Marimar: Rufa Mae unleashes inner canine as Fifi

Who let the dogs out? Comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto is unleashing her inner canine on “Marimar,” lending her voice to Fifi, the black poodle of contravida Angelika (played by Katrina Halili).


According to Rufa Mae, Fifi could be the future partner of Marimar’s pet Golden Retriever, Fulgoso, voiced by her “Bubble Gang” co-star, Michael V.

“As of now, we’re enemies on the show,” she explains. “Fifi is maarte (finicky).”

When the role was first offered to her, Rufa Mae says, she consulted Michael. “We agreed that it was new and challenging for both of us. Tita Wilma [Galvante,GMA 7 senior vice president for Entertainment TV] personally called me about it. Who am I to pass up the opportunity of being the ka-love team of Michael?”

Rufa Mae dubs for Fifi once a week. “Marimar” is her fourth Kapuso program—along with the musical-variety “SOP,” the gag show “Bubble Gang,” and the gabfest “Showbiz Central.”

“For its anniversary, we are doing ‘Bubble Gang the Movie,’ for airing next month,” she announces. “The way Direk Uro [de la Cruz] explained it to us, it’s as if we are doing a movie.”

She considers her work on “Showbiz Central,” where she is a jury member along with Mo Twister, as the most challenging, especially since she often ends up being involved in controversies.

Being an actress herself, she understands the guests’ predicament. “It’s really up to them if they want to open up.”

Recently, Rufa Mae managed to make Sen. Bong Revilla answer ticklish questions on their rumored romance. “It was good to face the issue, once and for all,” she relates.

The question: Which actresses made Lani Mercado, Bong’s wife, jealous?

Bong’s answer: Rufa Mae and Gretchen Barretto.

On top of her TV shows, Rufa Mae is wrapping up work on three movies: Viva’s “Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat,” Octo Arts’ “Pasukob” and Regal’s “Desperadas.”

She says work allows her to momentarily forget her troubles, particularly after having been victimized by a thief in her own home recently. She lost about P2 million in jewelry and gadgets (watches, laptop, iPod).

To make matters worse, her mom was implicated in the robbery by anonymous text messages.

“At first, I was shocked. Then, I got upset. But more than anything else, I was hurt because no matter what they say, she’s my mother,” Rufa Mae explains.

She says that she plans to talk to her mom who is currently out of town.

“I’m close to my mom,” she insists.

She describes the incident as “traumatic.”

“I cried for three days straight,” she recalls. “It was good that we had a shoot in Hong Kong for ‘Apat Dapat.’ The change of scenery helped. My co-stars were also there to offer emotional support.”

Needless to say, she has hit it off with her “Apat” co-stars. “It’s my first time to work with them because they’re all from ABS-CBN. They always make me laugh on the set.”

Rufa Mae heads On-Q28, which co-produced “Apat Dapat” with Viva Films.
Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer