Feature Article:

PUREFOODS' LUCKY CHARM

AMONG the muses who charmed the PBA fans during the opening of the league’s silver anniversary season last month, Purefoods’ young darling Antoinette Taus has proven to be a big inspiration for the TJ Hotdogs.

The Viva teen star has been watching all of the Hotdogs’ games so far in the ongoing All-Filipino Cup eliminations and so far, the team is doing very well as it has won its first two games to threaten Tanduay Gold Rhum in the team standings as we went to press.

And unlike the other muses who are simply too busy to watch the game of their respective teams’ because of their other commitments, Antoinette makes it a point to come to the Philsports Arena to follow the Hotdogs in action although her schedule is preoccupied with her rehearsals for SOP and her college studies at Ateneo.

"Actually, I like watching basketball and it was a great feeling for me to be with the Purefoods players not only on opening day, but also before the opening when the Purefoods management invited me to a luncheon gathering," Toni told this corner. "This made me want to watch the games a lot more because I want Purefoods to be the champion of this All-Filipino conference." 

Toni has every reason to feel upbeat over the way the Hotdogs have suddenly become a contender in this first conference. To refresh your memory, Purefoods’ last championship was in 1997 when it captured the All-Pinoy plum against Barangay Ginebra. From 1988 up to 1997, the Ayala franchise had made it to the All-Filipino finals every season except in 1995. And after a two-year drought, Toni feels that this could be Purefoods’ year.

"Before, I used to follow the PBA games only on TV because I was watching with my brother Tom who is a basketball fan," Toni opines. "This is my first time, really, to watch the games live kaya dito, iba ang intensity at iba ang energy. I tried playing basketball before pero I didn’t like it kasi ayaw ko ng games na masyadong magulo."

Toni is no stranger to attending basketball gatherings like the PBA opening. Last year, she was a muse for Chowking in the PBL and was even a product endorser for the Chinese fastfood chain together with her screen partner Dingdong Dantes. But she admits that being in the PBA is a more memorable experience because she got to know all of the Purefoods players more closely even before the opening.

Right after the Hotdogs beat Red Bull to pick up their second straight win, Toni went to the team’s dugout to offer her congratulations.

"As long as I’ll remain supportive of the Purefoods team, I’ll try to come and watch their future games if I’ll be free on certain days," Toni assures. "It so happened that all of their games were played on a Friday which is usually my free day. My rehearsals for SOP usually happen on Thursdays or even on Sunday mornings a few hours before we go on the air at 12 noon."

And speaking of SOP, Toni has been having a wonderful time singing and dancing on the GMA Sunday noontime show on GMA. Her team-up with Dingdong on and off-cam has brought them closer together as friends and even when they tape the drama series Anna Karenina, they also share their thoughts with each other not only in their scenes, but also in their interests off-cam.

"Viva has plans of giving us solo careers but there is nothing concrete yet," Toni says. "Dingdong and I are still together on TV although there will come a time when Viva will change our loveteam image very slowly. Right now, we still don’t know if Anna Karenina will move to Channel 13 especially since Viva already has a contract with the said channel. We’re still with GMA although we don’t know yet of Viva’s future plans for us. Even my recording career with Viva is also doing well because I’m going back to the studio to record another album. We’re still looking for the right material."

Toni’s weekly exposure on SOP has brought her closerto her colleagues on the show, most especially her fellow young stars like Lindsay Custodio (one of the Red Bull muses) and Champagne Morales. In fact, she describes her stint with SOP as more than just work, but also a family atmosphere.

Let’s hope the other PBA muses will follow Antoinette’s example and take time out to watch the PBA games as this conference proceeds. Toni has shown an uncanny loyalty to her team and Purefoods fans are sharing her expectations that the Hotdogs will finally make their long-awaited resurgence in this conference.