Ai-Ai’s plea to the public: No more politicking; be productive

Ai-Ai delas Alas (seated, second from left) with family

When Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas is not busy making people laugh onscreen, there’s a different place where another talent of hers reigns—the kitchen.

Now that everybody is expected to stay at home in compliance with the government’s order for an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the owner of Panadera Queen Bakery makes yummy pastries at home and sells them online.

“I bake every day. I get the ingredients from my bakery. As an actress, I don’t earn if I don’t work, so I find other ways to get money,” says Ai-Ai, who also owns a restaurant called House of Unli, which is closed at the moment. “I hope we can go back to our normal lives between three to six months from now. But it will definitely take a while before our economy recovers from this blow.”

If not for the loss of income, Ai-Ai says she is enjoying quarantine life because she gets to spend more time with her kids and husband Gerald. “I missed just being at home with them. I was the family breadwinner ever since, so I was always away, working. I feel happy if I get to stay at home longer,” she points out.

She reveals that her eldest, Sancho, lives in another house, but would go to her place every day to work out at their gym. Daughter Sophia, whose classes have been suspended because of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, lives with her, as well as her adopted son Seth Andrei. Another son, Sean Nicolo, is currently based in the United States.

With husband Gerald

The actress, known for her role in the 2003 box-office hit “Ang Tanging Ina,” says she is pleased to be able to fulfill her role as a mom these days. “I cook for them every day. Just like when they were little, I would ask them what they want to eat for the day,” she tells Inquirer Entertainment. “I can’t cook for Darl (her term of endearment for Gerald) because he is on a diet. We just work out as a form of bonding.”

On Maundy Thursday, Ai-Ai and her family participated in the ceremonial washing of feet at the St. Peter Parish in Commonwealth, Quezon City. “My best friend is a priest there,” she begins. “It shocked me to see that the church was empty this year. In previous years, you could pass out because of heat and suffocation with the large number of people inside that church. Not this year.”

She adds: “This made me cry. I thought, ‘What’s happening to us?’ I prayed to God to please end this pandemic soon. I said, ‘Forgive us for what we have done. Sorry na, Lord. Tama na po.”Ai-Ai said she realized several things during the monthlong ECQ. “That when it comes to dealing with the virus, walang mahirap, walang mayaman. We’re all vulnerable to it,” she observes. “Actually, I know more rich people than poor ones who got infected and died because of the virus. I’m thinking that since they’re rich, they’re not used to dealing with viruses. Seriously now, I realized that material things are not important. What matters is your relationship with your family, parents, close friends and with God.”

Ai-Ai bakes every day.

Ai-Ai says that show biz celebrities like her should remain relevant to the changing times by using their status to help people. “Let’s be part of the solution, not the problem—I’m talking not just to celebrities, but to Filipinos in general. Let’s just do the right thing. Let’s just obey the government, regardless of whether we are pro or against it,” she pleads.

“No more politicking. Let’s just help each other,” Ai-Ai adds. “Instead of being critical, let’s be productive. None of us wished for this to happen. We all want the ECQ to end and for the number of infected cases to finally go down.” INQ