“The feedback is great, the ratings are going up and more commercials are coming in, so from the original 6 weeks, we’re now extended to 15 weeks,” says executive producer Edlyn Tanada. “We’re happy our efforts paid off. The costumes alone are worth P2 million. When our sets were ruined by the floods, we had to rebuild them and spent P500,000 more.”
Rufa Mae plays Quassia, the Diwani who became a rabbit to watch over Ella (Alex Gonzaga). She’s at odds with her villainous sister, Ruffa Gutierrez as Queen Valeriana, who wants to kill Ella. So is she really moving to TV5? “No, I’m still in GMA-7’s ‘Bubble Gang’,” says Rufa Mae. “I have no contract with any network now and I’m thankful to GMA for allowing me to do ‘Enchanted Garden’ with TV5. Gusto ko lang magtrabaho with other actors and staff. Now I’m enjoying working with both GMA and TV5.”
Is it true she left “Wiltime Big Time” because she didn’t see eye to eye with Willie Revillame? “No. I left because I chose to do ‘Enchanted Garden’. Hindi naman puedeng I’m in both shows kasi magkasunod sila. Ayoko ring magtrabaho ng sobra-sobra na wala ng pahinga.”
Another issue about her is her breakup with Boy2 Quizon who says they’re not on speaking terms. “We haven’t seen each other kaya hindi kami nakakapag-usap. 12 years kaming magkasama sa ‘Bubble Gang’ and best friend ko siya among the guys there, for the longest time. Yun namang sinasabing wedding namin on 12-12-12, it was just played up by ‘Showbiz Central’, but it’s actually the title of a movie he’s doing with Peque Gallaga. Let’s just say business and romance don’t mix well. We’re better off as friends na lang and business associates kasi we have a production company making the movie ‘I Love Dakak’. It’s a summer movie, e inabutan na ng tag-ulan so shelved muna at next summer na lang itutuloy.”
She has planned her wedding twice and both didn’t push through. “Ganun siguro talaga kapag hindi ukol. Better na rin kaysa natuloy nga, nauwi naman sa hiwalay. So ngayon, no BF muna ako. Kinalimutan ko na yung feeling of being in love. Siguro darating din yan. Meantime, work muna ko. By next month, I’ll start the ‘Kuwento ni Lola Basyang’ filmfest entry for Unitel. I’ll be in the mambabarang episode.”
