CinemaBravo

The Philippine Comedy Concert Queen Ai-Ai Delas Alas, who currently lives in San Francisco, California, is set to make a comeback to the country for the upcoming sixth season of GMA’s all-original reality singing competition ‘The Clash,’ which is scheduled for airing in September.

During her virtual media conference with select press to promote her series of shows this February entitled ‘Ai Luv U’ in Bacolod, Angeles, Talisay, and Tagaytay, CinemaBravo asked Ai-Ai what surprises the Kapuso audiences can expect from Season 6.

“Parati namang gano’n ang The Clash e!,” she exclaimed about the twists of the show. “Parating may mga twist na sa totoo lang minsan kahit kaming mga judge, hindi namin alam. Ang twist namin, magugulat na lang kaming, ‘Ay! Nakakaloka! Gano’n pala mangyayari ngayon.’ Hindi nila sinasabi para kumbaga legit yung reaction namin na talagang surprised kami, hindi kami umaarte.”

(“The Clash is always like that! There are always twists, to be honest, sometimes even us judges, we don’t know. Our twist is, we’ll just be surprised, ‘Oh! It’s crazy! So that’s what’s going to happen now.’ They don’t tell us so that our reaction is, so to speak, genuine – that we are truly surprised, we’re not acting.”)

Among the many twists and turns of the award-winning program, she is fond of the Pares Kontra Pares round where pairs are pitted against each other if they take the bottom spot in the episode.

She shared, “Gusto ko ‘yung [Pares Kontra Pares]. Kunwari magkakampi sila, tapos hindi nila alam na—kaya nila pinipili ‘yon [bilang partner], kasi magaling ‘yon, tapos ang magiging twist, later on, ‘yun ang magiging kalaban mo. Patay ka ngayon kung hindi ka masyadong kagalingan.”

(“I like the [Pares Kontra Pares round]. Like, they pretend to be allies, and then they don’t know – they choose that [as a partner] because that person is skilled, and then the twist is, later on, that person becomes your opponent. You’re in trouble now if you’re not very skilled.”)

She also misses the effect of having a live audience in the studio.

“Iba rin ‘yung impact na meron [na live audience]. Maganda siya pag ‘yung maraming pumapalakpak, maingay.”

(“The impact is different with a live audience. It’s beautiful when many are applauding and noisy.”)

When asked about what “plot twist” she wants to incorporate into the show, she quipped, “Siguro, pang-adik, lahat sila kumakanta, ta’s lahat sila kakalabanin ko sa isang araw lang. Parang ubusan ng boses!”

Ai-Ai on judging

Ever since it was announced in January 2018 that she is part of the Clash Panel along with Christian Bautista and Lani Misalucha, Ai-Ai has had her share of bashing for being a judge of a singing contest.

Six years later, she’s still part of the show without a miss. She said, “Hello! Wala na kayong magagawa! Gano’n talaga! Pana-panahon lang ‘yan! Saka, judge ako e. So don’t judge me, I’m the only one who judge [sic]!”

“Hello! You can’t do anything about it! That’s how it is! It’s just my time! And besides, I am a judge. So don’t judge me; I’m the only one who judge [sic]!”

Apart from the inevitable yearly iteration of ‘The Clash,’ another original TV contest is having its own return. ‘Tanghalan ng Kampeon,’ an 80s favorite previously hosted by Bert “Tawa” Marcelo and Pilita Corales, is revived by the morning variety show ‘TiktoClock,’ which is also helmed by ‘The Clash’ director Louie Ignacio. Now that this type of show is becoming a staple on GMA, we wanted to know what Ai-Ai can advise to aspiring contestants.

She answered, “Una… ‘yung iba diyan, nasa contest pa lang, may mga pasaway na. I think, siguro, dapat level[-headed] muna kayo, na hindi muna kayo pasaway, hindi kayo magyabang… Pag may narating na, doon pa lang—hindi tayo magyayabang—pero at least, di ba, hindi ‘yung wala pa ngang nararating, pasaway na. So, be a good girl and be a good boy.”

(“First… some who are still in the contest are already mischievous. I think, perhaps, you should be level-headed first, not mischievous, not arrogant… When you’ve achieved something, that’s the time—not to brag—we shouldn’t brag, but at least, you know, not being mischievous when you haven’t achieved anything yet. So, be a good girl and be a good boy.”)

Plans for Valentine’s Day

It will be a missed opportunity to celebrate the Heart Month with her husband, Gerald Sibayan, but she said they will surely miss each other.

