Actress-comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto is finally back in the country to focus more on her career. She happily announced it during her recent guest appearance on Jodi Sta. Maria’s vlog.
Rufa was tirelessly juggling work and family time when she stayed in the United States, only to realize that her heart truly belongs in the Philippines.
“I regular myself again,” she said. “Pero syempre America pa rin naman kami, I mean residente pa rin. Pero at least ‘yung buong puso ko talaga nandito. Kumbaga uuwi lang doon para makabakasyon or errands.”
When asked about what prompted her return, she briefly responded: “Eh kasi single na ulit.”
Rufa recalled that since 2013, she and her daughter have been travelling back and forth, but it was only during the pandemic that she got stuck there.
Now that she’s finally back, Rufa delightedly shared that they will finally be staying at their newly renovated ancestral home – something she had been passionately working on these past few years.
The actress-comedienne recalled that the pandemic halted the renovation process: “Alam mo ‘yung before pandemic, ni-re-renovate mo tapos nagsara. ‘Yung parang hindi siya na-pu-push tapos parang ‘ba’t ganon ang mahal-mahal?”
LOOK: Rufa Mae Quinto gives a glimpse of her renovated home
Rufa explained why the house, whose roots can be traced back to 1969, holds a special place in her heart.
“Kaya importante ‘yung bahay na ‘to kasi merong meanin, may feelings, alam mo ‘yun. Lahat lahat sa childhood ko, ‘yung roots ko, nandun na pero bagong renovate,” she said.
In the same vlog, Rufa shared how she acquired ownership of the house.
“Si Lola — Mommy Lucing ang tawag ko — first bahay niya ‘yun ever. 1969 niya nabili,” she said. “Tapos binenta niya sa kapatid niya, pinamana sa tita ko. Tapos nung huli, basta noon pa ‘yun, binenta sa akin ng mura lang, hulugan. Tapos binili ko kasi sabi ko para sa mommy ko ‘to, sa family ko. Finally, titira na kami doon at nabuo.”
Now that her dream house is finally realized, Rufa plans to do more cooking in her own kitchen.
READ: How is Rufa Mae Quinto as a mom to daughter Athena?
“Kaya sabi ko kailangan magluto ako kasi may anak ka na tapos ikaw mismo, napansin ko mas masarap pala na ‘yung kinakain mo alam mo,” she said.
Rufa delightedly shared some of the favorite dishes of her 8-year-old daughter, Athena, from her home recipes, which include steak, kare-kare, beef bulalo, tinola and chicken adobo.