AI AI DE LAS ALAS topbills GMA-7’s special Mother’s Day presentation in “Magpakailanman” this Saturday titled “Anak, Saan Kami Nagkamali?”
This is a rare instance where Ai Ai shows another side of her as an actress, doing drama as an impoverished mother who gives up her daughter for adoption and later regrets it badly.
“Bagay na bagay sa pase-celebrate ng Mother’s Day this Sunday ang story ng ‘Magpakailanman’ na ginawa namin,” says Ai Ai.
“I play Mercy, isang single mom na maraming anak. Dahil hindi ko na sila lahat kayang buhayin, so binigay ko yung isa sa hipag ko, si Lourdes, played by Snooky Serna.
"Ang pinaampon ko sa kanya, yung anak kong babae, si Shirlyn, played by Joanna Marie Tan. Kinuha naman siya ng hipag ko kasi wala itong anak na babae.”
Everything is fine, until Shirlyn grew up and discovered that she’s just an adopted child. “Hindi niya nagustuhang inilihim namin ito sa kanya,” Ai Ai adds.
“Nagrebelde siya at sumama sa boyfriend niyang niloko lang siya. Nabuntis siya at sa kabila ng mga payo namin ni Snooky sa kanya, nagtangka siyang magpakamatay. Sinisi namin ni Snooky ang mga sarili namin dahil sa nangyari sa kanya. Sino ang may kasalanan, ako bang tunay na ina o ang umampon at nagpalaki sa kanya?”
Ai Ai can relate well with the story as she herself was given up for adoption by her biological mother to her aunt, just like what happened in “Magpakailanman”.
“My real mom is Gregoria, nasa Batangas. Pinaampon niya ko sa kapatid niyang si Justa de las Alas na mas nakaangat sa buhay kasi engineer siya.
"Seven years old ako nang malaman ko ang totoo pero hindi naman ako nag-rebelde. Nag-sorry sa’kin ang tunay kong ina pero sabi ko, okay lang. Sabi ko, it’s destiny. W
"hen she got sick, I took good care of her until she passed some years ago at inasikaso ko rin ang wake and funeral niya. Kaya may soft spot talaga sa’kin ang mga ampon. Mahal na mahal ko sila.”
Ai Ai is very fulfilled as a mother to her own three kids. The eldest, Sancho, finished culinary arts and is now also into acting. The other two are also college graduates in the States, Niccolo and Sophia.
“Sa ngayon, para lang kaming magbabarkada. Kahit malayo yung dalawa sa’kin and of age na sila, hindi ako nagkukulang ng pangaral sa kanila.
"Being a mother is a blessing and I want to thank Mama Mary, my spiritual mother, for all Her guidance sa pagpapalaki ko sa mga anak ko. There were trials along the way, but as a whole, I think I raised them all well naman and I’m very proud of them.”
Ai Ai is also very proud of her husband, Gerald Sibayan. They just celebrated the 7th anniversary as a couple last month and they’ve proven that in love, age doesn’t really matter.
Meantime, don’t miss Ai Ai’s dramatic performance in “Magpakailanman” this Saturday night, 8 PM, on GMA’s toprating drama show, “Magpakailanman”. Also in the cast are Emilio Garcia, Allan Paule, Jim Pebanco, Brian Benedict and Jak Roberto.
