it was God’s will that “Starting Over Again” became such a huge hit. “I realized after everything that has happened and how people accepted the movie, talagang nothing is impossible with God. Nung pinag-uusapan namin ni PJ, sabi namin it was really worth 13 years of waiting. God’s time is always perfect. 'Yung last line ko sa movie na ‘your timing is just perfect,’ yun talaga ang line ko kay God. You’re never too early, you’re never too late, you’re always perfect,” she said.