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Rufa Mae Quinto returns to her roots



Rufa Mae Quinto (in blue) moved back last December 2008, to the house she grew up in, a five-room, two-story structure in Cubao, built in 1969. She left home six years ago and tried living solo.   Now, she says, she wants to reconnect with her siblings. She’s overjoyed about her return to the house and the reunion with her family. “Ang saya,” she says. “Hindi ko na-realize na ganoon ko sila ka-miss until nakasama ko sila ulit lahat.”   Proudly, she presents YES!, and now PEP.ph readers ,with this exclusive photo shoot of her beautiful family in their newly renovated home.   Seated, (left to right) Sister Kyla, youngest on her mom’s side; P-Chi (as Rufa Mae is known to family and friends); Lola Luisa, her paternal grandmother; and 12-year-old niece Patrizia Mae, elder child of brother Archie.   Standing, (left to right) Brother Glenn, second to the eldest on her mom’s side; Mommy Fe; eldest and full brother Archie, with Lea, his wife of 13 years; sister Giejan, second to the youngest on her mom’s side; and brother Vincent, eldest on her mom’s side.     (YES! March 2009 issue)

Jun Pinzon


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Rufa Mae Quinto returns to her roots

YES! Magazine

Wednesday, June 2, 2010
01:35 PM

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Rufa Mae Quinto did not run away from responsibility when she decided to live alone eight years ago. She had left the Cubao house she grew up in and shared with her mother, her siblings, and her paternal grandmother so she could have her much-needed space. She also wanted her family to learn to fend for themselves. But that did not mean she was severing all family ties.


"Hindi ako maka-concentrate sa career ko no'n," she recalls. "Dahil bata pa lang sila, lahat nasa akin na. Ako lahat nagturo diyan mag-aral, magbasa. Isa-isa 'yan. Ako pa ang tagagising, pag ayaw pumasok sa school. 'Yong kapatid ko, napaaway sa school—'Sugod, mga kapatid!' ang drama ko. Dinaig ko pa ang maraming ina. Kasi O.C. [obsessive-compulsive] ako sa gano'n, e, dahil maalaga ako. Kaya umalis ako noon, kasi araw-araw gano'n ang nangyayari. Gusto ko silang mag-grow sa sarili nila."


The actress is telling her story to YES! as she's being made up for the very first photo shoot that she will have with her family, in the very same house she left and is now moving back into after six long years of living alone.


Rufa Mae Quinto is finally home—again.

TAKING CHARGE. Rufa Mae—P-Chi to her close friends and to her clan—has been the family breadwinner since she was 17 years old. She has been providing for her separated parents' second families, being the one with a steady stream of income from her rewarding showbiz career.


In all, she has eight siblings: one full brother (Archie, now 32, the eldest in the brood), four on her mother's side (Vincent, 25; Glenn, 23; Giejan, 20; and Kyla, 15), and three on her father's side (Tonio, 29; Pancho, 23; and Gabrielle, 21).


With the help of her paternal grandmother Luisa, P-Chi sent the siblings on her mom's side to school. At the same time, she was helping her dad send his kids from his second family to school, and she generously assisted them when their father Alex died of liver cirrhosis at the age of 51.


"Ang daddy ko 'tsaka ang stepmother ko ang nag-asikaso talaga sa kanila," P-Chi explains. "Pero still, ako pa rin ang nagbibigay ng suporta sa kanila. Laging nandiyan ang father ko every day, dinadalaw ako. Close na close kami. Kaya lang, wala na, namatay na siya, e. Ayaw niya mamatay dati, dahil baka daw hindi kami maging close ng mga kapatid ko. Nangako ako sa father ko, pinilit ko talagang maging close kami lahat."


On her mother's side, life was a little more complicated. Her Mommy Fe separated from her second husband, which eventually led to P-Chi's taking on the role of guardian to her siblings.


