Rufa Mae unhappy to lose 'ZsaZsa Zaturnnah' to Zsa Zsa

Comedy concert queen Ai Ai delas Alas has been rumored to be going back to GMA 7. Even before Ai Ai arrived from the United States last week, rumors came out that the talented actress-TV host is moving back to her former network once her new show on ABS-CBN-"Bituing Walang Ningning"-bows out of the tube. Although it came out as a blind item, all clues seem to point at Ai Ai.

But Ai Ai denied the reports, saying these were all rumors. Actually, when we got to talk to her at the presscon of her latest movie "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso (Not Once But Twice)" under Imus Productions last week, the actress-comedienne could hardly say a thing. "I was surprised by this rumor. Besides, I have yet to talk to Kuya Boy (Abunda, her talent manager) since I am not aware that there is such a rumor," she says. She just arrived Wednesday last week and despite aftereffects of a jetlag, she attended the press conference of the movie that pairs her with Sen. Bong Revilla.

She also corrects impressions that she got married to her boyfriend Jun Hinahon. Ai Ai followed her manager's advice to take things easy and not plunge into marriage. She admits living in with Jun (in her home with her children Sancho, Niccolo and Sohioa) and while there is some friction every now and then, they are adjusting to the situation little by little.

Ai Ai wants to have a baby again but she wants everything to be put into place first. "I want to have a baby but I want to get married first before getting pregnant," says the comedienne. "When a person gets mature, she wants to do things right. That's why I want to get married first. We are probably doing so in September. If it doesn't push through then we could have it in November, in time for my birthday," she adds.

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Jay Manalo clarifies rumors that he's been going to the casino often. He says the last time he was in a casino was some six months ago and he's wondering why this rumor surfaced only now. Besides, Jay says, he's not the type who'd squander a lot of money in the casino.

"Going to the casino for me is just a form of relaxation. I do play but only with the slot machine. Sometimes I bring around P10,000 to P20,000 but once I've lost on a bet, I stop playing and go home, whether I win or lose," says one of the stars of "Pacquiao The Movie," a joint project of Star Cinema and FLT Film Productions.

Jay also admits that he bumps into Isko Moreno (the former That's Entertainment mainstay), who is now a councilor in Manila, once in a while. But he and Isko never go to the casino together. At times, he arrives ahead of Isko or vice versa. But this happened many months ago.

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Sexy actress-comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto is tickled pink and giggles like a school girl whenever the topic is handsome singer Erik Santos, one of her special guests during her first solo concert at the Aliw Theater in the CCP complex along Roxas Boulevard last May 28.

"Kinilig talaga ako nang halikan niya ako sa lips," the sexy comedienne gushes as she recalls her encounter with the handsome balladeer. And Rufa Mae proudly announces that she hopes Erik would make ligaw to her.

So successful was Rufa Mae's solo concert that a repeat has been set on August 19, also at the same venue and with the same lineup of guests, including Erik, of course.

But she's sad because she lost the coveted role of ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, one of the entries of Regal Entertainment to the Metro Manila Film Festival. She made no bones about her desire to bag the role of the superheroine in the film that would be directed by Joel Lamangan. However, it was the Divine Diva, Zsa Zsa Padilla, who was picked by Mother Lily Monteverde to play the part.

While she respects Mother Lily's decision, she didn't hide her disappointment that she lost the role. Anyway, Rufa Mae is still in the cast of two prospective film fest entries so it is still going to be a Merry Christmas after all for the sexy comedienne.

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Do you remember the last time that Comedy King Dolphy and Diamond Star Ms. Maricel Soriano were together in a sitcom? That was probably ages ago. They were together in "John en Marsha" where they played father and daughter.

Well, if plans run true to form, Pidol and Marya will be together in a sitcom titled "John and Shirley," a takeoff from the characters they played in the defunct "John en Marsha" series.

While Tito Dolphy is excited with the project, he can't help but feel melancholic since Nida Blanca (who played Marsha) is no longer around. He says it would have been better if the family were complete. The new series will be directed by Bert de Leon and produced by Kitchie Benedicto.