Lunchtime has been extra enjoyable lately with the return of the "KalokaLike" segment on "It's Showtime," where contestants bring on the laughter by impersonating famous personalities. Adding to the fun are the hurados (judges) who spice things up with their own unique flair and brand of humor—including the iconic comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto.
Her presence has been such a hit among the madlang people that fans are clamoring for more. Could we be seeing Rufa Mae on "It's Showtime" every day soon? Well, let’s see what the comedienne has to say about that!
"Congrats to myself!" she quipped about her stint on "It's Showtime." She’s been loving the vibe of working alongside a bunch of comedians again, and she’s especially thrilled to be around her favorite, Vice Ganda. Rufa Mae has been a fan of Vice even before he became the superstar he is today. She fondly recalls their first time chilling together at an old hangout spot and their time as castmates in “Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat”—Vice's very first movie, where Rufa Mae was one of the four lead stars.
“Gusto ko siya kasi iba ‘yung jokes niya sa akin,” she said of Vice. “Ang galing mag-adlib. Walang bagot moment. Parang ako din na ayaw namin ng boring.” She also admires how Vice gives his co-stars room to shine.
Thanks to the people she’s surrounded with, Rufa Mae feels right at home on “It's Showtime.” For one, she’s reunited with her showbiz batchmates like Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario. She’s also worked with Karylle for years on a Sunday variety program. She even considers Ogie Alcasid almost like a brother after their time together on a gag show, and she’s had fun working with Teddy Corpuz on a sitcom too.
“Para kayong isang pamilyang nagchi-chikahan,” she described the vibe inside the studio when she’s sitting on the panel of judges for “KalokaLike Face 4.” The setup is also pretty cozy, with the hurados seated alongside the audience.
During the first week of "KalokaLike," Rufa Mae was thoroughly entertained by the contestants taking the stage. She’d heard a lot about this segment from previous seasons—apparently, there was even someone who joined as her look-alike! But now that she’s seeing the contestants live, impersonating famous personalities, she truly appreciates the effort and talent they bring. She’s also thrilled to see how these participants show love and admiration for the idols they’re imitating.
So far, some of the contestants that have really stood out to her are the ‘carbon copies’ of Carlos Yulo and BINI’s Maloi. She also got a kick out of the look-alikes of Stephen Curry and SB19’s Stell.
But the big question everyone’s joking about on “It's Showtime” is whether Rufa Mae will become a regular on the show. When asked about it, she responded in her signature high-energy tone, “I regular myself every day.” And honestly, that’s what the madlang people are hoping for too—to see Rufa Mae on “It's Showtime” daily. Perhaps we’ll just have to keep tuning in to manifest that!
Rufa Mae, who will have her movie comeback soon, is definitely one of the pop culture icons in the Philippines, and she’s thrilled that her lines from past films, such as “Booba” and “Super B,” are still relevant today. Netizens often turn her famous quotes into memes or use her dialogues to relate to everyday life. But what she loves most is sharing her 'words of wisdom;' even if they don’t always teach you something profound; the best part is just laughing so hard that you forget your problems.
To keep things light during this interview on “On Cue,” Rufa Mae took on a fun challenge where she had to comment on some of the pressing issues in the country. Her trademark humor was in full swing from the start. Classic Rufa Mae knows how to coat even the most serious topics with her brand of comedy!
She also had a suggestion on how to live up to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)’s claim that Filipinos can survive on just 64 pesos a day for meals. On a more serious note, she remarked, “Bilib ako sa Pinoy kasi parang tayo ‘yung pinakamasaya… Ang saya-saya ng mga Pilipino, parang pyesta kahit na saan ako pumunta. ‘Di ba kahit baha, parang comedy na ang iba. ‘Yun ang kagandahan sa mga Pilipino, parang matitibay sa sikmura.” She compared this to the lifestyle she observed while living abroad, where people are so busy with work that they hardly have time to look for positivity or enjoy life. She also noted that Filipinos thrive as workers and business owners even in other countries.
As Rufa Mae always says, “go, go, go,” and indeed, Filipinos naturally embody this “keep going” spirit. Could we credit Rufa Mae for inspiring us all to live with such resilience and positivity?