In an earlier YES! cover story (February 2008), she spoke of the tough times that her family went through: "Ang mommy ko, ewan ko—naospital siya, nag-under-medication siya dahil na-depress, kasi wala na din ulit siyang asawa. Kaming mga anak, kung saan-saan kami napunta. 'Yong iba kong kapatid, sa mga tito ko. Ako, napunta ako sa lola ko na government employee. Sa lola ko ako lumaki. Isa-isa, dinala sa akin ng nanay ko ang mga kapatid ko."


For our present interview, in January 2009, P-Chi elaborates: "Ang mommy ko, tinulungan ko kasi mag-isa lang siya, e. Wala siyang katulong, so ako 'yong naging kasangga niya para itaguyod ang mga kapatid ko. 'Tsaka si mommy kasi, single din, e. So, natural, hahanap din siya ng barkada. Kaya come and go siya. Pero she's here now. Basta nirerespeto ko na lang siya, kung ano gusto niyang gawin. Close kami, you'll be surprised. Tanggap ang flaws ng isa't isa. Kaya nga hanggang ngayon magkakasama pa kami."


Despite the unusual family set-up, says P-Chi, she enjoyed a happy, normal childhood. For this, she credits her 84-year-old paternal grandmother, Luisa—who prefers to be addressed as Luchi, as this was how her late husband used to call her.


"Ganoon kami pinalaki ng grandma, sa family ties, family bonding. Naging masaya ang childhood ko. Normal. 'Yong nakakapaglaro ka sa labas, nagkakaroon ka naman ng mga toys na gusto mo. Dati, simple lang, simpleng-simple ang buhay. Pero hindi naman kami super hirap. Nakapag-aral naman ako. Kaya lang nga, palipat-lipat ako at ang kuya Archie ko—kami kasi 'yong [anak] sa una. Kami 'yong sa mommy at daddy ko talaga. Susko, kung saan-saan ako natira... sa Pampanga, sa Pag-asa, sa Sikatuna... Susko, hanggang Pasay, tumira ako. Pati pala sa ano, Makati, sa Bangkal."


When the rest of the siblings came along, it was still Lola Luchi who kept the brood closely knit throughout their growing-up years.


Lola Luchi explains the family setup: "'Yong mga kapatid niya sa mommy niya, dito sa akin nakatira. Kung sa iba, hindi papayag. Pero ako, tunay na apo ang turing ko sa kanila. Saka ang mommy nila, ewan ko ba, mahal na mahal ko 'yan. Kita mo, up to now, kami ang magkasundo dito. Noong mga bata pa sila, 'yong iba nilang kapatid sa daddy nila, lagi ring dinadala sa amin. Saka I make sure, pag Pasko, lahat kami kumpleto dito. Hanggang ngayon, ganyan."


These days, although most of her siblings have already finished schooling and can well take care of themselves, P-Chi still makes sure she's there for them.


"Gusto ko, lahat ng pinangarap ko noong bata ako na hindi nakukuha, maibigay ko sa kanila," she says. "Kasi dati hindi ko alam kung saan ako titira. So, ang nangyayari, kami ng kuya ko, hindi namin alam kung saan kami. Lumaki kaming hindi kami naka-settle. Kaya 'yong mga sumunod na sa amin—sila Giejan, sila Vincent—hindi na kami hiwa-hiwalay. Binuo ko ang pamilya namin."

SIBLING CHIVALRY. When her siblings were old enough to take care of themselves, P-Chi decided to move out of their home. She felt it was high time to teach them how to be responsible for themselves while she focused on creating a niche in local showbiz.


And they did not disappoint her.


Her Kuya Archie, now married with two kids, has established his own travel agency called Leisure Quest.


Vincent, the eldest among Mommy Fe's children from her second marriage, is graduating from college with a degree in criminology. Her other brother, Glenn, who now drives for P-Chi and accompanies her in her showbiz commitments, has a small talyer business. Younger sister Giejan is now a third-year college student taking up tourism, for which she will be undergoing her on-the-job training in the USA this summer. And youngest sister Kyla is already a third-year high-school student in an exclusive school in Quezon City.


As for P-Chi's siblings on her father's side, Alexander Anthony, or Tonio, is now a fish dealer who imports and exports tuna; Patricio Riley is a painter; and Gabrielle Alexis is a ballet dancer.


