"Go! go! go! Todo na 'to!"
This was the happy reaction of comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto when she met the members of showbiz media once again to promote her latest series "Tols" on GTV Network, which will premiere on June 25.
Rufa also took her daughter Athena to her first mediacon in recent years, held at the Novotel Manila in Quezon City on June 6. "Alam n'yo ba ang nangyari sa US? Habang nag-so-show ako, ako na rin ang nagbabantay sa kanya. Kaya ang ending dalawa na kaming nagsasayaw sa stage."
She said her husband Trevor Magallanes is supportive of her showbiz career. "Pangarap din ng asawa ko matuto si Athena magsalita ng Tagalog. Supportive siya sa career ko kasi doon talaga ang strength ko."
"Kaya ako umuwi rito dahil gusto rin talaga niya magshowbiz uli ako," said Rufa, whose husband is currently working in the US.
Rufa revealed it was never really her intention to go back to show business in the Philippines. A few months ago, she came over to visit her ailing brother Vincent, who eventually passed on. But it turned out that her trip to Manila would be a blessing in disguise after she was showered with showbiz offers, including a new TV series.
"Habang nasa US ako, may gut-feel ako na dapat akong umuwi. Yun pala, nagpaparamdam na yung kapatid ko, ako na lang ang inantay ng brother ko. So ang storya po is namatayan ako kaya ako bumalik.
"Tapos yung mga taong mahal ko, yun ang kinontak ko (nang nakauwi na uli ako rito). Tapos dumukit-dikit na lahat ng offer pero hindi ko po talaga alam ang daratnan ko sa Pilipinas nun. Basta na feel ko, dapat umuwi na ako," she recalled.
"Tapos sunod-sunod na. Naka-alis na ako dalawang beses noong after election tapos bumalik uli ako. Parang every month, bumabalik din ako rito, last three months.
"Then naisip ko okay naman kami, healthy naman kami. Kasi dati marami na akong allergy dito. Tapos sabi ko iba na ang Pilipinas ngayon medyo open na rin naman. Sana magtuloy-tuloy din na may trabaho. Kasi pati lockdown, lock-in pati padlock," Rufa said.
"Parang God's will lahat ang nangyari. Kasi na feel ko lang, wala ng quarantine, puwede na kaming umuwi. Tapos nag hi and hello ako sa Kapuso Network. Close kasi ako sa Kapuso Network. Tapos eto na nga at marami na akong friends. Ang sarap mag breakfast with them kahit puyat. Ang gwapo pa nila," she added.
In June 2021, Rufa got emotional when she revealed she had a hard time adjusting to motherhood when she was stranded in the US at the height of the pandemic.
“Tuwing nakikita ko yung mga artista, sasabihin ko sa sarili ko, tuwing naghuhugas ako ng plato, ‘after everything I’ve done, sumikat ako sa Philippines, ito lang ba ang bagsak ko? Maghugas ng plato? Hirap na hirap ako nu’ng una. Umiiyak-iyak pa ako. End of the world na para sa akin nu’ng una ko dito,” said Rufa Mae during an interview by Pia Arcangel for the show “Tunay Na Buhay” on GMA recently. (Every time I see movie stars, after all my achievements in show business, is this all I will do? I will just end up washing the dishes? I used to cry. I thought it’s the end of the world for me).
But Rufa Mae said she has adjusted to her ordinary life in the US. She’s happy taking care of her family, especially her daughter Alexandria.
“Ako lahat dito kaya wala ka na talagang time para sa kung anu-ano. Kung hindi importante o trabaho, hindi na ako dapat lumabas kasi mag-fall down yung bahay.” (I am so busy here, that’s why I don’t have time for other things. If it’s not that important, I don’t go out anymore). Rufa added that she misses show business so much.