Ai Ai knows how to be happy

Although her birthday and the New Year are months ahead, Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai delas Alas has been doing some thinking lately, mainly on how to simplify her life despite being a celebrity.

In a recent conversation with her, the comedienne said she has come up with 10 ways to be happy. No, she doesn’t plan to turn it into a book; just random thoughts that she committed to paper when she had time to do so.

“Have a sex life, go shopping, don’t go on a diet if it’s not necessary, clean your house when broke,” she enumerated, laughing.

Indeed, Ai Ai seems to have taken to heart the Serenity Prayer: To have the serenity to accept the things that one cannot change, the courage to change things that can still be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference.

This may be the reason that despite being loveless (again) these days, the comedienne still radiates a glow that belies the joy and contentment inside her. She readily concedes, albeit with a grain of salt, that distance eventually took a toll on her budding romances with a European suitor and before him, a Venezuelan.

“Mahirap talaga ang long-distance relationship – kaya nga naghahanap naman ako ngayon ng taga-Peru, Portugal o Guatemala,” she joked.

Then again, Ai Ai is swamped with more than enough work to keep her from dwelling on love lost. She was recently featured on the pre-Mother’s Day presentation of Maalaala Mo Kaya together with child star Zaijian Jaranilla. Her TV series on ABS-CBN with Aga Muhlach is already in the works even as she makes plans for a major concert end of this year.

She is a resident judge on the top-rating Pilipinas Got Talent -- and ABS-CBN is planning to cast her in another TV show around third quarter of 2010. Fielding another Metro Manila Film Festival is also a possibility.

The idiom “busy as a bee” could now be changed to busy as Ai Ai delas Alas.

“Ang dami ko talagang dapat ipagpasalamat sa Diyos. Hindi Niya ako pinapabayaan dahil lagi akong may projects. I’m thankful dahil hanggang ngayon ay mahal at sinusuportahan pa rin ako ng mga fans. I want to share my blessings with other people by making them happy with my shows and movies. Gusto kong maging masaya ang mga tao kapag napapanood nila ako dahil masarap ang pakiramdam kapag alam mong marami kang napapaligaya.”

There she goes again with her ruminations.     

Bobby Garcia’s Sacrifice

This is big news in the theater world.

Bobby Garcia will direct the musical Sacrifice which will open in London’s West End after an Asian workshop production. This was announced by the Sacrifice partners (producers Toby Simkin, William Ong and authors Kenneth Clarke, Richard Daniels and Mark Troop).

“I have known Bobby for years, and greatly respected his unique ability to re-tell a foreign story to Asian audiences with his Asian productions of The King and I, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Hairspray. I have been searching for a director with an Asian sensibility to tell our love story to western audiences, Bobby was the No. 1 perfect choice,” said Toby.

“I am really excited to helm this unique project as we head to London’s West End. The score is a beautiful fusion of ancient Chinese and modern western sound, and the story is one of the greatest love stories of all time,” said Bobby Garcia.

Sacrifice is the story of Emperor Xuanzong (of the prosperous Tang dynasty 618-907 AD) who brings Yang GuiFei, one of China’s most beautiful women, into his court as a concubine. When they adopt China’s greatest villain, the barbarian An Lushan, their fateful triumvirate creates China’s greatest love story.

Bravo, Bobby!