Rufa Mae takes it to the limit

After the intrigues that rocked her family, the sun is again shining on Rufa Mae Quinto. She started the month on the right foot by fulfilling the terms of her P30-M-plus contract with GMA 7. Thanks to this juicy deal, the Viva star’s face and body are up there on the big and small screens, inviting us to come, see and look (and enjoy, for the men out there).

She hosts S.O.P. and Showbiz Central on Sundays. Friday nights, she makes televiewers double up with laughter on Bubble Gang. She gives Dyesebel reason to hope on the GMA series.

Regal Films’ Mother Lily likes Rufa Mae’s brand of humor so much she cast her as a babymaker in the recently-concluded Manay Po 2: Overload.

The irrepressible Rufa Mae has even invaded the recording scene. She has come up with the VCD Four Sides of Rufa Mae, which her on-Q 28 Productions is co-producing with Viva Records.

Fresh from Italy, where she shot — what else — ITALY (I Trust and Love You) for GMA Films, Rufa Mae, in her typical colorful style, says, “If I’m not on the plane, I’m on a ship.”And so it’s a wonder how she manages to squeeze in time for love. Oh, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. So Rufa Mae escaped from it all to spend time with her special someone, dashing Mattel executive Robert “Bobby” Lopez, recently. Her family, it’s said, approves of the romance between her and the young Mexican-American.

Rufa Mae, however, is non-committal. Perhaps it’s because she has gotten hurt many times after she admitted her relationship with her past boyfriends. She won’t deny that Bobby gives her the focus and direction she needs. More than a month of togetherness, she admits, has made their relationship as steady as solid rock. But that doesn’t mean she’ll plunge headlong into something more permanent — like marriage.

Even if she’s turning 30 on May 28 (hence the 28 in the name of her production company)? Sorry folks, not even.

Rufa Mae has other plans for her red-letter day. For one, she’ll spend it with people close to her heart — the Golden Gays. Rufa Mae is following the example of Katrina Halili and the advice of someone close to her who suggested she channel her charitable act to the home of the Golden Gays — some of whom are languishing in loneliness and suffering from neglect.

“I’m giving away electric fans and other things to them on my birthday,” she reveals.

Sharing her blessings is a way of life for Rufa Mae. In fact, her birthday wish is not for herself, but for her mom, with whom she has reconciled after a brief falling out.

“I wish my mom will take her medicines because she refuses to believe till now that she has diabetes,” admits a worried daughter.

She has let bygones be bygones between her and her Mommy Carol, explaining that, “Whatever happens, she’s still my mom.”

Now, those previously smiling eyes start to glisten with tears ready to fall. Yes, she concedes, there came a time when she didn’t visit her mom for reasons she refuses to reveal. But Rufa Mae still religiously sent her mom’s regular allowance. And, in a gesture of peace and reconciliation, she and six of her siblings sent their mom a gift with a card expressing their love.

She attributes the peace she and her mom are enjoying now to Someone up there. Her sexy clothes and poses may hardly show it, but Rufa Mae has a deep spiritual life.

“My mom and I even had a Bible study. It was just the two of us,” she relates before incredulous members of the press.

She writes on Four Sides Now: “Lord, thank you so much. You are my inspiration.” One of the persons she dedicates the VCD to is her mom.

Rufa Mae’s good deeds are bringing more blessings her way.

Viva Artists Agency is rewarding the box-office success of her hit comedy Apat Dapat with a comedy-drama tentatively titled Civil Status: Single, to be directed by Joey Reyes.

Just as in Apat Dapat, Rufa Mae wears two hats in Civil Status. She’s the film’s star and co-producer at the same time.

Her role is another case of art imitating life.

Rufa Mae relates, “I play one of four girls looking for Mr. Right. All her friends have gotten married except her, because she’s still looking for Mr. Right. Then she realizes that such a guy doesn’t exist. There’s no such thing as a perfect man.”

Yes, she repeats, there’s no such thing as a perfect man. That’s why you must learn to love a man’s strengths and weaknesses. You must take him for what he is — warts and all.

It must be — to borrow her own words , “Todo na `to,” or none at all.