Ai-Ai delas Alas signs 2-year exclusive contract with GMA 7

MANILA, Philippines—Ai-Ai delas Alas on Thursday formally inked a two-year “exclusive and guaranteed” contract with GMA 7, which the actress described “my former home.”

“I have returned…and I’m so glad that the people here have never forgotten me,’” said delas Alas to members of the media on Thursday. She spent nine years with the Kapuso network before transferring to ABS-CBN in 2000.

The contract signing was led by GMA 7 chair and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon and other network executives.

“It feels awesome and I’m happy. This is a new beginning and a fresh start in my life,” she told the Inquirer earlier. “I’ve been given another chance to make the Filipino people happy, and share my God-given talents with them.”

The comedienne, who was part of the noontime shows “Salo-Salo Together” and “Lunch Date” during the 1990s in GMA 7 turned emotional after Gozon welcomed her back to the network. “She’s one of my favorites,” Gozon said.

Delas Alas revealed she’s set to work on four programs soon. “I’ll be doing a Sunday show, a morning show, a soap opera and a project with Vic Sotto,” she said.

She added she won’t be one of Willie Revillame’s cohosts in the coming game show, “Wowowin,” as previously rumored.

“I promise to focus and do my best,” she said.

Like her personal life

Delas Alas likened her showbiz career to her personal life.

“Kasi po parang ang paglipat ko ay parang buhay ko rin eh. D’un po sa probinsya kinuha ako ng auntie ko, ‘yon po ang nag-paaral sa ‘kin, dito po ako napunta sa Maynila. Ngayon galing ako dun sa totoong nanay, ito ngang GMA tapos napunta ako dun sa kabila sa Kapamilya, d’un po naman ‘yong nanay na nag-ampon sa ‘kin,” Delas Alas said, almost breaking down into tears.

“Ngayon po babalik na ako dito sa totoong bahay. Ang kaibahan lang po kasi no’ng nakuha ko na ‘yong nanay ko dati, may Alzheimer na po siya. So medyo nakalimutan niya na ako. Ang GMA hindi ako kinalimutan.”

(I liken my transfer to my own life. In the province, my aunt adopted me, sent me to school and helped me go to Manila. GMA is like my true mother, and I just came from (ABS-CBN) which was like my adoptive mother. Now, I am returning to my true home. The only difference is, when I finally reunited with my mother, she already had Alzheimer’s. So she has sort of forgotten about me. But GMA has never forgotten about me.)

READ: Ai-Ai delas Alas transfers to GMA 7, to do 4 shows—report

Gozon said Delas Alas is very professional aside from being a good actress and comedienne.

Besides Gozon, other network executives present were president and COO Gilberto Duavit and Senior Vice President for its Entertainment department Lilybeth G. Rasonable.

READ: Ai Ai lalayas na sa ABS dahil kay Kris…lilipat na sa GMA 7

“Tayo’y nagagalak at nagbalik si Ai-Ai sa kanyang pinanggalingan. Hindi ko nakakalimutan na dati namang Kapuso natin si Ai-Ai (We are pleased because Ai-Ai is returning to where she belongs. I have never forgotten that Ai-Ai was a Kapuso before),” Gozon said.

Though Delas Alas had been with ABS-CBN for the past 14 years, she had collaborations with artists from GMA7. One was a movie with Vic Sotto in 2011, the blockbuster fantasy hit “Enteng Ng Ina Mo”.

Also, she was once romantically linked with GMA’s former prized male lead hunk, Aljur Abrenica. The two parties denied it, saying it was just plain rumors. IDL/TVJ With report from Bayani San Diego