MANILA, Philippines — It’s definitely “go, go, go” for Rufa Mae Quinto this 2024. After appearing in Prime Video’s “LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines,” the actress has moved back to the Philippines due to more showbiz offers, including the film “Mujigae” under the Unitel Straight Shooters (UXS, Inc.) production outfit.
To recall, it was over the pandemic when Rufa Mae decided to live in the US with her American husband Trevor Magallanes and their daughter Athena.
“Blessed to ‘go, go, go,’ ‘di ba? Todo na ‘to,” Rufa quipped, using her iconic lines, in an interview on the sidelines of the storycon for “Mujigae.” (It’s megged by Randolph Longjas, the same director for Rufa Mae’s recent shows — Prime Video’s “Comedy Island Philippines” and “LOL Philippines.” The latter is also co-produced by UXS, Inc.)
“Nag-decide na kaming pamilya na dito na muna kasi maganda din na seven years old (si Athena) matutong mag-Tagalog. Matagal rin kami dun, so magandang mag-move muna, habang maraming offers again.
“Kasi nagsara ang showbiz during pandemic. Ngayon maganda, masaya na ang showbiz (again) so the timing is just right. That’s why I said, join ako!” she said, adding that her husband is very supportive of her decision to stay in the country. “Of course, he said, you’ll do great. He has believed in me ever since.”
Aside from “Mujigae,” Rufa Mae teased a show (or shows?) with GMA Public Affairs. Nothing is confirmed yet but The STAR asked Public Affairs boss, Nessa Valdellon, about it and she said, “(Rufa Mae) did so well when she co-hosted ‘Dapat Alam Mo’ so the prods have been thinking up shows for her.” How interesting that would be to see the comedienne, who once spoofed the likes of popular broadcasters Mel Tiangco and Korina Sanchez, having her own Public Affairs show.
Interestingly, Rufa Mae is now carefully choosing the projects she’s taking on. “Pag bata ka go lang ng go, left and right. Ngayon may consideration na sa pamilya. You have a child and husband to consider. You have to consider their feelings. Para ‘di ma-bash yung anak mo,” she said, before quipping, “Kaya ganito na ako — naging news and public affairs na.”
One thing’s for sure, Rufa Mae is grateful that all this is happening on a milestone year. “Biro mo, 30 years in showbiz… Alam mo, kapit lang talaga sa Diyos. Kung para sayo talaga, yun talaga. ‘Di mo pwedeng pilitin,” she said.
Asked why she thinks her brand of comedy has stayed relevant with the younger generation, she said, “I don’t know why they can relate pero natutuwa ako. Kasi siguro may anak ako, yung jokes ko naging panglahatan na, from the mature to the young.”
Meanwhile, she jokingly blamed “food coma” as the reason why she lost in “LOL Philippines,” the reality-comedy competition featuring comedians trying to make each other laugh without having to laugh themselves. The contestant who never laughs until the end of the game wins. The Pinoy edition of an international franchise declared Chad Kinis as the “Last One Laughing,” winning the P1 million prize money.
Early on, Rufa Mae was considered the “biggest” threat. Before getting eliminated for cracking up at her own joke, she made the most contestants laugh, especially when she translated Tagalog names of vegetables to English. (She credited “Home Sweetie Home” writer Sherwin Buenavida for polishing her act.)
But Rufa Mae didn’t mind to “go, go, go out” of the contest, as she said on the show. “Nag-lunch tapos nabusog ako,” she recalled. “Nag-food coma na rin kasi ang dami-daming kinain. Tapos na-si-CR na ako. Dahan-dahan ko na nararamdaman… Kaya umalis na ako, para sure (laughs). Para di ako magkalat.”
On a more serious note, she felt the comedy was heading towards a direction that wasn’t her style. Before she exited, Jerald Napoles channeled an ‘80s aerobics teacher who did “naughty” exercises, one of which saw his crotch moving close to their faces. A subsequent challenge saw remaining all-male contestants attempting and failing to catch falling cards with their lips.
She said, “Alam ko na pa-dirty na… Pwede ko ipilit pero hayaan mo na sila.
“At saka parang naging, for me ha, bastos na rin, I mean, ‘pag makita ako ng pamilya ko, ‘di ba? Sabihan na ganun, ganun…
“Siguro malakas na rin ako makiramdam, okay pa ba?… At saka ayaw ko naman makipaglaplapan (sa mga lalake). May anak na ako.
“Siempre pumasok rin sa isip ko, kahihiyan ko. I mean, anak ko nga minsan, (she would say) ‘Mama, why is your breast (cleavage) showing?’
“Tama yung decision ko… Iba rin yung taste of comedy ko,” she said.
Which is not to say she wasn’t aiming for the P1 million. But for her, to be cast in the Vice Ganda-hosted show was more than enough. “Sabi ko, sapat na yun. Because we already had TF (talent fee). I was more focused on the kind of show I could give to the fans. Nung nakapagbigay na ako, umalis na ako,” she said.
But there’s one winning tip she could give to future contestants. “Ang secret — ‘wag kang kumain. Para magalit ka, maiyak at ‘di matatawa,” she quipped.
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