And that’s exactly what Rufa Mae will do at her concert, Bombshell Unleashed, 8 p.m. next Saturday, May 27, at Aliw Theater – dance and sing.
"I really love singing," Rufa Mae told Funfare, "since I was a kid."
Does it flatter her – or offend her – that her mostly male fans seem to be interested more in her sexy 36-24-36 body moving (yes, dancing!) than in her singing?
"Okay lang," said Rufa Mae.
With her concert, she hopes to overcome the stage fright she developed when, during a concert a few years ago, the audience "walked away" while she was singing Ocean Deep (her new single).
Didn’t they like the song (or her way of singing)?
"Not really," recalled Rufa Mae, "may sunog kaya nag-alisan ang mga tao."
At her Aliw Theater concert, Rufa Mae will sing Ocean Deep again and she hopes that, knock on wood, there won’t be any fire that might drive the audience to run and dive into the ocean (which is a bit deep) nearby. (Also included in her repertoire is Crazy For You, another of Rufa Mae’s favorite songs.)
Have contending concert queens Sharon Cuneta, Pops Fernandez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Lani Misalucha and Ai-Ai de las Alas cause for worry now that upstart (read: "aspiring concert queen") Rufa Mae has dared venture into the arena?
"No," assured Rufa Mae. "Iba sila, iba naman ako. Watch na lang kayo and find out for yourself. Basta, matindi!"
You are so slim. Do you ever eat?
"I take one heavy meal once a day, especially for breakfast, consisting of brown rice and always with egg sunny-side-up (minus the yolk), with fish (tilapia, bangus, galunggong, etc.)."
And fruits?
"Not so much because fruits are high in sugar (fructose)."
Favorite fruit, if any?
"Banana – all kinds. Masarap ang saging, di ba? Rich in potassium."
Vegetables?
"I love all kinds, especially kangkong."
Food?
"Eggs, done any style. Basta no yolk."
Do you take vitamins and minerals?
"No, I don’t."
How much liquid do you take every day?
"A lot. Matakaw ako sa tubig."
Hard drinks?
"Hardly. Paisa-isa lang. One bottle of light beer and I get groggy already."
How much sleep do you get per night?
"At least eight hours. Otherwise, I take naps."
Can you sleep all of eight hours if somebody is sleeping with you?
"Would you believe that it’s been a long time since somebody was sleeping with me that I have forgotten na!"
Are you a pillow person?
"Yes, I am. I sleep with six pillows at home; I have two pillows in my car. I always sleep wrapped up in a blanket."
Your favorite sleeping wear?
"Honestly? None!"
What sort of workout do you do?
"Dancing or badminton."
What do you think is the sexiest part of your body?
"All of me. Buong pagkatao ko."
What part do you find sexy in a man’s body?
"The brains. Boba na nga ako, pipili pa ba ako ng bobo rin?"
What turns you on in a guy?
"Somebody who has passion in whatever career he is in. ‘Yung matalino."
What else do you like in a guy?
"He should be neat and clean, ‘yung natural na amoy mabango, hindi bangong-perfume, ha. I myself am neat and clean, at palaging amoy bagong-paligo. I take a bath all the time, twice or more a day."
What turns you off naman in a guy?
"‘Yung mukhang madumi."
And what part of your seemingly perfect body do you think needs some improvement?
"I’m happy with my body as it is. But come to think of it... I should have firmer legs."
How’s your nightlife?
"Zero. I’d rather stay home and listen to music and read inspirational books."
Love life?
"Sad; malungkot."
How are you and Rudy Hatfield (her basketball player boyfriend)?
"Malabo. He’s in the States."
Now that Rudy is away, "Coldfield" daw ang life mo?
"Yeah, malamig."
How are you and Duncan Ramos (South Border member)?
"He’s also in the States."
How’s your sex life?
"Wala nga, eh! Oops! Did I sound sad?"
Being in showbiz is stressful. How do you cope with stress?
"I get a massage, at least once a month."
Any favorite city or hideaway?
"None. My favorite hideaway is my home."
Do you apply anything on your flawless skin?
"Lotion."
Are you afraid of the sun like most women?
"Yes, but I can’t really avoid the sun because I have to shoot outdoors. But I make sure I apply lots of sunblock. Ayoko magka-peklat, ‘no!"
How do you deal with problems?
"Dati dinidibdib ko. Now, I just cry and suddenly may solution na."
Do you have any favorite fantasy?
"I like a guy, not from showbiz, but I won’t tell you his name. He directs commercials. Actually, I haven’t met him yet."
What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
"I freshen up, drink two glasses of water and pray."
And the first thing that you do as soon as you wake up?
"Check my cellphone (on ‘silent’ mode at bedtime) for ‘missed calls’ and messages. And then, I take a bath because I have to go to work at once."
Name three guys you consider sexy.
"Polo Ravales. Wendell Ramos. Bong Revilla."
And three women you think are as sexy as you are.
"Ara Mina. Regine Tolentino. Francine Prieto."
Using only body language, how would you make a guy know that he’s your "type"?
"Kunwari hindi ko siya pinapansin. But I’ll be pleasant to him once he talks to me."
(Note: In Bombshell Unleashed, among Rufa Mae Quinto’s guests are Erik Santos, Janno Gibbs, Teri Onor and Polo Ravales, plus a "surprise" performer whose name sounds like Martin Nievera. For tickets, call the Ticketnet at 911-5555.)
• On Aug. 12 and 13, Nora Aunor and Judy Ann Santos, with Ryan Agoncillo, are special guests at the Philippine-US Expo 2006 in Pomona, Los Angeles, California. It’s Nora and Juday’s first time to be together in a musical extravaganza. On Aug. 19 and 20, Juday and Ryan are special guests at the Philippine Fiesta 2006 in New Jersey. Organized by Nanding and Mila Mendez, both events are directed by Noel Ferrer. Overall production/stage coordinator is Albert Sunga.
• Rejoinder from Marie France image model Dawn Zulueta: I eat a well-balanced diet most of the day. Only until eight hours before bedtime do I hold off on carbo foods like rice, pasta and bread. But I continue to eat until midnight, but only all protein-rich foods and salads. Marie France encourages frequent food intake to keep metabolism going. It’s what we eat and at what time that spell the difference in weight loss.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)