Whether she and her siblings live under the same roof or not, P-Chi still makes sure that their needs are met. But now she raises questions or sets conditions.


"Ngayong malalaki na sila, pag hindi kailangang-kailangan or kung ano-ano lang 'yan, marami akong tanong... 'Para saan? Kailangan ba talaga?' Nakakatikim na sila ng: 'Hindi puwede, 'no! Magtrabaho ka!' Di ba? 'Kung gusto mo, magtrabaho ka sa akin.' Kasi, feeling ko, di ba, noong mga bata sila, 'binigay ko lahat? This time, kung gusto nila ng pera from me, nagtatrabaho sila. I want to teach them how to fish din, e."


Her siblings totally understand where their ate is coming from.


Giejan, a dead ringer for her actress-sister, says she's particularly grateful that her ate is paying for her education, and hopes to help out after she graduates: "Siyempre, gusto kong maka-graduate—na dapat may marating ako. 'Tapos, pag sumusuweldo na ako, ita-try ko na ako naman 'yong magbibigay sa family ko, para kahit paano mabawasan naman 'yong itinutulong niya."


Vincent, the policeman-to-be, says the same thing: "Si Ate, mabait talaga. Supportive siya palagi kahit na lagi akong napapaaway sa school dati. Kasi siya 'yong guardian namin, e. Bata pa lang kami, siya na. Kanya na kaming lahat. Nag-aalaga siya sa amin kahit busy siya. Kaya ayaw namin siyang nagagalit. 'Yon na lang ang maitutulong namin sa kanya."


Glenn agrees: "Ayaw namin siyang magalit. Kasi, pag nagalit, siyempre parang nasisira 'yong araw niya. Pag pinagalitan ka, siyempre makikinig ka talaga. Pag nagalit, bawal sumagot. Kasi pag sumagot ka, lalo lang lalaki. Hindi naman dahil takot kami sa kanya. Respeto lang."


As their way of paying back for the support and guidance Pi-Chi has given them all these years, her siblings have become the steady rock that she can lean on.


Says Glenn: "Si Ate, magaling magbigay ng advice. Kasi madaldal siya, di ba? Kaya bibigyan at bibigyan ka niya ng advice. Pero paminsan-minsan, pag siya naman 'yong may problema, kami naman 'yong nagbibigay ng advice sa kanya. May miting pa 'yon. Papupuntahin niya lahat. Dati, no'ng nasa Acropolis pa kami, sasabihin niya, 'Pumunta kayo rito.' Basta nandoon kaming lahat magkakapatid, pamilya. Nag-uusap-usap. 'Tapos, bigla 'yang iiyak. Ngayon, dito, pag-uwi niya, kahit tulog, ipapagising niya, makipagkuwentuhan diyan."


Like any family that is naturally protective of its members, P-Chi's siblings can't help but be affected by the intrigues that her name gets dragged into, whether these be true or not. Her younger sisters normally cry whenever they hear the gossip and the accusations. "Kung ano 'yong iniisip minsan ng mga tao, masakit, dahil hindi naman po kasi ganoon si Ate," Giejan reveals. The brothers, on the other hand, are more than ready to physically defend her.


"'Yong mga kapatid ko pa!" P-Chi says. "Pag minsan, nabubuwisit sila. Gusto nilang upakan talaga. Sinasabi ko lang, 'wag na. Hindi naman sa mang-uumbag sila, pero siyempre, ang feeling ng mga kapatid ko, lalo na pag guys din ang involved sa issue—feeling nila minsan, parang nakakalalaki.


"Sabi ko na lang, 'Ganoon talaga sa showbiz. Ito na 'yong buhay ko, at kapatid ko kayo, kaya mag-ingat, magpakabait kayo. Hayaan ninyo akong dumiskarte sa sarili ko.'


"In fairness, wala pang naupakan sa mga hindi rumespeto sa 'king guys, ha! Kaya nga, at least ngayon na bumabalik ako dito sa bahay na ito, kahit paano relaxed din sila. Baka kasi namimis-interpret na nila ako, kasi nga I'm so busy, e."


