Rufa Mae: From ‘Booba’ to ‘Henya’

MANILA, Philippines - For her big-screen return, Rufa Mae Quinto could have chosen the tried-and-tested route by reprising Booba. Instead, she veers from her arguably most recognizable role, who was big in heart and you-know-what than in smarts, to play the titular role in Ang Huling Henya. The Marlon Rivera-directed film tells about an undercover agent (Rufa Mae), who belongs to a family of geniuses, on a mission to save scientists from technology bandits with an army of zombies.

It took Rufa Mae sometime to do a solo starrer again because “I was waiting for the right timing. You will feel it when it comes. Hindi ako ma-inspired-inspired gumawa ng solo movie kasi parang nagawa ko na lahat ng klaseng patawa sa TV. Then, I met a director na nagkatugma kami and we have more or less the same work ethics — willing to experiment and explore some more,” she tells The STAR.

This is the sophomore effort of direk Marlon following his hit Ang Babae sa Septic Tank. “My last film had no specific genre. This film has no peg as well. It has action, zombies, effects, comedy and drama, but at the end of the day, the story is about family,” he says.

Describing her character, Rufa Mae begins, “She’s brave, she’s strong, she has no special powers, but she’s great with guns and beating up enemies, and is kind-hearted.” For the action-packed scenes, she trained in boxing, firing and Muay Thai.

In the film, she dressed down and downplayed her famous curves — a major adjustment for someone who admits that she never goes out in public without being fully made up.

Then, there were the drama scenes as her character deals with tragic memories that come back to haunt her. “When it comes to drama, with tears and all, I really don’t feel I can do it. But at least, in this film, I was able to feel the scenes where I had to be serious. I have my own style of drama,” says Rufa Mae, who underwent an acting workshop with PETA.

But what makes her Henya role truly different from what she has done in the past? “I’m smart here. That’s the best difference,” Rufa Mae says with a laugh.

Despite observations of pundits that Huling Henya would be a reinvention of the sexy comedienne, direk Marlon stresses that it is not, saying that Rufa Mae doesn’t need one and doesn’t have to because she has proven herself already. 

When asked if she is confident with her new topbiller, Rufa Mae is quick to say, “I have to!”

Isn’t she bothered that viewers find it hard to separate her from her Booba persona which has spawned blockbusters, impersonations and pop-culture jargon “to the highest level”? “Booba is my love. Because of Booba, I’m still here in showbiz. Many have already impersonated (Booba) and became rich because of it (laughs). I’m okay if I’m still Booba to the people. I just feel accomplished to be able to do this,” she says, boasting of Huling Henya’s cast, effects, live sound and zombie make-up courtesy of the artist behind the American smash series Walking Dead. “I feel that I’ve ‘upgraded and updated’ comedy with this movie.”

When she is told that those who can pull off the most ditzy of movie roles are actually the smartest around, she deadpans, “Di ko alam kung matalino ba ako or hindi.”

It has been told and retold that in her younger years, Rufa Mae was a consistent first-honor student (“I remember waking up at 3 a.m. every day to study”) although she never got to finish school because of showbiz. She says that she is not as smart as her siblings, who have pursued varied interests and careers — there’s an accountant, prima ballerina, chef, kagawad, one is studying fine arts at UP Diliman. She would like to believe though that she’s a hard worker (who financed her siblings and even her cousins’ schooling).  

She ruminates, “I believe that no one is born stupid. I do believe na may iba’t ibang level (of ability). Merong kakayahan ang isa na hindi kakayahan ng iba. You just have to find your strength.”

According to direk Marlon, that’s the core message of Ang Huling Henya, which is being bandied about as “zombie movie with heart,” saying: “It’s not about being born intelligent. What matters is how you develop and use your abilities as you grow.”

Produced by Viva Films, Ang Huling Henya has assembled a cast of dramatic and comedic actors such as Candy Pangilinan, Ricci Chan, Fabio Ide, DJ Durano, Edgar Allan Guzman, Robert Seña and Cherie Gil. It’s now showing in cinemas nationwide.