Rufa Mae Quinto: A sex bomb on the loose - CONVERSATIONS with Ricky F. Lo

While bombs of all kinds were exploding in various parts of Metro Manila — and in the Senate, too, during the abortive Impeachment Trial — Rufa Mae Quinto was detonating a bomb of her own, though not the type that maims or kills people.

"Ang bomba ko," says Rufa Mae who’s playing the title role in the Viva comedy Booba (so titled because it’s about a girl generously gifted up there, although not so much between her ears), "nakakakilig, hindi nakakamatay."

A few days ago, Rufa Mae let loose such a "bomb" when she launched her debut album entitled Rated R (Viva Records) at Punchline, clowning her way through four of the songs from the album which is really more fun than (serious) music. To the amusement of movie writers present, Rufa Mae (deliberately) forgot to properly lipsynch with such naughty numbers as Booba (Do The Hustle), Bitin Na Bitin, Lupaypay and Lalabas Na.

But really now, who cares about how a singer sounds if she’s as sexy and as seductive as Rufa Mae, "the sex bomb on the loose"?

Whether in a movie, in a TV show (she’s a member of the cast of the new Jolina Magdangal ABS-CBN sitcom, Arriba! Arriba!), fielding personal questions in tears on national television after a failed romance (with Quezon City Councilor Dingdong Avanzado), or making like a singer at the Punchline mini-stage, Rufa Mae is rated R.

As she fumbled with the lyrics, she gamely reassured the totally entertained movie press corps that "Makakaraos din ako," don’t worry, reminding everybody that she was doing it for the country — "Para sa bayan ’to!"

But behind the funny girl is a serious actress determined to prove her mettle both in drama and comedy, preferring to be regarded more as a "sexy comedienne" than as a "bold star."

What’s the real Rufa Mae?

"Kung boba or dumb? Well, I’m not like the character in my movie Booba if that’s what you mean. Well, may pagka-boba ng kaunti, pero hindi naman bobang-boba. In short, boba when it comes to affairs of the heart. Nobody’s perfect naman, di ba?"

Are you a sucker for love?

"Not naman that much; hindi ganoon ka-grabe. The only trouble is that naghahanap pa ako ng guy who would respect me for what I am. Actually. Because of my image, parang it’s hard to find a guy who would be serious with me. But I’m not naman the type that, for the sake of having someone, okey na maski sino. Hindi naman ganoon."

That seems to be the problem/predicament of sexy stars, isn’t it? You know, finding a guy who would love them not only for their body.

"I don’t think so. Sometimes kasi, especially if you’re a super-actress, you can’t devote full time to your boyfriend at na-i-insecure siya siempre. Sexy actresses attract more men and if you have a boyfriend, siempre, he can’t help being jealous and possessive. I think there are guys who are only after your body, but mayroon din namang magmamahal sa’yo for what you are, not just for your body, a guy who will love you through and through."

What sort of image ba do you really want to project? A bold star or a sexy comedienne?

"Sexy comedienne, tipong Cameron Diaz (There’s Something About Mary) o kaya Julia Roberts (in Pretty Woman). Para akong babaing Jim Carrey. Pa-sexy without taking off your clothes, ganoon. There are wholesome actresses who have gone bold, naghuhubad na sila, but I’m proud to say that even if I’m not a wholesome actress, hindi pa ako naghuhubad. Sa bedroom ko, oo, but not before the camera. Hindi sa nagpapa-tweetums-tweetums ako, ha."

You can also do drama, can’t you?

"I can. In the meantime, I want to concentrate on fun movies, comedy-comedy, ganoon. ’Yung mga entertaining. Our country has so many problems now, so huwag muna tayong umiyak; magsaya naman tayo. Sometimes nga, I don’t want to watch TV. Ang gulo-gulo ng bayan natin!"

You have just launched your debut album. Are you really serious about singing?

"Somewhat. I’m seriously thinking about it because as you know I have a contract with Viva Records. I also love singing, ever since pa. But I never expected a recording company to take my singing seriously. One time kasi, I was interviewed by a reporter and I said I love not only acting and dancing but also singing. Aba, three recording companies offered me a contract kaagad! Nagulat ako! I chose Viva Records because I’m also a Viva Films star."

Entertaining naman ang debut album mo.

