Booba gets seriously hooked on Bobby

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

Forget Erik Santos and Jessa Zaragoza. Rufa Mae Quinto doesn't have the time to reflect on what she calls part of her past. She now wants to focus on the present and think about the future, especially with her newfound love Robert "Bobby" Lopez, a Mexican American based in Hong Kong where he is a senior manager at Mattel Inc.

Before joining her co-stars in the forthcoming feature film Italy for a flight to Rome last Friday (after which the entire production proceeded by train to Genoa where they boarded a cruise ship where most of the movie will be shot), Peachy (as she is called by her close friends in the business) slipped out of the country last Wednesday to meet Bobby in Hong Kong.

"Di ba, I was supposed to meet him in Hong Kong during the Holy Week, eh hindi nga natuloy. My passport was with the Italian Embassy for the visa we needed for the film. I only got it on March 27," Peachy related to us a couple of hours before she rushed to the airport to catch her flight to Hong Kong.

Bobby came to Manila, though, weekend last. "I had to tag him all along to GenSan [General Santos City] where I had a show [a promotional tour for Talk 'n Text]," she narrated rather giggly. "Walang kaalam-alam yung pobre na makakarating siya sa GenSan."

Rufa Mae said that Bobby is very understanding. "That's what I like in him. I don't have to be somebody else when I am with him. I just have to be me," she added.

In fact, Bobby is now like a member of the family. "I have introduced him to my family," the comedian, who is starring along with Polo Ravales, John Prats, Jiro Manio, Sid Lucero, and Cherry Pie Picache in Manay Po 2: Overload, said. "So far, the reaction of my family was very positive."

Rufa Mae said that it's important for Bobby to know what she does for a living, and what kind of family she has. "I don't want him [and for any man for that matter] to have some notion that I am what I am not in real life. Mabuti na yong sa umpisa pa lang alam na nya ang mundong ginagalawan ko."

That she is busy as an actor, is one thing any suitor must contend with. Rufa Mae's schedule for 2008 is already very tight, and in fact the short interview she granted us last Wednesday was a shot in the dark considering that she'd be coming from a taping of an episode for Bubble Gang in Pili, Camarines Sur, and she had a flight to catch at 2 p.m. for Hong Kong.

She had to do the interview because Manay Po 2 will open on April 16, and she'd be away until April 12 shooting a movie with Jolina Magdangal and Dennis Trillo.

In Manay Po, she said, "I am the 'overload'."

She plays a baby maker thrust into the world of a gay couple (played by Polo Ravales and Sid Lucero) by her criminally minded lover (Marco Alcaraz) to extort money from the couple.

"I don't know how I got pregnant in the movie," she admitted, "but I did. Yes, I forced myself on Polo several times, but unsuccessfully, still I got pregnant."

Rufa Mae is a certified box-office draw. The movies she made last year (for OctoArts and Viva Films) all made decent box-office receipts, big enough for the two production companies to think of (separate) projects for her this year.

Lily Monteverde is very optimistic Manay Po 2 is going to be big at the tills. "Andyan si Rufa Mae, eh," she exclaimed.

And Rufa Mae could only blurt out, "Naku, todo na to!"

Supah-Papalicious supah big hit

Now on its third week in theaters across the archipelago, SupahPapalicious is now the official summer movie of 2008.

Say the name Vhong Navarro and automatically you'll remember some of the most popular movie and TV characters--Mr. Suave, Hesus of D'Anothers, Lastikman! Now, Vhong is on his way to immortalizing yet another colorful character from the big screen--SupahPapalicious!

A nationwide fever is now in the offing as the whole country and Filipino communities all over the world are ecstatic to watch the latest Vhong Navaro starrer. The Prince of Comedy is sorely missed on the big screen! Star Cinema answers that clamor with an event movie where Vhong leads the pack which includes noontime, TV's It Girl Valerie Concepcion and Super Inggo himself, Makisig Morales!

Christian and Sarah on Balitang America

Christian Bautista and Sarah Geronimo were recently featured in Gel Santos' television program Balitang America on TFC. The singers talked about their concerts in the US dubbed Night of the Champions in Houston, Texas, on March 29 and Anaheim, California, on March 30.

Christian and Sarah, together with fellow singing champions Rachelle Ann Go and Mark Bautista, just finished their three-week concert tour in Canada.

Christian shared with Balitang America viewers that he will star in the Manila production of Broadway musical West Side Story.

Sarah said she is getting ready for more work as film project that Viva and Star Cinema will co-produce this year could start rolling any time soon.

Asian Food Channel on SkyCable

SkyCable gives women another serving of a delectable and engaging channel that focuses on a new and exotic culinary adventure as it welcomes the addition of the Asian Food Channel. Now seen on SkyCable Channel 58, AFC is the first and only 24-hour Asian cable television channel on the region that showcases Asian food at its best. AFC sizzles with a rich programming mix that provides a window to Asia's heart and soul.

Viewers get a serving of Asia's best restaurant, the finest chefs, extraordinary cuisines, and anything that defines and refines the culinary expertise that has become synonymous with Asia. Among its featured shows include Martin Yan's Hidden China, which explores the hidden cultural treasure and flavors of China; Chef's Story, which tells the story of 27 extraordinary chefs and how they became successful; Restaurant Makeover, a reality show where one top chef collaborates with a top interior designer; and Jamie Oliver's Naked Chef.

Be part of AFC's gastronomic experience only on SkyCable Channel 58. Call 631-0000, text 0917-631-0000 or 0918-8-631000, or log on to www.skycable.com to subscribe.

Source: Manila Standard Today