Rufa Mae Quinto reacts to Jessa's 'sinungaling' remark

Rufa Mae Quinto's interview in YES! magazine's February 2008 issue contained the sexy comedienne's accounts in nearly every aspect of her life—family, career, and of course, controversies. Considered an "autobiography" by Rufa Mae herself, she poured out her past, relating the ups and downs of her life as she talked away on one topic after another. The most interesting part of Rufa Mae's life, however, would be her love life—specifically, that one romantic stage of her life where she figured in what the public may call a "love triangle" with singers Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado. The issue may be already eight years old but Rufa Mae's interview stirred up a hornet's nest—Jessa's nest to be exact—and brought forth a new chapter in this romantic issue. It will be recalled that Jessa and Dingdong appeared live on Showbiz Central seven months ago and were interviewed by no less than Rufa Mae herself. The three chatted and laughed, and whatever past issues Jessa and Rufa Mae had in the past simply vanished, so it seemed. But with Rufa Mae's revelations, things got sour again. JESSA: "IT'S FULL OF LIES." In Startalk, a disgruntled Jessa Zaragoza said that Rufa Mae's statements were full of lies because the sexy comedienne never became Dindong's girlfriend in the first place. In fact, Jessa added, they were just going out and that Rufa was also dating other men during that period. RUFA MAE HITS BACK. On Showbiz Central, the normally laughing and smiling Rufa Mae is now an irritated person sitting on the Central Jury's Hot Seat as she explains everything she said on the YES! interview point-by-point. Grilling her this time is fellow Jury member Mo Twister, who immediately shoots his questions. "Let's get to the point na," Mo says. "According to Jessa, hindi naman nagkaroon kayo ng exclusive na relationship with Dingdong." Rufa Mae points out: "Ok, gusto ko munang sabihin, Mo, na ang istorya ng buhay ko ay istorya ng buhay ko. Kung ano po ang nasabi ko sa YES! magazine, yung po ang nangyari sa akin. So, may karapatan ako ikuwento, at may karapatan din silang ikuwento kung ano man nangyari sa buhay nila. May karapatan tayo bawat isa, eh." Mo issues his follow-up question. "Sabi ni Jessa in-attack mo daw sila, eh. What you would–" Before he could finish, a clearly fired up Rufa Mae shots back, "Alam mo, hindi lang naman sila, eh. At hindi nila binasa nang buo, yung gusto lang nila ma-pick up; ang gusto nilang basahin... Sabi ko naman na ‘Uy, dati pa naman yun. Past is past...' And naku, magkakabati na nga kami and everything. Para sa akin naman, eh, narration na lang yun, eh. Sobrang tagal na nun. Siya nga nagsabi na eight years ago na. So parang with me ang bata-bata pa naman natin nun, eh." The usually talkative Mo can't get a question in because Rufa Mae was brimming with words about her feelings on Jessa's recent interview. "I just wanna be real." Rufa Mae continues, "Gusto ko lang maging totoo kaya masyado akong nagpakatotoo. Casual lang naman ako nung sinabi lahat ang katotohanan." Taking opportunity of her short pause, Mo makes the most of his precious time by asking his original question: "Yes or no, naging boyfriend mo si Dingdong?" "Magkakagulo ba kami ng eight years? Nagkabati nga lang kami last year at yung interview ko po, last year pa yun. Ngayon lang lumabas, ok...Kaya nga positive nga...Bagong taon, wala nang lihim kahit saan ka humarap, proud na proud ka, ganoon. Eh, ito namang super defensive na ‘to [Jessa?] na gusto yatang makipag-away sa