Alex Gonzaga got into vlogging six months ago. In her videos, she brings her funny self on TV to online by mostly 'disturbing' family members like her Ate Toni and her 'momager' Pinty during their downtime, to hilarious and viral results.
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Gonzaga has a fair advantage over other newbies in the blogosphere because of her being in showbiz, but one can stand out in a sea of wannabes even without the celebrity DNA.
"Don't over do it. You should give people unusual things to watch because you already have the television or all the social media platforms. So, what would make you different from other channels and from other videos? Maybe if you're OA (overacting) when it comes to effort, just be authentic (instead). Just be yourself," the 29-year-old TV host/actress said in an interview when she was launched as the new endorser for the coffee creamer brand Krem-Top.
"Now, if you have a boring personality, don't blog," she laughed, but was quick to add. "No, it really depends on what your passion is. That's my most important tip: Find your passion so it won't feel as if you're working."
She said if you feel like "I have to post again" it should be because you're truly looking forward to creating videos. Just go for it, she encouraged budding vloggers, "if your passion is to cook, manloko ng tao (play a prank on people), joke around, make people happy, guluhin mo buhay ng pamilya mo (disturb the lives of your family), there's no limit on YouTube."
Alex got into vlogging six months ago. In her videos, she brings her funny self on TV to online by mostly "disturbing" family members like her Ate Toni and her "momager" Pinty during their downtime, to hilarious and viral results. Whether it's intentional or not, there's a bit of a Keeping Up with the Kardashians in there, with a part of their private lives pried open but minus the scandal or drama. The most drama or tears shed came when she subjected her family to the spicy noodle challenge. Some of the videos she did include bag raids and make-up tutorials.
It all started when she posted on Instagram Stories her first Tinang (short for "Tita Ninang") video with her nephew Seve. She said many of her followers were asking for a "second episode" and personally, doing it gave her fulfillment.
At first, she wanted to start a YouTube channel for her and her ate but the latter wasn't just up to it. Fortunately, she's friends with Winnie Wong, an illustrator and YouTuber with the handle Penelope Pop. She volunteered to help Alex by creating her channel and logo. "Everything fell into place and I immediately got my own team (to handle it)," she said.
With Toni and Baby Seve —Photo from Alex's Instagram
Alex now has more than 600,000 followers on YouTube. What will she do if she reaches a million followers? "Nip slip ganun, ha ha ha!" she joked. "(If two million) dalawa na sila, ha ha ha!"
Since she tends to say whatever she wants to say, did she ever get into trouble for her comments?
"With my editors, (there are times when they ask me) baka may ma-offend tayo? May mga tatanggalin but it only happened one time or two times in all my videos," Alex said.
As for her family like Toni, she "has been supportive (of it) since Day One" because she wants Alex to document, for example, their trips abroad for memories. "So, she has made me her personal videographer."
With Mommy Pinty, "There are times she has no make-up so it annoys her (but then I have followers who reassure her) 'Wag mong isipin panget ka, maganda ka.'"
Her businessman-boyfriend Mikee Morada is also not spared — sometimes. But the BF set his foot down and didn't allow her to vlog about their V-day date. Still, full video with him will most likely happen soon, in one way or another.
"When it's just the two of us, he's actually more the comedian than I am. Maybe I should have had a crush on (comedians like) Kuya Long Mejia, Empoy before so that I didn't end up heartbroken (laughs). But of all my suitors, it's only Mikee who has most similar family values. Our core values, how we were raised, religion, respect for family, we're very the same," she shared.
Because of her newfound vlogger role, Alex is being tapped by brands such as Krem-Top that are looking to expand their online presence.
"We see that Alex is a perfect channel to reach our target market and to be supported by our media assets," said Nica Corpuz, Krem-Top associate brand manager.
As a certified coffee drinker herself, Alex said that what she likes about the creamer is that it doesn't dilute the coffee but rather enhances its taste. Nevertheless, she had the opportunity to hear other people's comments herself when she led the "tastemonials" for the coffee creamer in BPO centers in Quezon City. She maintained the taste tests were not planted nor scripted. "Actually, I was told pagka may tao na di pumili, we don't continue. Surprisingly naman, they chose (the brand). I even prepared some jokes (for those who will not choose it), but I didn't get to use them."