“Wala si Darl [“darling”]. Nandiyan ako sa Pilipinas. Nandito siya sa America… Ano ba ang ginagawa? Nagbibigayan ng card. Charing! Siyempre, date, dinner. Wow, sosyal! Saka alam na natin ‘yon kung ano pa. Siyempre, mami-miss namin ang isa’t isa.”

(“Darl [darling] is not here. I’m here in the Philippines. He’s there in America… What’s he doing? Exchanging cards. Just kidding! Of course, there’s a date, dinner. Wow, fancy! And, you know what else. Of course, we’ll miss each other.”)

On going strong for six years as spouses, she emphasized the need to have a faith-based relationship.

“Si God nasa center ng relationship namin. Parati kaming nagno-novena, hanggat maaari, tuwing Sunday. Hindi kami natutulog nang magkaaway. Saka, happy wife, happy life. Totoo ‘yan! Well, hindi siya nananalo sa akin. Para na lang daw walang gulo, siya na ‘yung nagsu-sorry kahit na ako ‘yung may mali.”

(“God is at the center of our relationship. We always do novenas, as much as possible, every Sunday. We don’t go to sleep angry. And, ‘happy wife, happy life.’ That’s true! Well, he doesn’t always win against me. Just to avoid conflicts, he’s the one who apologizes even if I’m the one at fault.”)(

On faith and turning 60 this year

Known to be religious, Ai-Ai expressed her belief in the power of prayers. But does she ever lose her faith when her prayers are not answered?

“Noong araw, oo, pero ngayon siguro it comes with age na hindi na ako masyadong nai-stress o naha-haggard… Parang sinasabi ko na lang, ‘Siguro, God, ito yung gusto mo, sige, go na lang kung ano yung gusto mo.’ Pero dati, umiiyak ako. Akala mo, inapi na ‘ko, parang ako na ‘yung aping-api sa buong mundo. Ngayon, hindi na. Natuto na.”

(“In the past, yes, but now perhaps it comes with age that I’m not as stressed or haggard anymore… I just say, ‘Maybe, God, this is what you want, so, go ahead with what you want.’ But before, I used to cry. You’d think I was being oppressed, like I was the one being mistreated by the whole world. Now, not anymore. I’ve learned.”)

Ai-Ai is turning 60 on November 11 — the first year of being a Senior Citizen in the Philippines — but she doesn’t mind it. In fact, she claims that being born in a Year of the Dragon would make 2024 a lucky year for her.

And so we jokingly asked her about her ultimate wish for her upcoming “48th” birthday (since that’s the closest age for someone born in a Year of the Dragon). She laughed so hard she couldn’t answer straightforwardly.

“Makapag-concert ako sa aking—nako, nagbibilang tuloy ako—sa aking 35 years. So ilang taon lang ako no’ng nag-artista ako? Hahaha. 35th year ko na kasi in show business e. So, magko-concert ako. Sana makapag-concert ako sa Manila. Makapag-Araneta ako again.”

(“I’ll have a concert for my—oh, I’m counting now—my 35 years. So, how old was I when I started in show business? Hahaha. It’s my 35th year in show business. So, I’ll have a concert. I hope to have a concert in Manila. I hope to perform at the Araneta again.”)

Valentine shows this February

Before shooting in August for the said TV program, the Kapuso star will have an early visit this February for a series of shows.

She announced that she has four upcoming shows for Casino Filipino.

“Uuwi nga ako ngayong February 8, dahil may show kami sa February 10 (Bacolod), 14 (Angeles), 16 (Cebu), and 17 (Tagaytay) sa PAGCOR.”

(“I will indeed be returning on February 8 because we have shows on February 10 (Bacolod), 14 (Angeles), 16 (Cebu), and 17 (Tagaytay) at PAGCOR.”)

She will be joined by two graduates of ‘The Clash’: Jong Madaliday from Season 1 and John Rex (who joined as Rex Baculfo) from the latest season.

“Ang guest ko sa Cebu at sa Bacolod, si Jong Madaliday, second runner-up ng first The Clash champion na si Golden Cañedo. Sa Angeles naman at sa Tagaytay, si John Rex, champion ng Season 5 ng The Clash. Puro Clashers!”

(“My guest in Cebu and Bacolod is Jong Madaliday, the second runner-up of the first ‘The Clash’ champion, Golden Cañedo. In Angeles and Tagaytay, it’s John Rex, the champion of Season 5 of ‘The Clash.’ All Clashers!”)

On what to expect from her four live shows, she said, “Siyempre may mga pasabog kami diyan! Hindi naman pwedeng mawala… First time ko ring makasama ang mga Clasher sa isang show… as live and as guest ko.”

(“Of course, we have surprises there! It can’t be without them… It’s also my first time joining the Clashers in one show… as live and as my guests.”)