AI AI DE LAS ALAS is currently in town to tape for the start of “The Clash, Season 5”, where she is one of the judges.
She’ll tape for three days then return to the U.S. a week later.
“But I will be back here again when ‘The Clash’ airs in full swing in February and I will stay until April,” she says.
“As of now, I have to return there right away to spend Christmas with my husband (Gerald Sibayan) kasi he’s working there. Two of my kids are also there, my son Niccolo and my daughter Sofia, who’s now married.
"My eldest son is here, si Sancho, pero nakapetisyon na rin siya for a green card para makasunod sa amin. At yung youngest, si Seth Andre.”
So how is her life in San Francisco, USA?
“Bale ito ang longest time that I stayed there nang walang uwian dito, 7 months. Ok naman,pero dahil siempre, wala kaming yaya o kasambahay, ako mismo ang nagluluto, naglalaba, nagpupunta sa Costco para mamili.
"Pag off sa work si Gerald, he helps me out. But you get used to it. Mas nadidisiplina mo ang sarili mo.”
On December 1, she posted in her social media account photos of her renewal of marital vows with Gerald.
“Yes, sa lahat ng marriage ko, ito pa lang ang tumagal ng five years.
"So sabi namin, every five years, magpapa-renew kami ng vows namin.
"At saka stateside na kami ngayon, so kailangan ng panibagong blessing sa marriage namin from God and Mama Mary. Ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng asawa na talagang naging maayos ang buhay namin.”
Singer Miguel Vera, the father of Niccolo and Sofia from whom Ai Ai has been estranged for 20 years now, also lives in the States with his new wife. Ai Ai says they’ve become good friends and sometime ago, she heard him sing and she was impressed.
“Aba, maganda pa rin ang boses ng lolo nyo,” she says.
“Pareho kami ng manager nonog araw, e. The late Angie Magbanua, but for some reason, never pa kaming nagkasama or done a show together.
"So ayan, naisipan namin, bakit hindi tayo mag-concert dito sa America?”
So they’ve decided to produce their own concert, titled “Ang Dating Kami,” and their two kids, Niccolo and Sofia, will be performing with them.
“Yes, ayan ngayon, may concert kami on January 21, Saturday. One day lang, pero two shows, 3 PM and 8 PM.
"This will be held at the Bristol Civic Auditorium in Bellflower, California near Long Beach. Yung mga tagaroon, puede na po kayong magpa-reserve ng tickets nyo ngayon.”
Asian hate is becoming rampant in California. Has she experienced it herself?
“Awa ng Diyos, hindi naman. Pero if ever mangyari yun sa’kin, aba, e papatulan ko sila no? Ako pa ba? Pagpinak you nila ko, sisigawan ko rin sila ng pak you too!”
Her last drama series, “Raising Mamay”, rated very well when shown from February to April this year.
Isn’t she doing another soap for GMA-7?
“Two and a half years pa ang contract ko as a Kapuso, so baka later, magdrama uli ako kasi nami-miss kong umarte, yung inaayusan ako mine-make upan.
"But as of now, ‘The Clash’ muna ang concentration ko. When I return here sa February, tingnan natin kung maisisingit.”
How about doing a new movie?
“Yes, may offer nga sa akin si Direk Louie Ignacio na gumawa kami ng bagong movie.
"I trust him so much kasi alam nyo naman, siya ang nagbigay sa’kin ng acting awards for our movies na ‘Area’ and ‘School Service’.
"Yung film clips nga noon, kasama sa video kapag ini-introduce ako sa shows ko sa U.S. at nagugulat yung audiences doon.
"Ay, nagdadrama pala siya. So yes, gusto kong umacting uli.”