Pokwang returns with a vengeance

POKWANG answers the phone with deadpan humor: “Hello. This is Miss Lucy Liu.” She’s referring to her supposed Hollywood look-alike.

Coincidentally, Pokwang is on the verge of global stardom as she top-bills the first movie venture of TFC (The Filipino Channel), earmarked as a Mother’s Month presentation.

“We shot some scenes in the United States when I joined the Star Magic summer tour last month,” she recalls. “I’ll shoot additional scenes here.”

She feels elated to “inherit” the “mother’s movie” mantle from “Tanging Ina” Ai Ai de las Alas. “Following in Ms Ai Ai’s footsteps is the dream of every budding comedian,” she quips.

Pokwang staged another career coup when she landed a hosting job in the ABS-CBN show “Happy Yipee Yehey,” marking her return to the noontime slot. She made her debut last Saturday. “It’s been six months,” she says. “I’m excited.”

The vacation from the daily grind yielded countless realizations. “I became more patient,” she concedes. Plus, slowing down gave her time to bond with 15-year-old daughter Rie Mae. “How time flies! In my mind, she’s still 5 years old. Now, when I try to kiss her, she runs away … kasi dalaga na.”

Her own 71-year-old mom gave her valuable advice on the new “Happy” job, Pokwang says. “She told me to [value] my blessings, and that I should take care of my health.”

In a show-bizzy twist, she’s going up against Vic Sotto (of GMA 7’s “Eat Bulaga”), her costar in the recent flick “Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!”

“That project signaled the end of the network war for us. We’re looking forward to working together again.”