Ai-Ai delas Alas was very grateful because for the third time she was hailed as the Comedy Box Office Queen by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation last June 22, at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City.
The Tanging Ina actress said it has been her dream for women to also be recognized in comedy films.
"'Yon naman ang dati ko pang dream, na maging bida ang mga komedyanteng babae. So ngayon, natupad na 'yon at marami pang nagiging bidang babae, so happy ako. Happy ako na na-recognize na ang mga babae sa Pilipinas" she said in an interview after the media conference of her upcoming TV series with Aga Muhlach on ABS-CBN titled M3 held yesterday, June 23, at Dolphy Theater inside ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.
She also thanked all her followers who showed their support for her by watching her films.
"Thank you so much po sa inyo," she said. "Sa lahat pa rin po ng mga taong sumusuporta sa pelikulang Pilipino. At sa Panginoon, sa lahat-lahat ng blessings na binibigay niya sa akin."
BACK TO SCHOOL. Aside from this award, another reason that makes Ai-Ai smile is her studies.
In fact, as early as May, the award-winning comedienne already announced in her Twitter account that she was finally able enroll at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. She'll be taking up a four-year course under the National College for Public Administration and Governance.
The Comedy Queen said she has all the reasons to celebrate. She added, "Sabi nga nila, mahirap pumasok sa University of the Philippines, mahirap maka-graduate sa University of the Philippines. Kaya nga sabi ko, isa ito sa mga dream ko. Bukod sa maraming blessings, nabigyan ako ng time, ng chance ni Lord na, 'O, ayan, mag-aral ka sa U.P. 'Yan man lang, matupad mo.'"
Other celebrities who earned a certificate from U.P. are Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.
However, unlike these celebrity-politicians, the Batangueña actress's main intention for studying public administration was not to prepare for future political plans.
"Someday siguro pero hindi pa rin naman sure," she told the media. "Pero gusto ko lang din ma-develop ang sarili ko, umandar ang utak ko. Alam mo 'yon, para hindi naman ako basta sinasabi nila na arte lang ako ng arte."
Ai-Ai admitted that she felt intimidated on the first day of their class. She related, "Lahat ng mga kaklase ko, lahat may tinapos. 'Yong iba, retired general, nasa Philippine Armed Forces, 'yong iba nasa Congress. Ako lang mag-isa (ang artista).
"Nakaka-intimidate kasi lahat sila English-speaking. Kailangan naming mag-English kasi may kaklase kaming Amerikana so, wala kaming choice. So, nosebleed kaming lahat!"
The comedienne also urged artists who have not finished their studies to go back to school. The actress said it just takes good time management to be able to squeeze in her studies in her busy showbiz schedule.
She further said, "Kagaya ng pagiging nanay ko. Di ba 'yon din ang tanong ninyo dati? Kung paano (naisasabay ang showbiz) career mo sa pagiging nanay. E, nagpapasalamat na lang ako at 'yong mga anak ko ay malalaki na, college na."
Ai-Ai finished a mass communications course at Far Eastern University in 1985. She also studied culinary arts at the Center For Culinary Arts in 2007.