Through it all, her Lola Luchi—whom she calls Mommy Luchi—gives P-Chi sound advice to help her cope.


Says her Mommy Luchi: "Ang sabi ko, 'Basta ipasa-Diyos mo na lang.' Kagaya no'ng kay Hayden [Kho]. Tinanong ko siya kung totoo. Sabi ko, 'Ano, P-Chi, totoo ba 'yan?' 'Wala, Mommy.' 'Kung wala, panindigan mo 'yon. Lumaban ka! Lalo kung hindi totoo, lumaban ka!' 'Tsaka sinasabi ko, lagi siyang magdadasal. Pag nasa sa iyo ang Diyos, walang mangyayari sa 'yong masama."


P-Chi's own mother, Mommy Fe, who lives in the adjacent house behind the main house, can't help giving a piece of her mind on the intrigues that people associate with her daughter.


"Sa akin, hindi nakaka-surprise 'yon dahil dalaga ang anak ko at maganda," Mommy Fe says calmly. "Ang sa akin lang naman, halimbawa ini-interview siya, sana isipin naman nila ang motibo nila—kung nakakasakit sila ng damdamin. Kasi ang question, madali sagutin 'yan, e. Whatever it is, you can defend yourself. But what about the pain that you caused in asking the question, di ba?


"Ngayon nga sinasabi, 'Hindi ba kayo nahihiya sa mga sinasabi about your daughter?' Hindi! Anyway, what's the big deal to be involved with Ms. Rufa Mae? Ewan ko ano'ng purpose nila. Baka hindi sila sinagot ni Rufa Mae, kaya ganyan sigurong pinipilit nilang ma-involve. Basta sa akin lang, sana hindi sila nakakasakit ng damdamin."

MOVING IN AGAIN. Without a doubt, Rufa Mae Quinto has earned her place in the entertainment industry. She recently won as best comedy actress in the 27th Star Awards for Television, on top of other awards that she has won before. In addition, she has been tapped for numerous product endorsements, and she continues to star in comedy films that are surefire hits.


But she has not forgotten to look back. Indeed, her moving back into the ancestral house in Cubao is her way of assuring her family that she's still the P-Chi they have always known, her feet firmly planted in the ground, coping fairly well with both the fame and the intrigues that have come her way.


Before moving back, however, P-Chi had the Cubao house renovated, bringing in the necessary adjustments that would meet her current needs. She says she intends to stay with her family for at least two years.


Now, semi-retired from her role as the family provider, she assumes the role of the elder sister who readily dispenses advice to siblings on how to live their lives.


"I'm so sensitive when it comes to my family because I love them so much," she says. "That's why, sa sobrang respeto ko sa buong pamilya ko, iginard ko sila. 'Yong mga tsismis na lumalabas sa 'kin, sa akin lang. Hindi sila damay do'n. Pero happy ako, kasi I know I've been a good daughter. I've been a good granddaughter, and sister."


"Sabi ko sa kanila, ''Wag na tayong sensitive. Asikasuhin n'yo ang sarili ninyo magmula ngayon. Ako, finocus ko sarili ko sa inyo, kay Mommy, sa pamilya. O, ano'ng nangyari sa 'kin? Hanggang ngayon, di ba nagtatrabaho ako? Mag-isa ako. May achievements ako, pero hanggang ngayon single pa rin, kasi kayo nga ang focus ko, e. Ngayon, kayo, mabuhay kayo ng sarili n'yo. 'Wag n'yo na intindihin ang mga kapatid natin, magulang natin. Kayo muna, di ba? Kasi charity begins at home.'


"E, ang charity begins at home na akala ko e 'tong home namin—'yon pala, your home is yourself! Ha-ha-ha! Nalaman ko 'yon last year lang. Niliteral ko ang charity begins at home!"


What she sees around her now fills P-Chi with a deep sense of accomplishment.


"Masaya ako. Alam mo 'yong makita mo lang sila na nagdadaanan diyan sa harap ko... 'Tapos, nakita mo may mga pinag-aralan, matitino naman... Dito, I feel secure and safe-and loved."


