Ai-Ai de las Alas: She's Come a Long Way, Baby

February 2002

She doesn't just laugh. She guffaws. So does her audience. She makes people laugh so hard she has been described by entertainment writers as a "force of nature," much like the typhoons that batter the Philippine islands. And she packs them in, even the huge Folk Arts Theatre by Manila Bay where concert artists show their wares and gauge their hold on the market.

Ai-Ai de las Alas is a whiff of fresh air in a country where the atmosphere gets more dreary day by day. Her brand of comedy is hilarious, her material culled from real life and her own heart-rending foibles. One writer describes her as "a woman forever on the verge of an hilarious breakdown," bent on dragging her audience along with her.

She's come a long way from her days as a host in Music Box. Fourteen years ago, Filipino star Keno asked her to guest in his Cebu show. She couldn't believe it then, and thought he was just kidding. It was the first time she had been asked by fans to sign her autograph, and she says she had to invent some kind of signature with a flourish, the way stars do all the time. She felt it was magic, and asked God not to take the magic away from her. If He did, she told God, she'd simply let go ... and become a nun.

The first time her fans filled the Folk Arts Theatre to capacity is her most memorable experience.

"Malay ko bang mapuno yon? Diyos ko, subok lang yon. Ang target ko lang dati ay mapuno yung portion na ang presyo ng ticket ay P500. Okey na ako roon (How would I know I would fill up the place? My God, that was just a test. My target was just to fill up that portion where tickets were priced at P500. I was alright with that.)," Ai-Ai says.

She has also invaded the movie scene, with roles in hit films such as "Romeo and Juliet," "Koronang Itim," "Separada," "Bitoy ang Itawag Mo sa Akin,"and "Boom."

Her stints on television include co-hosting "Show and Tell" with Anjanette Abayari, "Actually yun Na," Lunch Date" and "Golympics" with Arnel Ignacio. In 1988, she won the Best Comedy Actress award for her part in the TV sitcom "Ibang Klase" with Joey de Leon. She is currently seen in the top-rating TV show "143" with Vic Sotto and Rosanna Roces, for which she received her second Best Comedy Actress award in 1999. In 2000, she was named Best Game Show Host during the Star Awards for TV.

Meanwhile, her SRO comedy shows continue to garner good reviews, affirming her position as the Philippines' queen of comedy.

Ai-Ai knows she's no femme fatale, but she considers her face as her own good luck. To Ai-Ai, everything is a challenge.

"Maraming susunod sa yapak ko. Maraming ikukumpara sa akin. Pero naniniwala ako na lahat ay tiempo lang at pana-panahon," (Many will follow in my footsteps. Many will be compared to me. But I believe in timing and to each his own time) Ai-Ai declares.

Despite her success, the Philippines' most successful comedienne still confesses to feeling the jitters before a performance. She claims success hasn't gotten to her head, that success has only served to add to the jitters before a show. Sometimes, she says jokingly, she feels the onset of a heart attack, because of all the expectations. Now she finds she has no more time to relax.

But she gets out there with an overwhelming desire to make people happy. That, she says, is what makes her really happy.

"Sa nangyayari sa Pilipinas ngayon, masyado na tayong malungkot. Masyado na tayong mahirap sa lahat ng bagay. Sana naman sa concert ko sumaya naman tayo. Magtatrabaho ako para masaya ang mga tao," (With things that are happening in the Philippines right now, we're so sad. Everything has become so hard for us. I hope my concert makes people happy. I will work to make people happy) Ai-Ai explains.

She also aims for longevity in the fickle entertainment scene.

"Gusto kong ma-retain ang title ko as Comedy Concert Queen. Sayang naman dahil ang tagal ko itong pinaghirapan,"(I want to retain my title as Comedy Concert Queen. It would be such a waste if I didn't since I worked so hard for it), the comedian says in all seriousness.

On April 13, Ai-Ai will regale the Los Angeles crowd of Filipino Americans with her comedic talent at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. The concert is dubbed "The Best of Ai sa America," and organizers expect a sellout crowd, as always.

AI SA AMERIKA features AiAi de las Alas with guest stars JANNO GIBBS and DESSA on April 13, Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at the Grand Olympic Auditorium 1801 S. Grand Ave, Los Angeles. Directed by Floy Quintos. For ticket inquiries, call KATZ Entertainment (562)529-8680 or log on to www.aiaidelsalas.com