Ai-Ai delas Alas says 3rd marriage her ‘greatest challenge’

MANILA, Philippines – Ai-Ai delas Alas has made thousands – maybe even millions – laugh through her film and television projects. She has made a name for herself playing a mother stuck in a variety of challenging yet hilarious situations.

Her latest role hits even closer to home. In the film Bes and the Beshies, she plays Charla, a single mom with relationship issues who wants to complete her family.

After two failed marriages, it’s safe to say that Ai-Ai practically raised her children as a single mom for years. Her first marriage was to singer-actor Miguel Vera in 1989, with whom she has two children; her second to businessman Jed Salang in 2013. She also has a son from a previous relationship and recently, an adopted son.

It seems that Ai-Ai has mastered juggling a successful career and motherhood, but marriage is a completely different matter. Ai Ai is set to wed fiancé Gerald Sibayan in December, and her impending marriage, she says, is her greatest challenge as a woman.  ( READ: Ai-Ai delas Alas on her prenup with fiancé Gerald Sibayan)

“’Yung ikakasal na ako and mag-aasawa na ako, ‘yun siguro ang pinaka-challenging – kung paano ko iingatan yung pagsasama namin and mabuo yung pamilya namin, till death do us part,” she said in a recent media interview.

My coming marriage and getting married, I guess that is most the challenging – how I’ll be able to take care of our relationship and complete our family, till death do us part.)

Ai-Ai is optimistic that Gerald, who is 29 years her junior, will be the last man in her life. More than being lovers, she and Gerald are great friends and co-parents to their adopted son. They bring out the best in each other, she said.

“Yung isa sa maganda,’ yung nakakapag-usap kami ni Gerald. Tapos yung meron akong nasasabihan ng problema ko and siya rin,  meron kaming iniisip na future para sa anak namin.”

(One thing good is that Gerald and I are able to talk. Of course it helps that I have someone to talk to about my problems and he as well. We also talk about the future of our son.)

Ai-Ai said their adopted son recognizes Gerald as his father.

As for wedding preparations, Ai Ai says that they are 80% ready in terms of the food, venue, reception details, and gowns. The wedding, which will take place in December, will have a colorful, “Fiesta Amore” theme.

Ai-Ai’s wedding wishes are simple and attainable.

“Ang wish ko is healthy ‘yung buong pamilya ko, saka healthy ‘yung magiging baby namin, saka ‘yung pagsasama namin ay maging matibay hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang sandal ng buhay namin,” she shared.

(My wish is for my whole family to be healthy and for our future baby to be healthy as well and also for our relationship will to be strong until we die.)

She and Gerald definitely intend to have a baby after tying the knot. Does this mean that her career will be put on hold in favor of raising her family?

Ai-Ai clarifies that she has a planned time frame for having a baby and that she will fulfil all showbiz commitments before doing so.

“Tapusin ko muna ng lahat ng projects ko. Lahat ng movies, lahat ng teleserye, kung ano man meron. Then, medyo magpapahinga ako (I’ll just finish all the projects I have. All the movies, TV series, whatever I have. Then I’ll take some time off),” she said.

Ai-Ai stars with Zsa Zsa Padilla, Carmi Martin, and Beauty Gonzales in Bes and the Beshies, directed by Joel Lamangan and written by Ricky Lee, Alpha Habacon, and Rod Marmol. It also stars Emilio Garcia, Alan Paule, Nikko Natividad, Mark Joseph Tam, Jon Lucas Jon Lucas, Heaven Peralejo, and Sancho Vito delas Alas.

Bes and the Beshies opens in cinemas nationwide on October 18. – Rappler.com