And with that sense of accomplishment, she can afford to relax.


"Ngayon, hangga't may offer, go. Pero hindi na 'yong pressured ako to do everything right now. 'Yong tamang project, makakatulong naman sa sarili ko. 'Yong magiging happy naman ako sa ginagawa ko. Pero pag hindi ko feel, hindi ako forced to do it. Dati, gano'n ako e. But now, kumokonti na 'yong obligasyon ko, kasi gumradweyt na 'yong iba, nagtatrabaho na 'yong iba. Dati kasi, lahat ako. Pero ngayon, happy na, e. Happy ending. Ako na lang 'yong..."


She pauses for a second, turning a little pensive, probably musing on the aptness of the title of her most recent movie, Status: Single—but quickly adds: "Pero okey lang na wala pa."


Then she bursts into boisterous laughter, remembering a recent incident.

 

"No'ng nag-Pasko kami, lahat kami nand'yan. 'Yong kuya ko, dalawa na ang anak, e, isang taon lang naman ang tanda niya sa akin. 'Tapos, 'yong sumunod sa akin—mas bata, ha!—si Tonio, meron nang ten-year-old na anak. Nakikita ko sila nagdadaan. Tagabigay na lang ako ng regalo!


"Diyos ko, sabi ko, ano ba 'yan? Although hindi ako nagra-rush. Pero kailangan naman i-balance ko din. Hanapin ko rin 'yong love life. 'Yong serious na ngayon, medyo i-balance naman. Dati kasi, puro work and family. Pumapangatlo lang lagi 'yong love life."


The rest of her family are hoping that the next stage in P-Chi's life—getting married—won't be too far off.


"Naiinip na nga ako, naku!" says Mommy Luchi. "Inip na inip na. Sabi ko, 'Baka mamatay na ako, hindi ko na makita apo ko. Dapat nga, mag-asawa ka na, para magkaapo na 'ko sa 'yo, maalagaan ko pa.' E, ang isasagot naman, 'Naku, Mommy, mahaba pa ang buhay mo.'"


Mommy Fe adds that she has been giving her daughter guidelines on how to find the right partner: "Ang sabi ko sa kanya, 'Anak, it's nice to be involved with different kinds of people. It is the greatest lesson you'll learn, so that in time you will know who to deal with, and how to live with the people you like. Sa akin, walang masama na bumarkada, para naman pagdating ng panahon, alam mo na kung sino ang mga tao na dapat mong pakisalamuhaan. Alam mo na 'yong mga tunay na tao, di ba?"


Her siblings, on the other hand, seem to be divided on the issue.


Giejan thinks it's time for her ate to get married soon: "Okey na sa amin, kasi time na rin para naman maging sobrang happy na siya, magkaroon din siya ng pamilya niya. 'Tsaka, 'wag niya na kami masyado muna isipin. Ibuhos na niya sa magiging family niya."


But her Kuya Archie seems willing to leave the decision up to her: "Actually, 'yong sa pag-aasawa niya, okey naman ever since. Pero siyempre, ang gusto namin, kung sino 'yong magkakasama niya nang matagal. Hindi natin masabi, e. Baka hindi pa nga dumadating. We'll know when we get there."


The toughie Vincent adds: "Okey lang, basta mahal siya. 'Yon ang importante sa akin—mahal siya."


P-Chi weighs in on the discussion: "Mababait sila, e, 'no? Sobra. Kaya masaya ako and proud that I'm here with them again. Hindi ko pinagsisihan kahit mag-isa ako, I'm single now. Hindi ako nagsisisi kasi happy ako na naging successful sila."


She then puts an end to the debate with a quote only a Rufa Mae Quinto can deliver: "I'm just a simple girl. I'm still a girl. I'm not saying I'm a woman. I'm still growing. That's me for now. Kaya no rush. That's why I'm happy. I'm so happy. This is the happiest moment of my life. Being single at the age of 30."


And her hearty laughter fills the Cubao home again.

 


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