Pitong taong gulang na ngayon ang anak nina Rufa Mae Quinto at Trevor Magallanes na si Athena. Marami na umanong natutunan si Rufa Mae mula nang maging isang ganap na ina. “Natutunan ko is ‘wag mong pilitin. Kumbaga baby pa eh, maglaro-laro lang muna. At saka talagang natutunan kong baby pa sila kaya kailangan silang alagaan pero ‘wag pilitin,” bungad ni Rufa Mae.
Bilang isang magulang ay palagi raw nakatutok ang aktres kay Athena. “Nakatutok parang sports lagi. ‘Yung tipong championship. ‘Pag may nahulog, nakapunas agad. Ang bata, ang gulo, madumi minsan. Halimbawa kakain, lahat mahuhulog. Eh minsan siyempre sa restaurant mahihiya ka rin kaya naging practice ko na laging gumagalaw. Parang laging biglang mahuhulog. Kahit paa mo na lang ‘yung pangsalo mo. Ginawa ko siyang atleta, gusto ko siyang maging gymnast. Maging active physically kasi mentally mas lalakas sila kapag sporty, active. Mas magiging masaya,” paglalahad ng sexy comedienne.
Nakabase sa Amerika ang mister ni Rufa Mae. Kung mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ay gusto munang makapagbakasyon ng mag-ina sa California upang makapiling si Trevor. “Okay naman kami, ever since naman gano’n eh, pabalik-balik. Susunod sa November (sa Pilipinas) pero parang gusto nga naming umuwi ulit kasi nga medyo matagal-tagal na, 2-3 months. So parang bahala na kasi ‘yung anak ko gusto niya talaga do’n. Do’n talaga kasi sanay siya do’n,” paliwanag ng aktres.
Raymond, binalikan ang first love
Puspusan na ang ginagawang paghahanda ngayon ni Raymond Lauchengco para sa kanyang Just Got Lucky concert na gaganapin sa Nov. 23 sa The Theater ng Solaire. Magsisilbi itong selebrasyon para sa ika-apatnapung anibersaryo ng singer sa show business. “It’s my way of giving thanks because these are the people who have been the same to me for the last 40 years and who continue to listen to me. I really, really want to express my gratitude. And the way I feel I can best achieve that is by bringing my audience back to the time where it all started. The fabulously fun ‘80s. I will be singing my hits but songs and beloved ballads from the ‘80s and to make it really fun. I’m going to be doing fast songs with dancers which I am not known for. I’ll be doing Rick Astley. I want people to walk out of the theater thinking, ‘Oh my God, it’s really good to be alive!’ Even if we are older now,” natatawang pagdedetalye ni Raymond.
Matatandaang pansamantalang nagpahinga mula sa pagkanta ang singer sa mga nakalipas na dekada. Ayon kay Raymond ay ibang propesyon ang kanyang pinangarap mula noong pa noong kanyang kabataan. “The problem with life is that it’s too short for all of one’s dreams and I’ve had many dreams. Unfortunately, sometimes that would mean having to put singing in the backseat. Because I wanted to become a professional photographer. My dream was to do exhibits and have a studio. And so, I gave myself time to explore that creative restlessness. And then all of a sudden, I wanted to become a director. Because all my mentors were directors. I wanted to experience what it would be like stepping into those shoes. Low and behold, that took 20 years for me. I directed over 500 projects, including film and theater, lots of concerts, etcetera,” pagbabahagi niya.
Noong kasagsagan ng pandemya ay naging aktibong muli sa Raymond sa pagkanta online. Para sa singer ay talagang hinahanap-hanap pa rin niya ang pagkanta sa kabila ng iba’t ibang ginagawang trabaho. “During the pandemic, I got forced to stop, everything stopped. The thing is, I have always gone back to singing because singing is my first love and one of the reasons why we are calling this show ‘Just Got Lucky’ is because every time I return to singing, audiences embrace me. Without judgment, without question. Feeling ko talaga, I’m very lucky. The more appropriate term is I’ve been very, very blessed. I don’t think we can accomplish all our dreams in one lifetime. I’ve gotten to a point in my life where most of the restlessness has settled. I’ve tried pretty much all the major things I wanted to try,” makahulugang pahayag ng singer. — Reports from JCC