Anything for her children

Anyone who knows her will say that Ai-Ai de las Alas’ life is not picture-perfect. It may sound cliché, but she has gone through hell and back. Though scarred and wounded, she came out whole and hopeful. You may like her style of comedy and you may disagree with her sometimes very strong opinion on various issues but no one will ignore the truth that Ai-Ai is a devoted mother. She is a mother, friend, badminton buddy to her three loving kids, Sofia, 10; Shawn, 12; and Sancho, 15. "My kids are the greatest gifts from God," Ai-Ai says.

An actress, comedienne, comedy-concert queen, TV host and product endorser, she keeps herself busy with work and grabs every worthwhile opportunity that comes her way for her children’s sake.

Ai-Ai sees herself working for another 10 years or so. She has plans for businesses such as another bar (she owns Klownz at the Araneta) and a Filipino restaurant. She has even enrolled at the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) to prepare herself for that big dream. Unfortunately, her demanding work has forced her to stop her culinary studies momentarily.

Despite her punishing schedule, she still finds time to be with her children as much as possible. Their free time together, usually on weekends and school vacations, is spent going to the mall to watch movies, shop or just hang out. Sometimes they would go to the beach for family bonding moments.

As a mother, she treats her children as barkada. "Nanay ka na, friend ka pa ng anak mo. That is the way I’m close to my children. Barkada kumbaga. Otherwise, you will be left behind. You will not understand their world."

Admittedly, when her kids were younger, she used to spank them whenever they did something wrong. She later realized grounding them is a much more effective penalty.

Like most mothers who have gone through a lot, Ai-Ai believes her kids should not go through what she herself went through. The public has witnessed her emotional and physical battles.

She doesn’t want her children to join showbiz (her kids have also expressed the same feeling). Ai-Ai would rather see her children finish school. For instance, she wants her youngest daughter, Sofia, to become a doctor. She wants her children’s lives to be comfortable. She wants them to marry well, like all mothers. But she says she will also listen to what her children want.

"Because my own marriage did not work, sana hindi ito pag-daanan ng aking mga anak," she says. She is keeping an eagle eye over her kids and will remain as protective of them for as long as she has the strength. And if she could leave a legacy to the world, she wants to be known as a "great mother."

Ai-Ai is the new commercial endorser of Maggi Magic Sarap, the unique all-in-one granulated seasoning that is full of flavors and aroma of meat and spices. Just like Maggi Magic Sarap, Ai-Ai embodies the winning spirit of today’s women: creative, resourceful and unique. "Pareho kaming madiskarte ng Maggi Magic Sarap," she says.

Ai-Ai will visit public markets and shopping malls in the Magic Sarap Tour on the following dates: April 23, Naga Public Market and Plaza Quezon, Naga; April 30, La Paz Public Market and Jaro Plaza, Iloilo; June 11, Lapu-Lapu Public Market and SM City, Cebu; June 25, Agdao Public Market and Gaisano Mall, Davao; July 2 Carmen/Cogon Public Market and Limketkai Mall, CDO; July 16, Batangas City Public Market and Bay Mall, Batangas City; July 30, San Fernando Public Market and Starmills San Fernando, Pampanga; Aug. 6, Dagupan Malingas Public Market and CSI-Lukao.

Anti-corruption songwriting tilt finalists

British Council Philippines announces the 10 finalists in the Anti-Corruption Songwriting Competition launched by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Delegation of the European Commission in cooperation with the Organization of Filipino Composers (KATHA) and the Philippine Information Agency.

Mahiya Naman Kayo by Lemuel Samblero, Tigilan Mo Na Yan by Eduardo Reyes III, I Am A Shield by Ruben Lopez Jr., Ang Kailangang Gawin by Gary Granada, Crossroads by Christine Bendebel, Sabay Tayong Magpalaki ng Maganda Ngayon by Mike Villegas, Walang Kurap by Jungee Marcelo, Kahit Na by Roberto David, Simulan Natin by Chona Borromeo and Tayo Nang Maglingkod sa Bayan, also by Roberto David were selected from a total of 259 entries submitted by amateur and professional composers all over the country.

The 10 songs will be given airplay on select radio stations, courtesy of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. They will also be compiled in an album which will be given away free to schools, offices and non-government organizations nationwide.

On May 12, all 10 song finalists will be performed live by top-caliber vocal interpreters at the grand finals night at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, under the musical direction of Ria Villena-Osorio. The live competition will also be televised by NBN 4.

The grand prize winner will receive P250,000 plus an all-expense paid trip to the UK courtesy of the British Council. The second prize winner will receive P150,000, while the third prize gets P75,000.