Another big leap for Rufa Mae

It always happens. Every time Rufa Mae Quinto has a movie to be shown, a political upheaval erupts, sending jitters down her spine about the outcome of her next starrer.

Two days before EDSA II erupted, Rufa’s Booba was set to open in Metro theaters. And Rufa was sitting on pins and needles, afraid that people will not venture out of their homes to watch her movie.

And then a miracle happened. As we all know by now, the tide turned in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s favor, and the rallyists of EDSA II went home. People felt safe about going to the malls and enjoying a movie again. Booba emerged a box-office winner.

Some three months after EDSA II, the violent clashes in Mendiola have made the President declare a state of rebellion in Metro Manila. Rufa feels a sense of deja vu, since her follow-up movie to Booba, Baliktaran with Bayani Agbayani, is set to open today.

"Every time a movie of mine will be shown, trouble erupts. It’s such a shame what our country is getting to become," wails a worried Rufa.

She admits feeling sad because the turmoil is disturbing peace and order.

"I pity our country, not the politicians," she adds, as she joins everyone in wishing all the problems will end peacefully.

So disturbed is Rufa about what’s going on that she simply avoids thinking of politics anymore.

"I don’t want to think about what side I am on," she says. "I’m not anti-Erap or pro-Erap, just pro-country," she explains.

The 22-year-old comedienne’s face is far from jolly as she laments, "The events happening around us are no longer a laughing matter. It’s pathetic. And the politicians are riding on to it."

Rufa just concluded her month-long drama series Larawan on GMA 7. She will play a radio announcer in the movie Radyo and go on a provincial tour next week.

Rufa would rather concentrate on promoting Baliktaran, a happy caper whose plot revolves around an exchange of roles. Rufa – who flaunts her curves as she romps around a beach with leading man Bayani Agbayani – plays someone with the heart of a man.

Bayani, on the other hand, thinks and feels like a woman. Hence the movie title. Rufa is not wanting in ideas where her career is concerned. After her drama series Larawan on GMA 7, she wants to have a solo standup comedy act that will maximize her talent for throwing punch lines and witty gags, on her own.

If Rufa has gained the confidence to crack jokes on her own, it is because she has joined enough TV comedies and starred in movie comedies to get a feel of what clicks, what doesn’t.

She is part of the gag show Ispup, and has a Best Supporting Actress trophy from the Star Awards for her wacky role in Dahil May Isang Ikaw.

The string of assignments has given her the luxury of having extra money to lavish on her family. Rufa has given her mother a condominium unit in Caloocan and a brand-new Toyota to boot.

Rufa’s father (he and the comedienne’s mom are separated), on the other hand, is the recipient of another car, courtesy of his devoted daughter.

Other beneficiaries of Rufa’s success are nephews and nieces their doting aunt is sending to school.

What you give is what you get. This explains why Rufa Mae is getting the lion’s share of juicy assignment these days. She is not stingy with her blessings. Someone this generous cannot help but get back – in far greater measure – everything she selflessly gives away.