Director Paul Soriano says in a press conference on Monday that he believes that his wife, Toni Gonzaga, is the most powerful celebrity today.

“Honestly, outside looking in, if I can a step back and just, you know, from a perspective of not being her husband, or her producer or her director… And just outside looking in, I really believe Toni is probably the most powerful celebrity today,” Soriano said in a press conference on Monday.

“Only because the criticisms and the hate that she’s getting are from equally powerful people, too. You don’t rattle relevant people if you’re not doing something better than them, ‘di ba?” he said.

Witnessing Gonzaga’s darkest moments, Soriano believed that Gonzaga is the strongest person he knows.

“Ahh, and I’ve seen her in her darkest moments. I’ve seen her being very vulnerable, but she chooses to get up every day and face that camera. She could have easily just moved out, taken all the criticisms and just, you know, go somewhere else,” he said.

Soriano said he witnessed how Gonzaga’s career was criticized after she actively supported President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his election campaign.