Martina Eileen Hernandez delas Alas-Sibayan (born November 11, 1964), known professionally as Ai-Ai delas Alas, is a Filipino actress and comedian. She is widely regarded as the country's "Queen of Comedy" for her comedic talent and best known for her role in the film ''

Ang Tanging Ina ''Ang Tanging Ina'' () is a 2002 Filipino comedy film, starring Ai-Ai delas Alas and Eugene Domingo. The movie was the highest grossing Filipino film until it was surpassed by ''Sukob'' in 2006. Each film was produced or co-produced by Star Cinem ...

'' (2003), which became a blockbuster hit. On account of the film's popularity, a television series

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gov ...

was produced, as well as three

sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...

s: '' Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat'' (2008), ''

Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!) ''Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!)'' ( is a 2010 Filipino dramedy film starring Ai-Ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo, and certain others. An official entry for the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, it was supposed to be the last film of ''Ang Tangin ...

'' (2010) and '' Enteng ng Ina Mo'' (2011), with delas Alas reprising her role. She also appeared in the

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

'' Our Mighty Yaya'', which premiered on May 10, 2017, through

Regal Entertainment Regal Entertainment, Inc. (formerly and more commonly known as Regal Films) is a Philippine film production company based in Pasig. It was founded by Lily Monteverde on August 19, 1962. It has produced movies of all genres; and is the oldest s ...

Early and personal life

Delas Alas is the daughter of Rosendo delas Alas (1920–2008) and Gregoria delas Alas ''

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

'' Hernández (died December 30, 2013), and was later adopted by her older, unmarried aunt, Justa delas Alas. She earned a mass communication degree from

Far Eastern University Far Eastern University ( Filipino: ''Pamantasan ng Malayong Silanganan''), also referred to by its acronym FEU, is a private non-sectarian liberal arts university in Manila, Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Insti ...

(FEU) in 1985. She was married to actor Miguel Vera, with whom she had two children; she also has a son from a previous relationship with Hernan Jeng Jeng Viola, a guitarist. Before acting, she worked as a

sales Sales are activities related to selling or the number of goods sold in a given targeted time period. The delivery of a service for a cost is also considered a sale. The seller, or the provider of the goods or services, completes a sale in r ...

assistant in a department store, and also performed as a

stand-up comic Stand-up comedy is a comedic performance to a live audience in which the performer addresses the audience directly from the stage. The performer is known as a comedian, a comic or a stand-up. Stand-up comedy consists of one-liners, stories, ...

in comedy bars around

Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region, seat of government and one of three List of metrop ...

. On April 3, 2013, she married Jed Salang, at the time a 28-year-old unemployed man who was 20 years her junior. The marriage ended after a month, with delas Alas confirming their separation on May 19, 2013. Delas Alas confirmed through

Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...

her engagement to Gerald Sibayan in April 2017; the two married in November 2017.

Career

Delas Alas started her career on

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

back in 1991, as a host of Saturday late-night musical variety show ''RSVP'', with

Dawn Zulueta Marie Rachel Salman Taleon-Lagdameo (born March 4, 1969), known professionally as Dawn Zulueta (), is a Filipino actress, host and commercial model. She was recognized as the only Filipino actor to win two different major accolades in acting cat ...

and Ariel Urieta. Delas Alas co-hosted GMA noontime shows ''

Lunch Date ''Lunch Date'' is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Originally hosted by Orly Mercado, Rico J. Puno, Chiqui Hollman and Toni Rose Gayda, it premiered on June 9, 1986 replacing ''Student Canteen''. The show conclude ...

'' (1991–1993), '' SST: Salo-Salo Together'' (1993–1995) and ''

Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 13,000 episodes. Originally ...

'' (2000). She was a member of the cast of GMA sitcoms ''Ibang Klase'' with Joey De Leon, Jessa Zaragosa, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Aiza Seguerra in 1997–1998, and ''

1 for 3 ''1 for 3'' is a Philippine television situational comedy series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Bert de Leon, it stars Vic Sotto, Rosanna Roces and Ai-Ai delas Alas. It premiered on April 10, 1997. The series concluded on June 24, 2001. ...

'' with Vic Sotto and Rosanna Roces between 1999 and 2001. Delas Alas has acted in several films, including ''

'' from

Star Cinema ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. (doing business as Star Cinema or ABS-CBN Films) is a Filipino film studio and film and television production company and film distributor headquartered in Quezon City. It is one of the major film studios in t ...

, which became the highest-grossing film of 2003. It was followed by more comedy films like '' Volta'' where she played a superhero, which spun off into a television series. In the noon-time television show ''MTB: Ang Saya Saya'' she was one of the lead hosts. In prime-time teleseries, she played an important role in the TV remake of '' Bituing Walang Ningning'' as Dorina's mother. She has also acted in the films '' Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo'', '' Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat'' and ''Pasukob''. She also released her first album on Star Records, entitled ''Ang Tanging Ina Nyo''; this featured six novelty tunes. During the November 9 episode of ASAP 19, she premiered her song "Nandito Lang Ako", and revealed that she would be going under the stage name of ADA.

