IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rufa Mae Quinto proves she’s the comedian of her generation
Rufa Mae Quinto | Image: Instagram/@rufamaequinto
The ability to make others laugh is a gift that not everyone is blessed with, but Rufa Mae Quinto has long proven she has a knack for amusing people. Quinto recently made headlines after she shared that “she didn’t feel too sad about losing the prize money” from the recently concluded reality show “LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines,” as her family is more important than anything else. So when the show started to become “dirty,” the female comedian decided to back out of the game.
In her 30 years in the show business, Quinto delivered one-liners that show off her timeless witticism. Aside from her trademark lines “Todo na ‘to (I’m giving my all),” “To the highest level,” and “Go, go, go,” here’s a list of her memorable lines from her movies, interviews, and social media captions that prove she’s the comedian of her generation.
Patron Saint of the Single Ladies
“Tanggap ko na Jane, Wanda! Na talagang wala na kong lalaking makikita. Tanggap ko na na magiging mag-isa na lang ako sa buhay. Mag-aalaga na lang ako ng pusa, aso at dagang costa. Mag-aaral na lang akong mag cross-stitch saka siguro mag gaganstilo na lang ako ng bedsheets, mantel, at kurtina. Tanggap ko na, na ako na ang magiging ninang ng mga anak ninyo. Ang tanging magiging thrill ko nalang sa buhay, eh magluto ng leche flan tuwing darating na ang pasko. Makikipag-pilgrimage ako sa Our Lady of Manaoag kasabay ng mga babaeng napaglisan na ng panahon!”
From the movie “Status: Single” (2009), this line resonated well with women who are constantly feeling the pressure of settling down, while seeing their peers take the proverbial marital train coach. Quinto’s genuine delivery makes the dialogue so relatable that 14 years after the lines were uttered, they still hold the power to affect. At of the moment, this dialogue is being shared countless times on TikTok and other social media platforms, especially in this era where some women refuse to be tied down to the traditional concept of marriage, while some are taking their time before settling down.
In life, you need to learn to shallow…
“Ayun ang buhay kapag hindi ka marunong lumunok, wala kang kwentang mabuhay pa, mamatay ka na. ‘Di joke lang. Ibig kong sabihin kailangan maging matapang sa buhay na ‘to para mabuhay. Ngayon kung hindi, mahirap mabuhay kung ‘di mo kayang tanggapin ang mga bagay-bagay.”
This line from Quinto’s interview with Mr. Fu in 2019 became a running meme online up to this day with its “double meaning.”Others take it as it is because people truly need to learn to endure and accept anything that life is throwing at them.
Article continues after this advertisementBirds of a feather…
“Kaya naman pala ang gaan-gaan ng loob ko sainyo kahit hate na hate ninyo ako, Birds of the same feather make a good feather duster.”
In the movie “Mano Po 2: Overload” (2008), Quinto once again showed her comedic chops in delivering famous quotations and adding her own twist to them. Here, instead of saying what’s expected, “Birds of a feather flock together,” she gave her own twist. Just like her other dialogue, “Do not do unto others for the sun will come out tomorrow.” With Quinto, you will truly never know what you’re going to get.
Define happiness…
“Happiness is when it happens. Whatever you like happens, that’s happiness for me. Whatever your mind, body, and soul want to happen is going to be happiness and happenings.”
In other words, happiness could be had for the simplest of reasons. In this interview on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” last Aug. 6, Quinto proved that she is her own philosopher.
What makes a woman beautiful?
“Beautiful is in the eyes of the beholder, so hold on to that; you’ll be beautiful when you hold it,”
Another words of wisdom from the queen in her interview on “Tonight with Boy Abunda” in 2019.
Queen of self-appreciation
“I dedicate this to myself. Hope I like it!”
Upon receiving her trophy for Best Comedy Actress in the 2018 PMPC Star Awards for Television, Quinto made sure she wouldn’t allow herself to be left behind as she ended her winning speech by thanking herself for emerging victorious. She literally said she deserved the credit for her accomplishments aside from everybody else.
Purity is next to…
“Purity is next to clarity , positivity, activity, possibility, tranquility, serenity, serendipity, virginity and simplicity. Ty !!!”
Most of the time when people, especially celebrities, post on their social media, specifically Instagram, they try to make their photos and captions as aesthetically pleasing as possible, but Quinto remained as authentic as possible.
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Tribute post to Mother Lily
“Mother , No no no! I wanna say don’t leave us but gotta go go go! Go go gone !”
True to her irreverent self, Quinto proved even death could not dampen her spirit. When Regal matriarch and industry leader Mother Lily Monteverde died last August 4, the comedian stood out with her not-so-serious tribute post, that netizens took notice.
“‘Yung tribute ni Rufa Mae kay Mother Lily is sooo unserious. hahshshshahaahs (loudly-crying emojis) Go, go, gone!” a user on the X (formerly Twitter) platform commented.
“Only Ruffa Mae can do this and [you] still won’t be offended,” another online user wrote.
Screenshot of Rufa Mae Quinto’s Instagram post
Quinto as host of “Cunk On Earth” PH adaptation
In April, there was an online campaign for Quinto to be the host of “Cunk on Earth,” a British mockumentary that delves into human history and culture with a touch of humor, if ever the Philippines will have its own version. The mockumentary made a mark given how Diane Morgan delivers striking questions about the most serious topics in a deadpan tone, with many believing Quinto can also ace.
At the time, the Filipina comedian recognized the internet’s appeal as she shared the thread on her Instagram page.
“Imagine this scene… Rufa Mae: Sir Ambeth, kaanu-ano ba ni Jose Rizal si Sandara? Ambeth Ocampo: Huh? Rufa Mae: You know… Rizal Park at si Sandara Park. Ambeth: 👀” read the text of her screenshot.
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