MANILA, Philippines?Rufa Mae Quinto is head over heels in love.

The sexy actress recently introduced her new boyfriend, Mexican-American executive Robert ?Bob? Lopez, to her family.

?They liked him immediately. They kept telling me, ?Yan na ah? Magpakatino ka na?,? Rufa Mae, also known as Pchi, told entertainment writers over lunch on Wednesday.

The actress and her current flame have been online buddies for four years now. Early this year they started dating. ??Yes? na lang ang kulang sa amin. Ang layo kasi namin sa isa?t isa,? admitted Pchi.

BF as chaperone

Bob, a senior manager for Mattel Inc. in the US, was in Manila last week for a two-day visit. ?I appreciated his effort. And since I needed to go to General Santos for a show there, I just brought him along. Natuwa naman s?ya. He said he was glad to see Mindanao.?

Third week of this month, it?s Pchi?s turn to visit Bob, who will be in Hong Kong. ?He has a flat there. Nahihiya na kasi ako. Palaging s?ya ang dumadalaw,? she explained.

The actress, who turns 30 on May 28, said she has no plans of settling down soon.

?Bob understands that perfectly. At this point in my life hindi lang puro love ang gusto ko. I want us to first work on making our relationship stronger,? she said. ?That?s why I take him around when he?s here. I want him to know who I am, what my work is. I want him to decide for himself if he can accept this lifestyle. Ayoko kasi na pabigat pa s?ya.?

Ruffa Mae said she tries to keep a positive outlook in life; thus, she would rather think good thoughts than dwell on her verbal tussle with Jessa Zaragoza.

In a television interview, the US-based singer challenged Rufa Mae to face her when she comes home in May.

?That?s my birthday month; I will be very busy,? said Rufa Mae. ?I tried talking to her before. Akala ko nga OK na. I?m growing tired of this issue. I?m sure the readers and the tele-viewers are, too.?

The lunch on Wednesday was for Regal Entertainment?s comedy film, ?Manay Po 2: Overload,? which also stars Cherrie Pie Picache, Polo Ravales, John Prats and Sid Lucero. Joel Lamangan directs.

?I?m an optimist now,? Rufa Mae declared. ?Thanks to that book, ?The Secret.? I want to win an acting award. Ako na lang ang hindi pa napapanalo ng trophy ni Direk Joel.?

In the new movie, Pchi plays Betty, who desperately wants to have a child. She asks the help of a friend (Polo Ravales), who turns out to be gay.

?I had a hard time portraying the character. Mali-mali kasi s?ya. Plus, I was made to deliver dramatic lines in funny scenes Syempre dapat feel mo ang lines, may paiyak-iyak dapat,? the actress said. ?But it wasn?t as difficult as Polo?s or Sid?s or John?s. They?re three straight men playing gay roles here."

Project overload

Pchi will also be seen in GMA Films? ?I.T.A.L.Y.? and is set to do another movie for OctoArts Films with comedian-TV host Willie Revillame.

A third movie project, with the working title, ?Civil Status: Single,? is being directed by Joey Reyes for Viva Films. And Pchi has signed up for two more films with Regal Entertainment.

?Overload talaga ang blessings. May papa na, madami pang work,? the actress quipped.

?Manay Po 2: Overload? will be shown in theaters starting April 16.

(Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)