Rufa Mae Quinto and her Filipino-American husband Trevor Magallanes have complete trust in one another, so they have been doing okay despite being in a long-distance relationship or LDR.
Trevor is currently undergoing police training at the San Francisco Police Academy in the U.S., while Rufa Mae still has an active showbiz career here.
"Hindi, nagsawa na yun sa sex, hahahaha!” Rufa Mae laughs heartily at the presscon for the film And Ai, Thank You held on August 7, Wednesday, at Max's Restaurant along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.
"Alam mo kasi, sobrang bait ko, saka mahal ako nun. Saka kasal kami nun. Saka binata siya nun sa U.S., siguro 13, 14, 15 pa lang iyan, umaanu-ano na, di ba? Hahahaha!"
Kidding aside, isn't maintaining a long-distance relationship difficult?
Rufa Mae tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press, "Long distance in a way, kasi malayo, but we have the best of both worlds. Filipina ako, mahal dito ang anak ko, mahal kami dito.
"Mayroon akong na-invest dito... Gusto niya na makuha ng anak ko ang pagiging Pinoy. Basta, madali na ngayon, may Facebook, may internet, basta may pamasahe ka lang.
"Ang isyu na lang, hinihintay ko ang anak ko kung ano ang pipiliin niya, here or there."
This coming September, Rufa Mae and her daughter Alexandria will fly to the U.S. to visit Trevor.
She says, "Magkikita na kami. By January, bibili na kami ng bahay 'tapos, September to December, nandun din naman kami.
"Actually, yun din ang rason kung bakit gusto ko ang ganitong mga project gaya nitong And Ai, Thank You, kasi, mabilis. Pag tapos na, uwi na kami. Minsan kasi, pag may regular (TV show), ang hirap, e. Ang hirap magpaalam 'tapos nakakahiya."
RUFA MAE ALMOST QUIT SHOWBIZ
There was actually a time when Rufa Mae had wanted to quit showbiz, but it was Trevor that encouraged her to continue her career.
She explains, "Siyempre, American ang asawa ko 'tapos Amerikana din ang anak ko, siyempre gusto ko sana, sila ang priority ko. Gusto kong alagaan sila. Bed rest na rin ako dahil 37 na ako nung nabuntis, so I have to stop.
"Saka di ba, namatay si Direk Uro [de la Cruz]? Parang feeling ko that time, ano pa babalikan ko sa TV?I mean, nandito na ang buhay ko saka gustung-gusto kong magkaanak, buti nga sa awa ng Diyos, normal ako, e. Di ako nagpa-work up."
Do they plan on giving Alexandria a baby brother or sister soon?
"Susundan ko pa pero di ba, sabi nga ni Ms. Ai, mag-iisa pa siya kahit 50s na siya? Sabi ko, ayoko munang sundan ngayon, magpapa-sexy muna ako."
HOW LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP WORKS
For Rufa Mae, the LDR set-up works for their marriage because, aside from her showbiz career, Trevor's training schedule is very hectic. This makes it challenging for the couple to spend some quality time together.
"Pag nag-training iyan, eight months, puro exam iyan. Bukod sa physical, buwis-buhay sila. Ang training sa kanila, para ka ring abugado, may exam at saka dapat alam mo ang law.
"Nagkikita kami pero di niya rin naman ako napapansin. Nandoon lang kami, nagwe-wait. Gigising nang 4:00 a.m., nandoon kami, wait lang kami."
TREVOR'S CAREER
Rufa Mae also thinks it's important that Trevor has his own career.
She explains, "Ang asawa ko... nag-asawa kasi ako, 29 years old lang siya, eight years ang tanda ko sa kanya. Nag-Air Force iyan, 'tapos nag-accountant pa, naging financial analyst for five years.
"Nung nag-meet kami, one year pa lang siyang nagwo-work. Kung hindi ko siya papayagan na maging padre de familia ngayon, 32 na siya, parang ninakaw ko yung pagkabata niya, yung career niya.
"Ayokong lumaki ang anak ko at sabihin niyang, 'Ay! Ano ang ginawa ng Daddy ko? Ay nanood lang sa studio. Nag-showbiz na rin.'"
On June 10, 2019, Rufa Mae posted this photo with "my officer" Trevor and their daughter.
Part of her lengthy Instagram post read, "LDR, para sa Bayan!
"Hinde Lang para sa aming sariling kapakanan, gusto namin career namin May purpose in life!!! Ang asawa ko to take care of us, to save / help the good people !!!
"Me, to make people laugh, to save the world !Make a difference and be a good role model with proper conduct (Bb.Pilipinas candidate...)
"I guess, lahat ng Tao kailangan ng Career para Hinde boring di ba? At para May ginagawa, busy-busihan din!
"Winner ! Salamat for being a good example to our daughter and to all. So yup! Go go go Family. pray for safety always guysh!"
Aside from the serious nature of his work, Trevor's personality is also quite serious. This contrasts with Rufa Mae's joyful and bubbly personality.
"You know, my life is very serious. With his work, puwede silang mamatay. E, di ba, ako, makulit ako, tawa lang nang tawa," Rufa Mae says.
"Siya, sobrang proper. Bawal tumakbo, bawal kumain ng fats, bawal kumain ng ano. Okay na rin na may space, kasi nga, magka-iba talaga kami pero iisa ang aim namin.
"Basta ang priority namin is yung anak namin at saka health. Saka aayusin ko na rin ang citizenship ko this September."
RUFA MAE AND TREVOR'S WEDDING IN 2016
Rufa Mae and Trevor tied the knot at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan events center in Quezon City, on November 24, 2016.
In her wedding vow, the bride said that Trevor made her dreams come true.
"I always pray to have a family of my own. It's a dream and now it's a reality. My dreams came true. You gave your life, your surname, your love and the fruit our love, our little one,” she said.
The groom, for his part, said that marrying Rufa Mae is the best decision he ever made.
"I know that you said that I sacrificed a lot for you, but it was really worth it and it was the best decision that I ever made. I promise that I will be the best husband that you deserve, and that I can be the best person to take care of our family, and I just want to make sure that you are happy for the rest of your life."
On February 17, 2017, she gave birth to a baby girl at St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City.
She and Trevor named their daughter Athena Alexandria.