"You know what, I was the one who conceptualized the whole album. It took me six months to plan the whole thing but only two nights to actually record the six songs. I wanted the songs to be naughty-naughty. I recorded the album at the same time that I was shooting Booba."

Did you venture into the recording field to compete with Jessa (Zaragoza, girlfriend of Rufa Mae’s ex, Quezon City Councilor Dingdong Avanzado)?

"No. Hindi, a! In the first place, iba ang style niya at iba rin naman ang style ko. Even our type of songs ay magka-iba. With Jessa’s songs, parang mapapaiyak ka but with my songs, mapapasayaw ka talaga. May bastos din akong songs. Siya ba mayroon? That’s why my album is called Rated R."

If you were to sing a Jessa Zaragoza song, what would it be?

"Ano ba ang mga songs niya?"

One of them is Bakit Pa? Another one is Ibigay Mo Na.

"What are the lyrics ba of Bakit Pa?"

You know, parang di ko yata kaya na sa buhay ko’y wala ka...

"Oh, never mind! I’d rather sing Ikakasal Ka Na."

Speaking of kasal, if and when Jessa and Dingdong get married daw (this year?), rumors said you wouldn’t go even if you’re invited (maybe as one of the ninangs?).

"Hindi naman; huwag naman ganoong intriga. I have nothing against them na; I don’t care about them anymore. I’m happy and I hope they’re happy, too. Besides, God is good to me. I have so many blessings in life. I lost a guy but look at what I’m getting in exchange. Ten times na saya ang kapalit."

In the first place, do you think that if ever they get married, Dingdong and Jessa will invite you? I doubt.

"If they’d just make me a principal sponsor, huwag na!"

Besides, it’s not sure yet if they’re really getting married. Mag-e-election pa nga, e.

"Kailan ba ang elections?"

"Sa May, di ba?"

"A, mayroon ba?"

Dingdong is running for reelection. If asked, would you sing in his campaign?

(Laughs) "Why not... kung may talent fee! Mataas ang talent fee ko, in case he doesn’t know. But come to think of it, feeling ko ayoko na rin, after all the kaplastikan that they did to me. Kahit ‘sorry’ man lang, wala akong narinig."

Really!?!

"Wala! As in wala talaga. Talagang bastusan. That’s what happened. That’s the truth."

Was it Dingdong who inspired you to sing, to launch a singing career?

"No. He even laughed at my singing."

Didn’t he even give you any pointers?

"Wala. As in wala talaga. Tinatawanan pa nga niya ako e."

It means you’re effective. Your singing is also comic, isn’t it?

"Sana nga. But how come even if I was singing a serious song natatawa pa rin siya?"

But the guy who replaced Dingdong is bigger — and better? Rudy Hatfield, isn’t he?

"Taller, yes. 6’3" siya. And we’re both young. I’m 22, he’s 23. Eight months na kami. We’re happy with each other, but we’re not yet so serious with our relationship that we’re already talking about marriage. Matagal pa ’yon. What’s nice about us is that hindi kami naglolokohan. We’re honest with each other."

How did you and Rudy meet?

"I saw him once on TV, playing basketball. Na close-up siya. I said, ‘Oy, guwapo! Crush ko!’ After that, I forgot his face na. I didn’t know that my friend, who’s a fan of the competing team, gave my phone number to Rudy. I received a text from him soon after, at 1 o’clock in the morning! Nagalit pa ako doon sa friend ko, ‘Hoy, why did you give away my phone number?’ Ganoon."

Now that Rudy and you are going steady, maybe you’re thanking your friend pa, if I know.

(Laughs) "Ano pa nga ba?"

How did Rudy court you?

"Three weeks later, we met by chance in Venezia. He was asking somebody who I was. He’s from the States, you know, and he wasn’t familiar with local movie stars. When somebody told him that I was Rufa Mae, maybe he remembered the night he texted me. Siguro, na type-pan na rin niya ako."

Did he have a hard time courting you?

"Ako ang nahirapan."

Why?

(Laughs) "Kasi ang husay niya mag-English, e! (Seriously now) If you happen to have a crush on the guy, the more nervous you are. At English-speaking pa nga! OA na ang pagka-nerbiyos ko! Umikli ang dila ko! I was speechless. That’s how I feel if I also like the guy. I try hard to hide my feelings baka-ma-turn-off siya. Kunwari, hindi ko pinapansin."

