MANILA, Philippines ? Comedienne-singer Ai Ai De Las Alas says she does not see anything wrong if her friend Ruffa Gutierrez will have John Lloyd Cruz, who is nine years younger, as a boyfriend.

?Both are unattached and mature enough to make their own decisions,? Ai Ai tells Inquirer Entertainment. ?As long as they are not hurting other people?s feelings, it?s OK that they?re together.?

Ruffa, however, insisted that she and John Lloyd are merely close friends. The actress-TV host said this on Monday, on the ABS-CBN show she co-hosts with Ai Ai (?Ruffa and Ai?).

On the same show, Ruffa?s mother, Annabelle Rama, revealed that her daughter had arranged for her to meet John Lloyd in a dinner date last week. She added that she has ?given up on Ruffa? and warned John Lloyd not to hurt her daughter?s feelings.

More secretive

?Between us, Ruffa is more secretive,? says Ai Ai. ?We often joke about her love life on the set, but that?s how far it goes.?

Ai Ai says she understands why Annabelle is very protective of her only daughter: ?All moms want the best for their children, especially for someone like Ruffa who?s just recovering from a traumatic marriage.?

?Ruffa and Ai? celebrated its 100th episode on Monday, with cash giveaways to the studio audience and home viewers.

?We feel blessed that we?ve lasted this long,? says Ai Ai. ?In the beginning, we felt extremely pressured that we had to compete with a long-running show (?Sis?) in the rival network.?

On July 15, she will renew her talent contract with Star Cinema, the movie arm of ABS-CBN. A film with former President Joseph Estrada will be the first of a three-movie deal for Ai Ai. If things go well, she says, filming will start on July 22 for an October screening.

Ai Ai will leave for a two-night show with Allan K in San Francisco in August and a concert with Kapamilya stars in September.