MANILA – Piolo Pascual admitted that he once dated Toni Gonzaga, but he was quick to add that nothing romantic blossomed out of it. During the press conference for their upcoming movie “Starting Over Again,” Pascual said Gonzaga was then just starting to establish a name as an actress. He said he thought it would be unfair to "hinder" Gonzaga’s showbiz dreams. “Nung nag-transfer po si Tin dito sa atin, lumabas kami. I remember nanood kami ng concert ni Kuya Gary sa Araneta. But right there and then, I realized, and I thought to myself na it’s too unfair para harangin mo or pigilan mo 'yung pangarap niya to become a certified actress,” he said. Pascual added: “Gusto niya makilala muna bilang Toni Gonzaga kasi kaka-transfer lang niya dito sa ABS so nagparaya tayo.” Pascual said he is happy to have witnessed how Gonzaga evolved not just as an actress but also as a singer and host. First movie Meanwhile, Pascual is elated that he and Gonzaga were finally given the chance to star in a movie together. The actor said it has been a while since both of them expressed their desire to be paired in a project. “I guess more than being worth the wait, tama 'yung timing kasi sa ASAP magkasama kami. Every time we ask each other kung pwede kaming magkasama, laging may humaharang. I don’t know kung anong force but it just wouldn’t materialize…. I think it just fell into place. Sobrang sakto po so blessing na we waited this long,” he said. Gonzaga, on the other hand, likens this experience to her TV ad for a soda 10 years ago where she first shared the screen with Pascual. “Nung first day, hindi ako makatulog nung gabi. Ganun na ganun din ako nung first time ko siya makakatrabaho, hindi ako makatulog kasi inisip ko first major commercial ko 'yun na may makakasama akong artista. Feeling ko nagsisimula ulit ako kasi I started out as a fan ni Piolo Pascual. Iba yung feeling na makakatrabaho ko na siya. I think the project came at the right time,” she said. Directed by Olivia M. Lamasan, “Starting Over Again” will be the Velentine offering of Star Cinema.