Rica’s splashy comeback

Viva sexpot Rica Peralejo is unstoppable.

With a new Viva Films movie, three ABS-CBN shows, and a new Viva Records album in the pipeline, Rica is a busy as the proverbial bee. Hardworking gal that she is, her calendar is constantly crammed with all sorts of activities.

Mondays and Fridays, she tapes for the Lorna Tolentino soap opera Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay. Wednesday is devoted to the Aga Muhlach sitcom Okay Fine Whatever. Sunday is earmarked for the musical-variety show A.S.A.P. (Saturday is also for the rehearsals/recording of her dance and song numbers for A.S.A.P.).

Tuesdays and Thursdays, on the other hand, are reserved for her new Viva movie, Hibla, directed by Yam Laranas and co-starring Maui Taylor, Antonio Aquitania, Ricky Davao and Tina Monasterio.

Truth be told: Tuesday and Thursday are two days of Rica’s fully-booked week that she always looks forward to.

"I am really excited about this new movie," Rica reiterates. "This is something totally new for me. You can expect to see a different Rica in his movie. I play a probinsiyana in Hibla."

After an eight-month vacation from the silver screen (her last appearance was in the December Film Festival entry, Tatarin), Rica stages a splashy comeback. And she is pulling out all the stops for Hibla. The Viva bombshell even agreed to a scintillating showdown with the new Hot Babe ng Bayan, Maui Taylor.

"I’m always paired with dramatic actors (like Mark Anthony Fernandez in Dos Ekis), Rica elaborates. "It’s nice to share the screen with another sexy actress for a change."

Showbiz insiders, of course, expected fireworks on the set of Hibla. After all, movie viewers are about to get two screen scorchers for the price of one.

"I’m ready to face all the intrigues," Rica asserts, as if she’s in a fighting mood. "It’s kinda expected that we will be pitted against each other, that we will be compared. That’s nothing new to me."

Especially since the crown of Viva’s Official Sex Goddess is at stake.

"I don’t really mind," Rica insists. "In fact, I welcome the fact that there are new stars in the scene. The more, the merrier."

She is more than willing to share the throne, she says. "I’m not the Queen of Viva!" Rica roars. "Boss Vic (del Rosario) is the King of Viva and (the late) Mama Mina del Rosario is the real Queen of Viva."

Despite the sizzling controversies, Rica is befriending Maui, taking the novice bombshell under her wing.

It’s comforting, she says, to have a "screen sister" like Maui. "It’s like she is going through the same things I did in the past," Rica says. "She is facing the same intrigues I once faced. At least now, I don’t feel all alone."

Still, the rumor mill is going overdrive that Rica has more to prove in this latest edition of the Battle of the Viva bombshells. Maui is coming in fresh from the success of Gamitan, while Rica’s last movie Tatarin was shown some eight months ago.

Rica just shrugs off all the nasty talk: "Even in my Ang TV days, I never focused on the negative." It has always been her practice to ignore intrigues. "I would rather focus on my work than on all the gossip. To improve myself. To excel in my craft."

And Rica has her hands full, "focusing on her work, improving herself, excelling in her craft."

Insiders claim Rica has the meatier, more challenging (ergo: more daring and more baring?) role in Hibla.

Is Rica willing to show off more flesh and go further than before, to compete with younger nymphets like Maui?

Rica says she is actually ready to accept the challenge not from other sexy stars, but from herself. She is mainly competing with herself, pushing herself to the limit – in terms of acting and portraying different kinds of characters.

"It’s because in Hibla, I play a girl who is completely different from the real me," Rica points out. "She’s far from the province, while I’m a city girl. I really don’t find it difficult. If it’s a character very far from my personality, it’s easier pa nga e. It’s because I am allowed to create a whole new persona."

Hibla is written for the screen by Edgar Ilao and Quark Henares. The story is by Quark Henares, Yam Laranas and Edgar Lao. Hibla will be shown in November.