Return to GMA Network

After almost two decades of working with

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Philippine commercial broadcast network that serves as the flagship property of ABS-CBN Corporation, a company unde ...

, delas Alas decided to return to GMA Network, signing a two-year exclusive contract. One of the deciding factors for her move was the lack of projects for her from the Kapamilya Network. Her last show on ABS-CBN was the remake of ''

Dyesebel ''Dyesebel'' () is a Filipino comic book character, conceived by Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres. Dyesebel is a mermaid, who eventually gains full human form through a deal with a sea-witch. Aside appearing in Pilipino Komiks, Dyesebe ...

'' alongside

Anne Curtis Anne Curtis-Smith(; born 17 February 1985) is a Filipino-Australian actress, model, television host, entrepreneur and recording artist. She is dubbed as the "''Multimedia Superstar''" for her talent and influence. Curtis has received numerou ...

. Her return was celebrated in the Sunday-noontime show '' Sunday All Stars'', where she was warmly welcomed as the newest Kapuso. As her first project, Delas Alas joined the cast of GMA's Telebabad series '' Let The Love Begin'', in which she played the mother of

Ruru Madrid Ruru may refer to: Places * Ruru, Nepal * Ruru, New Zealand People *Rouran, an ancient nomadic race from the Mongolian steppes, also called Juan Juan * Ruru Madrid, a Filipino teen actor Others *Māori name for the morepork owl *A Kanohi from the ...

. The show's final episode aired on August 7, 2015. Delas Alas is also one of the main hosts and comedians in the newest Sunday afternoon comedy variety show '' Sunday PinaSaya'', alongside

Marian Rivera Marian Rivera Gracia-Dantes (; born 12 August 1984) is a Filipino recording artist, actress, and commercial model. She gained prominence as a widely-acclaimed actress for her roles in '' MariMar'', '' Dyesebel'', '' Amaya'', ''Darna'' and '' T ...

and the comedy duo

Jose Manalo Ariel Pagtalonia Manalo (born February 12, 1966), known professionally as Jose Manalo, is a Filipino actor, director, and comedian best known for appearing regularly on the noon-time variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' on GMA Network. He is also known ...

and Wally Bayola. ''Sunday PinaSaya'' challenged its rival variety show, '' ASAP 20'' of ABS-CBN Corporation. Delas Alas is also one of the hosts of GMA Network's celebrity talk show ''

CelebriTV ''CelebriTV'' is a Philippine television comedy talk show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Ai-Ai delas Alas, Joey de Leon and Lolit Solis, it premiered on September 19, 2015 replacing '' Startalk''. The show concluded on May 21, 2016 with a ...

'', which replaced the longest-running celebrity talk show '' Startalk''. She hosts this alongside

Joey De Leon Jose Maria Ramos de Leon Jr. (born October 14, 1946), professionally known as Joey de Leon, is a Filipino comedian, actor, television presenter and songwriter. He hosts the noontime variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' He is a member of the comedy trio ...

, Lolit Solis, and

Ricky Lo Ricardo "Ricky" Fua Lo (April 21, 1946 – May 4, 2021) was a Filipino entertainment writer and commentator, and TV host. Early life and education Lo, born of Chinese descent, was a native of Las Navas, Northern Samar, where he finished gra ...

. The show premiered on September 19, 2015. Aside from television shows in the Kapuso Network, Delas Alas also joined international shows in Canada and the United States through

GMA Pinoy TV GMA Pinoy TV is a Philippine pay television channel that was launched in March 14, 2005, by GMA Network. Operated by its subsidiaries, GMA International and GMA Worldwide Inc, it is targeted towards the Philippine diaspora. Programming Th ...

. She was one of the guests in the 10th anniversary of GMA Pinoy TV. After the successful '' Enteng ng Ina Mo'' with

Vic Sotto Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto (; born April 28, 1954), professionally known as Vic Sotto, is a Filipino actor, singer and comedian known far and wide for his various television and film projects on the major Philippine television networks GMA ...

in 2011, delas Alas and Sotto reappeared in the romantic comedy '' My Bebe Love'', released in December 2015. Directed by Jose Javier Reyes, it features the ''Eat Bulaga!'' love team of

Alden Richards Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. (born January 2, 1992), known professionally as Alden Richards, is an award-winning Filipino actor, singer, host, and entrepreneur. He is dubbed as "The Asia's Multimedia Star" after receiving the Asian Star Pri ...

and AlDub (Maine Mendoza). In June 2020, Delas Alas signed a contract with

GMA Artist Center Sparkle (formerly GMA Artist Center, also known as Sparkle GMA Artist Center and GMA Talent Management and Development Department) is the talent agency owned by GMA Network Inc. based in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines that was founded ...

2017–present, GMA Records

In November 2017, de las Alas signed a contract with

GMA Records GMA Music (formerly known as Infiniti Music and GMA Records) is a subsidiary of GMA Network Inc. and is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of music and concerts. GMA Music is a member of PARI and has the distinction of havin ...

and released a single titled "Walang Pinipili".

