To give all of you a summation of events, Ai Ai’s Ang Tanging Ina is well on its way to becoming Star Cinema’s biggest box-office hit in the film company’s 10 years of existence.
Richard Gomez, on his program S-Files, had questioned the veracity of the reported P13-M opening day take of Ang Tanging Ina. This became misinterpreted as Richard questioning the film’s true box-office success.
The following week on The Buzz, Jobert Sucaldito, in defense of Ai Ai, had called Richard’s last starrer Walang Kapalit a "monumental flop." In all fairness to Richard and Sharon, their movie was a hit, maybe not as huge a hit as their last team-up, Minsan Minahal Kita, but nevertheless a hit all the same. Ai Ai guested on The Buzz last Sunday and raised a valid point: "Why was Richard so concerned about how much her movie had earned"? Shouldn’t all of us in the industry be applauding the success of Ang Tanging Ina because it means that despite rampant film piracy and the high cost of a movie ticket, Filipinos are still willing to go out in droves to support a well-made and entertaining film?
When I asked Ai Ai if she’d be willing to have Richard as leading man for the sequel of Ang Tanging Ina, without batting an eyelash, and being refreshingly truthful, she said "No." Boy Abunda wanted to have a heart attack because this was very "unshowbiz" of his alaga.
Sunday night, Goma was in a good mood and I teased him about Ai Ai’s rejection. He took it lightheartedly and so I asked him if he’d want me to give Ai Ai a call for them to finally put an end to whatever had inadvertently caused both of them insult. Ai Ai and I have managed to bond quite well and she answered her cellphone. I passed the phone to Goma and he teased her, "O, ayaw mo raw ako maging leading man. Sana matapos na yung samaan ng loob natin." For Goma, that was his way of offering an olive branch. Ai Ai was taken aback, and all she managed to say was, "Okay."
We laughed about it the next day because it was so unlike her to become speechless. She told me, "Friendship, di ako nakapag-react. Nawalan ako ng moment ko." I told her that she has been so blessed and it should be her goal to be magnanimous in victory. This incident was just proof of how powerful an effect words said on television have.
Boy and I constantly remind ourselves to refrain from being spiteful or mean-spirited with our comments because words truly have a way of coming back to you, one way or another. Ai Ai did tell me she appreciated Goma’s attempt to reach out and not let pride get in the way. His effort did not go unnoticed, and knowing Ai Ai, she must have appreciated his acting like a gentleman. I have known Goma for many years, and I must take note of the fact that he has truly mellowed. The previous Sunday he was all set to beat up Jobert. It must have been Lucy’s prayerful influence that helped cool Goma’s hot head. He now knows when to laugh and let bygones be bygones.
People wonder why Ai Ai has been so blessed. Honestly, I believe it is because of her generosity. She takes care of her adoptive mother and also continues to help her biological mother who lives in Batangas. She has no grudge against the woman who gave her away as a child. Ai Ai also actively helps Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, not only with material and cash donations, but also by personally serving and helping the patients and old people they care for. That is truly exemplary, giving of yourself, and doing so quietly with no fanfare and with no publicity. I found this out not from Ai Ai, but from my Auntie Maur, my Dad’s elder sister who is also very active with the Missionaries of Charity.