Comedy Queen AiAi Delas Alas returned to the country once again to fulfill a showbiz commitment that she kept tightly under wraps.
During a press conference held at Limbaga 77 Restaurant in Morato, Quezon City recently, AiAi promised to reveal details of the upcoming showbiz project once everything has been finalized.
Ai-Ai, 58, and her husband are currently staying in the US where they are green card holders. Last week, she failed to attend the premiere of her latest film "Litrato" under 3:16 Media Network.
"Sayang nga at hindi ako naka-attend ng premiere. Pero okay lang. Manonood naman ako at mga kaibigan kong pari bago ako bumalik ng US," she said. (I wasn't able to attend the premiere night. But that's okay. I will watch it with my priest friends before I return to the US.)
In "Litrato," AiAi plays an elderly with worsening dementia while confined in a healthcare facility.
"Nagkasakit na ako ng konti dahil parang nabugbog na yung katawan ko sa jet lag at byahe. Parang 30 hours na ako nagba-byahe," said AiAi.
(I've gotten a little sick because my body feels like it's been beaten up from jet lag and the flight. It's like I've been traveling for 30 hours.)
"Gusto ko lang i-correct kasi yung iba nagtatanong sa akin kung meron daw ako sakit kaya raw hindi ako masyadong nakakauwi rito," she said.
(I just want to correct it because others are asking me if I'm sick, that's why I don't come home very often.)
"Pinapa-hinga ko lang po yung sarili ko sa byahe kasi mukhang doon ako nabugbog. Kaya nagkaroon po ako myokymia. Yung myokymia, hindi po yung leukemia.
(I was just letting myself breathe on the flight because it looks like I was beaten up there. That's why I got myokymia. Myokymia, not leukemia.)
The Mayo Clinic defines myokymia as the most common type of eye twitching.
"Yan po ang naging dahilan kung bakit ako nagkaroon ng myokymia. Sabi ng doctor, from stress daw ito eh. Kaya sabi ko sa iba, hindi po muna ako masyadong bi-byahe," she added.
(That's the reason why I got myokymia. The doctor said it's from stress. So I told others, I won't travel too much.)
"Actually ang ginagawa ko para hindi maramdaman ng katawan ko na may jet lag dito at sa Amerika, nag-g-gym ako. Eh hindi ko alam pagod na pagod na pala ang katawan ko. Pagod na pagod na pala yung katawan ko hindi ko alam lumalabas na pala sa ibang parte ng katawan ko," AiAi added.
(Actually what I'm doing so that my body doesn't feel that I have jet lag here and in America, I go to the gym. I don't know why my body is so tired. My body is so tired that I don't know that it's showing up in other parts of my body.)
AiAi Delas Alas at GMA Gala 2023 (GMA Public Affairs)
Drama or comedy?
AiAi admitted that it's easier to make people cry than to make them laugh.
"Sa tutoo lang madaling umiyak kesa magpatawa. Ang timing ng tao iba-iba. Ang timing mo dapat medyo precise eh. Kasi kapag hindi precise, patay. Nga-nga! Most of the time di ba, kapag nakakakita ng umiiyak, naiiyak ka rin?" she said.
(Actually, it's easier to cry than to laugh. People's timing is different. Your timing should be a little precise. Because if it's not precise, you're dead. Most of the time, when you see someone crying, you cry too?)
She added: "Pero may mga times naman na mahirap umiyak kasi wala ka sa mood. Hindi n'yo ba napapansin, minsan ang mga artista may saltik? May tililing? Kasi di ba kapag masaya ka pinapaiyak ka. Kapag malungkot ka, nagpapatawa ka. Kaya ako, ang lola ninyo, anis-anis. Kaya pagpasensyahan n'yo na kaming mga artista. May mga sayad talaga kami."
(But there are times when it's hard to cry because you're not in the mood. Don't you notice, sometimes artists look crazy? Because when they're happy, they will make them cry. When they're sad, they laugh. That's why I, your grandmother, is a bit crazy. So please forgive us, artists. Sometimes we are really crazy.)
Critics believe that AiAi's performance in "Litrato" is award-worthy. However, she's not expecting any recognition for her latest movie.
"Hindi na ako nag-e-expect ng award. Kung ano na lang ang ibigay sa akin ng panginoon, tanggap na lang ako ng tanggap. Pag wala, okay lang," she said. (I'm not expecting an award anymore. Whatever the Lord gives me, I'll just accept it. If there isn't, it's okay.)