Pia will be joined by Gerald Anderson under the direction of Cathy Garcia-Molina.
It took Pia sixteen years to land a lead role.
“I’ve always wanted to be a beauty queen. Alam naman ng lahat na gusto ko siya, pero yung ini-aim ko noong mga panahon na ‘yon na nagdi-dream lang ako ng Miss Universe, artista na ako noong bata ako at gusto ko talagang magkaroon ng lead role, magkaroon ng movie, ganyan… So I can say that before Miss Universe, this was my first dream.
“Nung malaman ng kapatid ko, nung mapanood niya yung trailer [ng My Perfect You], sabi niya, sobrang proud niya, kasi alam niya na matagal na matagal ko nang gusto ito,” pag-amin ni Pia na tuluyan nang napaiyak.
“I am so grateful kasi parang now I understand why I had to go all through all of those challenges and pagkatalo kasi, dadating din pala at the right time, so I’m so happy.
“Yung sa labas, nakita ko yung malaking billboard pagdaan namin, sabi ko, ‘Never did I imagine na makikita ko ang sarili ko diyan.’
“For some reason, nakatatak sa isip ko na Miss Universe ako, I will win the crown. Pero yung makita ko ang sarili ko sa billboard sa movie, sabi ko, ‘Oh my God, nandiyan ako!’”
Ex-Batallion, the phenomenal group who made their name via the internet chose Aiai to manager their group.
“Gusto ko na mag-level up ang Ex Battalion, hindi lang sa mundo ng Internet kundi pati rin sa mainstream. Walang experience ang Ex Battalion sa mainstream. Ni hindi nila alam ang kanilang worth kaya nagpatulong na sila sa akin.
“Challenging pala ang mag-manage ng mga artist. Tumawag pa ako kay Ama [Boy Abunda, Ai-Ai’s manager] para humingi ng tips na magagamit ko sa pagma-manage sa Ex Battalion.
“At saka, na-manage ko na ang personal life ko at happily married na ako, kaya it’s about time na tumulong ako sa mga new artists na talented at kailangan ng guidance para matupad ang mga pangarap nila,”
However, Aiai is not only busy managing the group, she’s also focused on her food kingdom.
The Comedy Queen owns AiSarap Express and two more restos (Aisian Fusion in Ayala Mall Cloverleaf and AiCup Of Love in fisher Mall) which will open this coming May,2018.
“Hybrid ang mga restaurant ko. Mga healthy food at hindi fastfood ang offer namin sa lahat. Pinili ko ang restaurant business dahil ang pagkain ang basic need ng mga tao, at masasabi ko na talagang masasarap at healthy ang mga pagkain sa food kingdom na bini-build ko.”
At the launch of Rustan’s ActiveWear in Rustan’s Glorietta, Makati City, on March 1, 2018, the former beauty queen was noticeably thinner.
“I lost 22 pounds. Malaking achievement na rin yun para sa akin,” she exclaimed.
But apart from her fitness routines and diet, she also credited commitment.
“Alam mo, dapat talaga ay committed ka, e. Kapag committed ka at determined, gagawin at gagawin mo. “Kasi ang pinakamahirap gawin ay yung kapag bumangon ka at tinatamad ka.”
For the longest time, Ruffa was never bothered by her weight until her mom Annabelle Rama and close friends noticed the extra pounds.
She continued, “Hindi ko naman na-realize na tumaba ako until my mom said, ‘Naku ‘day, mukha ka nang matrona, magpapayat ka!’
“Eto namang si Cristalle Belo, sabi nya, ‘Ruf, you’re getting obese!’
“Siyempre, na-feel bad ako. Sabi ko, ‘Obese? I’m not that fat. Hello!’
“Hindi ba kasi matangkad ako at hindi masyado halata?”
She was in denial, but her clothes could not lie.
“Pero noong hindi na nagkakasya yung mga damit ko, sabi ko na I have to do something about it, kasi ayoko namang maging matrona ang itsura ko.
“So, I started working out.”
The mother of two also wanted to be healthier.
“It’s more about being strong ang healthy, hindi yung magpapapayat ka, gugutumin mo ang sarili mo or hindi ka kakain or iinom ka ng diet pills.
“Ang mas pinaka-importante talaga ay maging strong tayo and healthy, and that’s what I am now!”
