Ai-Ai and her Papas

MANILA, Philippines - A total performance is what Ai-Ai delas Alas promises fans who will have an early Valentine celebration with her tomorrow, Feb. 12, at The Theater of Solaire Resort and Casino via Ai Heart Papa. She is somehow paying homage to her comedy bar roots and bound to firm up her moniker Comedy Concert Queen.

“I used to be called the Comedy Concert Queen before I became Comedy Queen,” recalls Ai-Ai. “Yun talaga ang una kong venture, nag-co-concert talaga ako… It was Martin (Nievera) who said that I was the Comedy Concert Queen. Kasabayan ko sina Martin at Zsa Zsa (Padilla). Kapanahunan nila ni Pops (Fernandez) nun na Concert King and Concert Queen.”

Ai-Ai will perform an eclectic line-up of songs from EDM (electronic dance tunes from her album titled ADA: The EDM Diva) to love songs. “Iba yung atake ko. Mas intimate, mas marami kang masasabi. Yung mga sasabihin ko ay ang hinihintay nila sa akin (I have a different approach. The show is intimate. I can say many things [in my spiels]. In fact, that’s what the audience is looking forward to),” she shares. Ai Heart Papa will be a “fabulous” show with a “little sexiness,” says the Kapamilya artist. This is so since her kids Sancho and Sophia will also grace the event. Ai-Ai will have eight costume changes and perform with the G-Force and hunk guests Aljur Abrenica and JC de Vera. The show, as Ai-Ai says, is spontaneous and not scripted, so one can expect a funny, riotous and interactive night.  

At the rate her personal life and professional career are going, Ai-Ai is a picture of happiness and contentment.

“I’m really thankful to God for having reached my 25th year in the business,” she says. “Times have changed. Artists would come and go. Madali ang span ng (career) nila. Hindi katulad nung araw, matagal, tagal din. Ngayon manalo ka lang sa contest, sikat ka na. Kaso may contest ulit. So wala ka na, yung isa naman. Hindi katulad namin noon na biniyayaan kami ni Lord ng ganitong katagal (Me and my contemporaries are lucky to have stayed this long in the biz).”

Whatever success she is enjoying now, Ai-Ai says she owes it to her fans who support her endeavors and the press people “who continue to love me.” She also acknowledges what ABS-CBN and GMA have done to her career. “Marami akong dapat ipasalamat sa Panginoong Diyos,” she says. One of which is, she was able to raise her kids well and decently as a single parent. 

Does she have any success formula or a guiding principle in life?

“You reap what you sow,” replies. Ai-Ai. “In fairness, naman sa akin, naging masipag naman ako at mahal na mahal ko ang trabaho ko. Marunong din naman akong makisama (I have worked hard and I love my work. I know how to get along with others).”

On the side, Ai-Ai is busy managing the career of her son Sancho, who is a Kapuso talent, and is participating in the Kilos Kaayusan Council. Her affiliation to the group will see Ai-Ai going to provinces and doing outreach projects. She also wants to show more compassion to others. It’s not surprising why Ai-Ai was one of the first celebrities who expressed sympathy to the grieving families of the Fallen 44. As soon as the Klownz anniversary show wrapped up, Ai-Ai went straight to the wake of the policemen at Camp Bagong Diwa.  

“Alam ko yung feeling ng namatayan ng (kapamilya). Ang bigat. (I know the feeling of losing a loved one.) Mayroong nanay na nakita ko na binabanggit ang pangalan ko, pero umiiyak siya. Ako pinipigil ko at ayokong makita na umiiyak ako… na kailangan na tough ako. (I held back my tears and I had to be tough for her),” remembers Ai-Ai, who has police friends and whose “pamangkin” is a newly-minted member of the Philippine National Police. 

“I want to do charity work. Duon ko napapakita sa Panginoong Diyos na mahal ko siya… malaking bagay na yung hihipuin mo sila (mga pamilya ng naiwan), yayakapin mo sila. Malaking bagay yun para maibsan (ang kalungkutan nila),” Ai-Ai adds. Fifteen percent of her earnings as co-producer of the concert will go to the 11 wounded SAF policemen.

That speaks why Ai-Ai is still very much around.

(For details, call 808-8450 or 891-9999.)