Controversy

Quezon City Persona non Grata

Ai-Ai delas Alas was declared a ''persona non grata'' after a resolution approved on June 7, 2022. The Quezon City Council stated that delas Alas along with the controversial director Darryl Yap have defaced the Quezon City’s triangular seal in a video posted on Yap’s Vincentiments Facebook Page. The resolution noted that City's seal was defaced due to the additions of the initials "BBM" and "Sara", which referred to President-Elect

Bongbong Marcos Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. ( , , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. He previously served as a sen ...

and Vice-President Elect

Sara Duterte Sara Vicenta Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio (, ; born May 31, 1978), commonly known as Inday Sara, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who is the 15th and current vice president of the Philippines. She is the third female vice president, the third ...

. Both of whom supported the mayoral campaign of

Mike Defensor Michael Tan Defensor (, born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino politician who most recently served as the Party-list Representative for Anakalusugan from 2019 to 2022. He is also the CEO of Pax Libera Mining, Inc. Defensor began his political ca ...

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...

. The video was initially posted as a campaign video for Mike Defensor who ran and lost against the incumbent mayor, Joy Belmonte. Lagman noted that the Quezon City seal has been the official coat of arms of the city since it was approved by the Office of the President and adopted by the City Council on February 3, 1997, through Resolution No. 10320, S-1975. One of the provincial board members said that this resolution, contrary to what happens in general, is not aimed at prohibiting Ai-Ai from the locality but it has been passed for expressing the official sentiment towards her. The camp of Ai-Ai delas Alas condemned the resolution and said that it "endangers the protection granted by the freedom of expression for artists, entertainers, content creators, and comedians who use satire or parody to express sentiments or criticize public acts or figures".

Other ventures

As a film producer

Delas Alas has produced some of the films in which she has starred.

List of films co-produced by Ai-Ai delas Alas

# '' Enteng ng Ina Mo'', co-produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., M - Zet TV Productions, Inc., OctoArts Films and

APT Entertainment APT Entertainment, Inc. is a television and film production company in the Philippines. History APT Entertainment, Inc. is a subsidiary of TAPE Inc., and the producer of the longest-running noontime variety show, ''Eat Bulaga!''. APT stands ...

; with

# ''

Sisterakas ''Sisterakas'' is a 2012 Filipino comedy parody film produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films and selected as one of the eight official entries to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film was released nationwide in theaters on December 25, 20 ...

'', co-produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. and

Viva Films Viva Films is a Philippine film production company established under Viva Communications. It was founded on November 11, 1981, by Vic del Rosario Jr. History Veering away from the Sharon Cuneta- Gabby Concepcion tandem, Viva became home to q ...

; with

Vice Ganda Jose Marie Borja Viceral (born March 31, 1976), popularly known as Vice Ganda (; ), is a Filipino comedian, talk show host, television presenter, actor, entrepreneur, and singer. He is a regular host on ABS-CBN's noontime variety show '' It's ...

and

Kris Aquino Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (born February 14, 1971), professionally known as Kris Aquino (), is a Filipino television host, actress, producer, socialite and businesswoman. Dubbed as Philippine's "Queen of All Media", Aquino has hos ...

# '' Kung Fu Divas'', co-produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.,

Reality Entertainment Reality Entertainment is a Philippine production company founded and managed by the Filipino filmmaker Erik Matti and his producing partner Dondon Monteverde (son of the film producer Lily Monteverde Lily Yu Monteverde, nicknamed Mother Lil ...

and The O&Co. Picture Factory; with

, who was also a producer of the film.

MEDA Productions

Martina Eileen Delas Alas Productions, also known as MEDA Productions, is a film production company in the Philippines managed by delas Alas.

Theatrical featured films of MEDA Productions

# My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore ( December 25, 2015) co-produced by OctoArts Films, M - Zet TV Productions, Inc.,

and GMA Films; starring

, Ai-Ai delas Alas,

and Maine Mendoza

As a talent manager

Ai-Ai delas Alas was the manager of the Filipino hiphop collective Ex Battalion for a brief period of time, from June 2018 to May 2019. The former manager reportedly relinquished her role to the group's original leader, Mark Maglasang due to the unprofessional and disobedient attitude of most of the members. According to her, she has been putting up with their behavior for 9 months already, characterized with continuous absence in meeting sessions and disrespectful behaviour displayed by other members when reprimanded. "I can only do so much. If they want their group to prosper, then I guess they must change themselves first. I can't help them if they won't help themselves", she insisted.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Honours

Recipient of the ''

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'' ("For Church and Pope" in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy. History The medal was established by Leo XIII o ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Delas Alas, Ai-Ai 1964 births Living people Filipino film actresses Filipino television actresses Filipino women comedians 21st-century Filipino women singers Star Circle Quest Actresses from Batangas Singers from Batangas Far Eastern University alumni GMA Network personalities ABS-CBN personalities 20th-century Filipino women singers