# Tonipet Gaba

Antonio Jose Ongpauco Gaba (born July 16, 1978) professionally known as Tonipet Gaba (Tagalog:), is a Filipino theater actor, model, and television presenter. He is most notable for hosting the children's arts and crafts show, Art Angel, in 2004. Gaba also served as a longtime presenter of the magazine show, Pop Talk, on GTV (formerly GMA News TV) until his shift to Net 25 in 2021. He currently co-hosts the network's morning show Love, Tonipet, and Everythaaang!, with co-host Love Añover.

## Early life and career

From a young age, Gaba was already fascinated in visual arts as he loved drawing and painting. He majored in Literature and Humanities at the De La Salle University, where he also had a newfound love for the stage.

### Theater career

Gaba trained under Repertory Philippines. He performed in various plays such as the Philippine productions of Hans Christian Andersen's Honk! and Neil Simon's The Good Doctor. Due to his consecutive television projects, his theater career was put on hold until his comeback as Schroeder in the 2012 Philippine production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, produced by 9 Works Theatrical.

### Television career
#### 2002: NBN

Gaba appeared on the NBN children's educational show Eskwela ng Bayan in 2002. He starred in the segment "Karen's World" as a farmer named Inggo who learns English from Karen Kalabaw, a talking carabao, played by Monica Llamas.

#### 2004–2021: GMA Network

In 2004, he co-hosted the arts and crafts children's show, Art Angel, with Pia Arcangel and child actress Krystal Reyes. He remained throughout the entirety of the show, even after Arcangel left in 2010, who was replaced by actress Anne Barcelo. In a separate endeavor in 2008, Gaba directed the educational show, Batang Bibbo!, which also starred Barcelo. With the launching of GMA News TV, Gaba hosted the magazine show Pop Talk, since its premiere in March 2011. After a seven-year run, Art Angel concluded and was replaced by Sabadabadog! with Gaba as its host, until November 2011. He later joined the morning show Unang Hirit, reuniting with his former co-host, Arcangel.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, GMA News TV launched the series New Normal: The Survival Guide; Gaba, alongside Rovilson Fernandez, remotely hosted Home Work—an informative show sharing life hacks at home during the quarantine. GMA Network also aired a limited rerun of Art Angel in May; Gaba then addressed the former supporters of the show on social media while he expressed his hopes for the show to return someday with new episodes. In November of the same year, he resumed hosting Pop Talk after production was postponed. In October 2021, Gaba bid farewell as Pop Talk ended after its tenth year.

#### 2021–present: Net 25

Prior to Pop Talk's conclusion, Gaba already appears and co-hosts on the Net 25 morning news and talk show, Kada Umaga, since its premiere in August 2021. He hosts the segments "Toni Knows" and "Tonipet's Take Out".

## Personal life

Gaba converted to Iglesia ni Cristo in 2022; he was welcomed personally and in social media by his Kada Umaga co-host, Wej Cudiamat. He also co-owns a creative agency where he serves as a film director.

## Credits
### Theater

List of theater credits of Tonipet Gaba :
| Year | Title | Role | Producer | Venue |
| 2000 | Once Upon A Mattress | Prince Dauntless | Repertory Philippines | William J. Shaw Theater, Shangri-la Plaza Mall |
| 2000 | The Good Doctor | Government clerk | Repertory Philippines | William J. Shaw Theater, Shangri-la Plaza Mall |
| 2000 | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Valentin | Repertory Philippines | William J. Shaw Theater, Shangri-la Plaza Mall |
| 2000 | Murder For Rent | Romeo | Repertory Philippines | — |
| 2001 | Our Town | George | Repertory Philippines | Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex |
| 2001 | The Little Mermaid | Calamari | Repertory Philippines | Meralco Theater |
| 2002 | Lagi Kitang Naaalala (A Musical Tribute to Levi Celerio, Atang de la Rama, Lucio San Pedro) | Performer | Cultural Center of the Philippines | Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex |
| 2003 | Lagi Kitang Naaalala (A Musical Tribute to Levi Celerio, Atang de la Rama, Lucio San Pedro) | Performer | Cultural Center of the Philippines | Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex |
| 2003 | Honk! The Ugly Duckling | Cat | Trumpets | Meralco Theater |
| 2012 | You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Schroeder | 9 Works Theatrical | Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza |

### Television

List of television credits of Tonipet Gaba :
| Year | Program | Notes | Network |
| 2000 | A Christmas Prayer: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special | Guest | ABS-CBN |
| 2002 | Eskwela ng Bayan | Actor | NBN |
| 2004 | Art Angel | Co-host | GMA Network |
| 2005 | Pet.Ko | Host | Studio 23 |
| 2007 | Kids on Q | Host | Q |
| 2007 | Pinoy Meets World | Guest host | Q |
| 2008 | Batang Bibbo! | Director | GMA Network |
| 2009 | Tara! Let's Eat! | Host | Q |
| 2010 | The Beat | Segment host | Q |
| 2011 | Sabadabadog! | Host | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Pop Talk | Host | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Alamat | Voice actor | GMA Network |
| 2020 | New Normal: A Survival Guide - Home Work | Host | GMA Network |
| 2021-2023 | Kada Umaga | Host | Net 25 |
| 2023 | Love, Tonipet, and Everythaaang! | Host | Net 25 |

## Accolades

List of accolades received by Tonipet Gaba :
| Year | Event | Category/Award | Work | Result |
| 2007 | 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Children's Show Host | Art Angel | Won |
| 2007 | 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Children's Show Host | Kids on Q | Nominated |
| 2008 | 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Children's Show Host | Art Angel | Won |
| 2008 | 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Children's Show Host | Kids on Q | Nominated |
| 2011 | ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Lifestyle Program Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |
| 2011 | 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Children's Show Host | Art Angel | Won |
| 2013 | ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Lifestyle Program Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |
| 2013 | 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Morning Show Host | Unang Hirit | Won |
| 2014 | ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Lifestyle Program Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |
| 2014 | 28th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Magazine Show Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |
| 2015 | 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Magazine Show Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |
| 2016 | 30th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Magazine Show Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |
| 2016 | 10th UPLB Gandingan Awards | Best Morning Show Hosts | Unang Hirit | Won |
| 2018 | Kung-Gihan Awards 2018 | Image of the Industry Hospitality Lifestyle TV Program Host of the Year | Pop Talk | Won |
| 2021 | 34th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Lifestyle Show Host | Pop Talk | Nominated |