Still mourning her husband's death, comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto accepted the challenge to become a celebrity contestant on the reality show "Your Face Sounds Familiar" on Kapamilya Channel.

At the grand media conference for the show, Rufa said she joined the television contest to have fun following a dramatic and challenging period in her life. She has just arrived from the US, where her husband, Trevor Magallanes, was laid to rest.

"Dumaan ako sa mga madramang problema. Kaya sabi ko, gusto kong gumawa ng malilibang. Kailangan ko yung kasi nagluluksa pa rin kaming mag-ina at maibigay ko rin kaligayahan ko sa anak ko. Ang magagawa ko lang ay magpatawa at magpasaya habang gumagawa rin ako sa 'It's Showtime.' So kapag sumasaya sila, masaya rin ako. Yun lang naman ang gusto ko. "I went through dramatic problems. So I said, I want to do something fun. I need that because my mother and I are still grieving, and I can also give my happiness to my son. All I can do is make him laugh and make him happy while I'm also working on 'It's Showtime.' So when they're happy, I'm happy too. That's all I want.)"

"So when it was offered to me, sabi ko maganda ito dahil matagal din ako na hindi nag-full blast sa showbiz. Halos sampung taon ganun ang career ko. Ngayon eight na rin siya at independent na rin siya. Sabi ko pwede na akong mag-full time sa career ko. (So when it was offered to me, I said it's good because it's been a long time since I went full blast in the showbiz industry. My career has been like that for almost 10 years. Now she's eight and she's independent. I said I can now work full-time in my career.)"

"Sabi ko magandang training ito kasi hindi na talaga ako sanay mag perform or magheels. So ang dami kong dapat balikan. Sakto ito para muli akong makabalik, nagperform ako. Natanggap naman ako. Nagkaroon din ako ng bagong pamilya sa ABS-CBN. Pero ang hirap pala nito. (I said it's good training because I'm not really used to performing or doing heels anymore. So I have a lot to go back to. This is perfect for me to come back again, I performed. I was accepted. I also had a new family at ABS-CBN. It's hard.)"

"Yung boses ko hindi naman kapantay ng mga champion pero humanda sila. So yun talaga ang gusto kong mangyari na sumaya ako kasi I'm depressed. There's freedom of the press. Mga press huwag kayong ma-depress. (My voice is not on par with the champions, but they should watch out. So that's what I really want to happen, that I'm happy because I'm depressed. There's freedom of the press. So press, don't be depressed)," Rufa said.

Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario shared their thoughts on taking on the duties of primetime hosts of the show.

"Medyo nakaka-kaba noong first taping namin. Kinakabahan kami ni Vhong dahil may bulol kami ng konti. As a host, kailangan naman gawin ang trabaho. Pero kami naman ni Vhong, kapag binigyan kami ng trabaho, ginagalingan talaga namin. We give our 100 percent. Gumagawa talaga kami ng style as hosts. Kaya hindi maiwasan may comparison din sa ibang hosts. (It was a little nerve-wracking during our first taping. Vhong and I were nervous because we had encountered a minor issue. As a host, we have to do the job. But Vhong and I, when we are given a job, we really do our best. We provide 100 percent. We really create a style as hosts. So it's inevitable that there will be comparisons with other hosts)," said Jhong.

Vhong added, "Challenging talaga because magagaling yung mga naunang hosts sila Billy (Crawford) and Luis (Manzano). Andun din sila Kuya Gary (Valenciano) and Ate Shawie (Cuneta). Nakakatuwa lang chini-cheer nila kami. Thirty-three years na kaming magkasama ni Jhong so alam na namin paano magsasaluhan. First time na dalawa kami kasi sa 'It's Showtime' marami naman kami. Ano man ang mangyari, saluhan kami. (It's really challenging because the previous hosts, Billy (Crawford) and Luis (Manzano), were great. There's also Kuya Gary (Valenciano) and Ate Shawie (Cuneta). It's just fun to see them cheering us on. Jhong and I have been together for 33 years, so we already know how to get along. It's the first time there are just two of us on 'It's Showtime' because there are a lot of us. No matter what happens, we'll get along.)"

Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 Dia Mate said she will bring confidence as she competes in the reality show. "One thing I will channel in this competition is confidence. In beauty pageants, you need to be confident even if you are sick or not in the mood. Confidence is what you bring to the stage."

Other celebrity contestants shared the stars they fantasize about during their younger years.

"Noong elementary sobrang idol ko talaga noon si Michael Jackson. Cassette" tape pa noon. Nanalo ako noon ng third place as Michael Jackson. (In elementary school, Michael Jackson was my idol. It was still a cassette tape. I won third place as Michael Jackson)," said Vhong.

Marielle Montel said," Sarah G. talaga. Napanood ko rin mga movies niya. Siya ang naging icon ko mula sa bata ako. "Sarah G. really. I've watched her movies too. She's been my icon since I was a child.)"

JM Dela Serna answered, "Sir Ogie (Alcasid) and Sir Martin (Nievera) talaga. Yun talaga ang tinutugtog sa bahay kaya sila ang napapakinggan ko. (Sir Ogie (Alcasid) and Sir Martin (Nievera). That's what they play at home, that's why I listen to them.)"

"Boy bands naman sa akin like Backstreet Boys, NSync, Streetboys. Wala talagang specific na tao lang. Gusto ko noon maging part ng boy band noon. (Boy bands for me are like Backstreet Boys, NSync, and Streetboys. There's really no specific person. I always wanted to be part of a boy band)," said Jarlo Base.

Jason Dy said, "My genre is R&B so nakikinig ako sa mga music nila Usher and Ne-Yo. Doon ko pina-pattern yung pagkanta ko. Sila ang mga naging idol ko. (My genre is R&B so I listen to the music of Usher and Ne-Yo. That's where I pattern my singing. They are my idols.)"

"Iba ang pinapantasya ko noong bata ako. Basketball ang pinagpapantasyahan ko noon. Maging Michael Jordan. Kapag tumitira ako sa basketball, sinisigaw ko, 'Michael Jordan. (I fantasized differently when I was a kid. I fantasized about basketball. Even Michael Jordan. When I was watching basketball, I would yell, 'Michael Jordan)," said Pepe Herrera.

Other celebrity contestants of the show were Alexa Ilacad and Akira Morishita. "Your Face Sounds Familiar" is set to air on Kapamilya Channel on Oct. 4.