What if you don’t like the guy?

"Ay, wala akong pakialam, kahit guwapo! What I do is try to make friends with him para mawala ’yung malisya."

Have you met a guy who’s fresh? You know, action kaagad.

"I just ignore him."

How many boyfriends have you had?

"Nakakaapat pa lang yata ako."

Who was the first?

"You know who he is, di ba? Si Jay (Manalo). Naunahan ko si Joyce (Jimenez), nauna ako sa lahat! Sariwa pa si Jay noon. He was also new in showbiz at that time."

Nag-live-in ba kayo?

"No. Ayoko ng live-in. Never pa ako nakipag-live-in."

Why not?

"If ever I live with a guy, gusto ko after marriage. If you go into a live-in arrangement, what if magkasawaan na kayo? You’d just break up, ganoon? Lugi ang girl, di ba? I believe in marriage, maski ano pa man."

Have you ever had a boyfriend who beat you up?

"A, wala, never! If a guy beats me up, gugulpihin ko rin siya... papatayin ko siya... (Laughs)... sa sarap!"

Who came after Jay?

"Non-showbiz siya. Then came, ay naku, ’yung konsehal ng Quezon City."

What about DOMs (Dirty Old Men)? Have you ever encountered one?

"They don’t circulate in my circle."

Have you received any, you know, indecent proposal? Maybe a house and lot, a car or cold cash.

(Mock seriousness) "In hard times like this, huwag silang magkakamali, tatanggapin ko, papatulan ko! (Seriously now) You know why I’m working so hard, it’s because I want to spend my own money, buy things with my own earnings. Sa awa ng Diyos, I can afford naman to buy the things that I want."

What kind of a family did you come from?

"Hindi sa pagmamayabang, I come from a rich clan, kaya lang, na-bankrupt. From a mansion, we moved to an apartment. But we still ate three meals a day. I had a happy childhood, despite what happened to my family. I grew up with my Lola. My parents kasi separated when I was only one year old. My father remarried, but my mother did not, although nag-boyfriend-boyfriend din naman siya. I have several stepbrothers, stepsisters, half-brothers and half-sisters."

I heard that you’re galante with your family.

"I’m the kind of person who shares her blessings. Ayokong solohin ang blessings ko."

Have you always wanted to be an actress?

"Actually, I wanted to be a lawyer or a flight stewardess when I was a kid. Palagi akong honor student noon (at St. Vincent School). Sometimes naman, ako ang pinaka-bobo sa klase. Extremes! When I was in Grade 5, nasa Section 1 ako. Later, lower sections na."

You would have been a good lawyer. Imagine, in court, you could distract your opponent by simply being sexy.

"At magpla-plunging neckline pa ako!" (Laughs again)

By the way, do you sleep in the nude?

"Not naman in the nude but without underwear. Naka-duster lang or loose T-shirt."

Bathed in your favorite perfume?

"No, I don’t wear perfume to bed. I just take a bath using my favorite soap."

Every part of your body is real, isn’t it?

"Tunay na tunay, from head to foot."

Which part of your body is your favorite?

"My waistline. Size 24 ako. Why my waistline? Mahirap kasi magpaliit ng waistline. I used to wear a binder when I went to bed and it was hard. Hindi ako makahinga. But now that I’m down to 24, I try to maintain it by working out."

They say that you look like Jessa Zaragoza in profile?

"Okey lang. She isn’t bad-looking, is she?"

If you were stranded on an island, who would you like to be with?

"If Keanu Reeves is not available, puede na si Brad Pitt. But I really like to be with Jim Carrey. Si Keanu Reeves has been my crush since I was small. Si Brad Pitt naman, napaka-macho, siguro wala kaming pahinga doon sa island. What a beautiful body he has!"

What part of a man’s body do you notice or look at first?

"Ayoko ng may tiyan. My type of a guy ay ’yung malinis, bathroom-fresh."

What’s your ultimate goal in life?

"Very simply just to have a happy family."

If you were a man, who would you be?

"Si Jim Carrey. He’s very funny. I am the female Jim Carrey, hindi n’yo ba alam?"