MANILA, Philippines – “It’s Showtime” host Vhong Navarro admitted there was a time when he wanted to pursue his friend Toni Gonzaga but eventually decided to back off.

TV host-actor Vhong Navarro

“Ayaw ko maapektuhan ang mga trabaho namin. Siyempre parang nakakailang naman na nanliligaw ka at the same time magkatrabaho kami ‘di ba?” Navarro told “The Buzz” on Sunday.

Furthermore, Navarro noted how strict Gonzaga’s mom then.

“Kumbaga kay Robert Joworski, may isa pang magaling magbantay sa depensa – si Mommy Pinty. Ako naman nirerespeto ko 'yung magulang ni Toni that time. Ayaw ko lang talagang maapektuhan ang trabaho namin,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga said she never imagined herself with Navarro because she really considers him like a brother.

“Hindi kami nagkaron ng chance ni Vhong na lumevel up at mapunta sa sitwasyon na iyon. Unang una naiilang ako, parang incest. Parang kapatid ko na kasi eh," she said.

"Pero hindi mo maikakaila malakas talaga ang sex appeal ni Vhong. Pero malakas kasi ang depensa ni Mommy Pinty so hindi ka talaga makakalusot sa mga panahon na iyon,” she said in jest.

As time passed, Gonzaga said she learned to value Navarro as one of her best friends in the showbiz industry.

“Si Vhong at si Vice (Ganda) ang itinuturing kong dalawang kaibigan na kahit siguro ilang taon kaming hindi magkikita, tuwing magkikita kami, walang nawala, walang nabawasan, pareho pa rin ang respeto at pagmamahal na mayroon ako sa kanila,” she said.

Gonzaga added she also turns to Navarro for advice whenever she needs one.

“Kasi wala akong kapatid na lalaki. Dito sa industriya, siya ang itinuturing ko na kapatid ko na lalaki. Kapag kailangan ko ng lalaking perspektibo sa mga bagay bagay, I call him up and I ask him,” she said.

Gonzaga and Navarro first worked together in the news comedy show “Wazzup Wazzup.”

They then reunited in the movie “D’Anothers” in 2005, and in the Star Cinema movie “My Only U” in 2008.