Comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto made headlines after choosing to prioritize her family and personal values over the P1 million grand prize in the recently concluded reality show ‘LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines.’
The show, which brought together 10 comedians in a battle to make each other laugh without breaking into laughter themselves, saw Rufa Mae as an early frontrunner before she decided to step back from the increasingly provocative competition.
Rufa Mae’s decision came during a particularly intense round where fellow contestant Jerald Napoles, impersonating an ‘80s aerobics instructor, performed suggestive exercises, including one that brought his crotch uncomfortably close to other contestants’ faces. Another challenge saw the remaining male contestants attempting to catch falling cards with their lips, an act Rufa Mae found too risqué to continue participating in.
“Alam ko na pa-dirty na… Pwede ko ipilit pero hayaan mo na sila,” Rufa Mae said, explaining her discomfort with the direction the competition was taking. She further added, “At saka parang naging, for me ha, bastos na rin, I mean, ‘pag makita ako ng pamilya ko, ‘di ba? Sabihan na ganun, ganun…”
Rufa Mae, who is a mother, expressed concern about how her actions on the show might be perceived by her family, particularly her young daughter. “Anak ko nga minsan, ‘Mama, why is your breast showing?’” This, she noted, made her more cautious about her public image and the impact her decisions might have on her loved ones.
Although Rufa Mae had her sights set on the P1 million prize, she ultimately felt that her presence on the show and the opportunity to entertain her fans were reward enough. “Sabi ko, sapat na yun. Because we already had TF (talent fee). I was more focused on the kind of show I could give to the fans. Nung nakapagbigay na ako, umalis na ako,” she said.
Despite her early elimination, Rufa Mae’s comedic talents were evident throughout the competition, especially when she made her fellow contestants laugh by humorously translating Tagalog vegetable names into English. However, her journey on the show ended when she cracked up at her own joke, leading to her exit.
The P1-million cash prize was eventually claimed by Chad Kinis, but Rufa Mae left the show with her head held high, confident in her decision to stay true to her values. Her advice for future contestants? “Ang secret — ‘wag kang kumain. Para magalit ka, maiyak at ‘di matatawa,” she joked, offering a lighthearted take on her experience.
Rufa Mae’s decision has been widely praised by fans and viewers, who admire her commitment to her principles and her family.