paligid...Puwede din naman pero kung ako sa 'yo, eh, tawagan mo na lang ako. Susmaryosep, o, dito ka na lang tumawag [on Showbiz Central]." Sensing that his question might go nowhere, Mo decides to ask a new one. But again, he is being brushed aside by Rufa's long but relevant explanation. "Teka lang ha, bago 'yan [Mo's question], eh, gusto ko munang sabihin na hindi naman dahil na guwapong-guwapo si Dindong kaya siya ang topic dito. Ito ay tungkol sa sinabi ni Jessa against me. "Kung ano ang na-experience n'yo kay Dingdong noon at nung niloko kayo, at ngayon, eh kayo pa ang galit, eh, aba, wala na akong magagawa doon. Sabi niya kahapon na may actor-politican, pero hindi naman pala kami [Dingdong]. Eh, kung hindi naman pala kami, eh, gulo di' ba? Ayoko na nga sagutin ito kaya lang, Diyos ko ha. Hindi nakakaintindi..." she said. Mo now addressed the audience, who, by now, are all applauding Rufa's energetic air, and explained that the YES! interview is a biography about her. For Mo, credibility is a big factor especially if you're being interviewed by YES! "That right!" exclaims Rufa, "That's the story of my life. Hindi ko mapapalitan yun dahil sa totoo lang, eh, hindi ko naman ipinapa-proud yun, eh." Mo immediately cuts in, "Pinagpalit ka ba talaga ni Dingdong kay Jessa? That's the big question." "Nag-usap-usap nga kami dito [during the couple's interview on Showbiz Central last year] kung bakit siya [Jessa] ang pinili mo [Dingdong], eh 'di automatic na ibig sabihin nun. Kailangan pa bang i-detalye noon?" After that, Mo is about to ask the question when Rufa Mae finally catch his meaning. She says, "Ay, hindi ko pa pala nasasagot. Oo, naging kami pero since nga na ang claim nila, eh, hindi, eh, ‘di hindi! Kita mo, dapat hindi siya mag-react, 'di ba! 'Tsaka yung sinasabi niya [Jessa] tungkol sa anak, na malaman daw, eh, sabi ko, aba, bakit nila ginawa yun? Inutusan ko ba silang gawin yun? And choice nila sa buhay nila na kung nanloko man sila, di ba? And siyempre, huwag na isama yung bata kasi may mga pamangkin din ako. May mga kapatid din akong bata." Jessa said that Rufa Mae wouldn't understand her feelings because she wasn't a mother. What's her take on this? "Maaaring totoo ‘yan dahil hindi pa nga ako nagkakaanak. Pero definitely 'pag nagkaanak ako, e, hindi ako magsisinungaling kung ano ang past ko. So huwag na sanang magmalinis ang iba." IS RECONCILIATION POSSIBLE? When asked by Mo if a reconciliation is possible between her and Jessa, she only has this to say: "Naku, huwag na. Sabi niya nananahimik daw siya, eh, bakit bumalik pa siya dito para makipagbati sa akin at nakipag-duet pa, ha!" The audience laughed. She continues, "Kung nananahimik sila, e, sana nanahimik na lang sila! Kasi alam n'yo as you get older, you get wiser. Kaya lang po ang dami niyang sinabi. Pagkatao ko po ‘yun, eh. Hindi naman issue yung nagkasakitan kami o nanloko ako, hindi yun, eh. Yung sinasabing nagsisinungaling ako at nag- iimbento, yun lang ang ipanaglalaban ko." THE TRUE RUFA MAE. Since Rufa Mae's tell-all interview is considered an open book, Mo asks metaphorically who the real Rufa Mae is. Rufa suddenly looks calm, her eyes now filled with tears as she says, "Alam niyo po kung bakit ako mag-isa ngayon, eh, dahil po para sa pamilya ko. Yun po yun....Hindi po ako nag-aartista hanggang ngayon dahil para po sa pamilya ko. Yun lang yun. Kaya ko naman nasabi mga nakaraan ko, kasi past is past, eh. "Kung may nasaktan, pasensya na po kayo dahil hindi po yun ang intensyon ko. Basahin n'yo sana mabuti ‘yun bago kayo mag-react kasi." - Philippine Entertainment Portal