Ai-Ai not quitting, just slowing down

Sometimes you just need to stop and slow down. That’s what is behind the decision of Ai-Ai delas Alas to maintain a low profile after keeping busy the last few years.

“Nag-lie low talaga ako ng konti sa showbiz not just for Sisterakas but para sa sarili ko,” says Ai-Ai, on why she hasn’t been seen much on the small screen. Her last regular series was Wako Wako and before that, in 2011, My Binondo Girl. It wasn’t just because she needed to make time to finish Sisterakas for the Metro Manila Film Festival last December. She really chose to limit her projects because she needed time for herself. “I want to enjoy life because last year, sa dami ng ginawa ko, nagkasakit ako and muntik na ako ma-tegibells (mamatay) and I realized na kapag namatay ako, hindi ko naman ma-e-enjoy lahat ng meron ako at lahat ng pinaghirapan ko.”

It’s also not because her new love Jed Salang asked her to do it so they could spend more time together. Their relationship isn’t perfect. “Minsan hindi maiiwasan ‘yung misunderstandings,” says Ai-Ai. But they’re happy. She admits that they often travel out of the country together, but that’s only because abroad is the only place where they can enjoy a little privacy and the anonymity of being just another ordinary couple, without too many people hovering around them.

“Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, walang perfect na pagsasama pero masaya ako and binigyan ako ni God and Mama Mary ng chance to be happy again na may kasama akong jowa,” says Ai-Ai. “At ‘yun nga, parati kaming out of the country kasi doon na-e-enjoy namin ang isa’t-isa na walang hassle, lahat payapa.”

Despite that, she doesn’t see them walking down the aisle — at least not yet. She does pray that they end up together, but as to when that will be, she’d rather not say, at least for now. “Marriage, wag na muna. Mahirap sa adjustment kasi bata si Jed and matured na ako. Matured ha, hindi matanda,” she says with a laugh, although you can tell that she’s serious about what she’s saying. “Kasi yung mga ibang bagay na seryoso hindi niya masyado maintindihan at experience-wise, mas malalim na at pang-championship na ang dinaanan ko sa buhay. But love prevails, masyado naming mahal ang isa’t-isa kaya kami pa din. We are sexually compatible and sa humor compatible din. Parati akong pinapatawa ni Jed.”

That doesn’t mean, though, that Ai-Ai is ready to quit showbiz. This 2013, she will, in fact, be returning to the small screen as a judge in the fourth season of Pilipinas Got Talent, the reality show that produced the likes of Jovit Baldivino and Khalil Ramos. Ai-Ai loves being on the show because what the contestants go through helps remind her of how blessed she is to have the talent, name, and career that she has. She was once like many of them, struggling to make a name because she wanted to help her family.

She says, “Enjoy na enjoy ako pag pinapanood ko ang mga Pinoy with such amazing talent. Yung iba, walang talent pero maraming guts. D’un ko nakikita na ang suwerte ko na binigyan ako ni Lord ng pangalan at magandang buhay sa showbiz, kasi naaawa ako sa istorya ng mga tao na sumasali, na lahat gagawin nila, matulungan lang nila ang mga pamilya nila, pipila, kakain ng apoy, uutot, sobrang dami, pero dahil sa goal to help their family and magka-trabaho.”

Ai-Ai has indeed been very blessed in that respect. But she has reached a point in her career where she likes what she does, but does not feel the pressure as much as she used to. When some critics shot down Sisterakas, calling it a trashy movie, she chose to ignore them. Instead, she said a prayer of thanks that it topped the box-office and made a lot of people happy. Right now, she chooses to focus on just keeping a steady pace. “Kanya-kanya tayong opinion,” she says. “We cannot please everyone. I’m just thankful I’m part of this history na all-time box-office movie siya. I’m thankful for all the titles — Comedy Concert Queen, at kung anu-ano pa — na ibinigay para sa akin. Napaka-importante nito sa akin. It’s because it’s a challenge to improve my craft and artistry.”