MANILA - Comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas broke down in tears as she tried to deliver a speech at the launch of a book celebrating the life of the late comedy director, Wenn Deramas.
Delas Alas, who had a long working relationship with Deramas stemming from 2003's box office hit "Ang Tanging Ina," stopped in the middle of her speech as she described a "conversation" she had with the late director.
Claiming that it happened in a dream, Delas Alas said that Deramas, who died of cardiac arrest last February 29, talked to her three weeks after the director's funeral --a sign, Delas Alas said, that meant everything was okay between them.
"Hindi ako makapaniwala na wala na siya," Delas Alas, who choked back tears, said. "Alam naman niya kung gaano ko siya ka-love. Kung nasaan ka man, alam mong mahal kita."
Delas Alas, in an interview with ABS-CBN News' MJ Felipe shortly after making her way back to her seat, explained why she could not hold back her emotions.
"Marami kasi akong gustong sabihin pero hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin, paano ko tatapusin. Basta iyon pagmamahal ko na lang sa kanya, pagiging magkaibigan namin ang nasabi ko," she said.
Delas furthered that she wanted to clarify the issue about her rumored rift with Deramas, which was said to have begun from the comments she made regarding the box office results of last year's Metro Manila Film Festival.
"Nagtampuhan kami ng hindi namin namamalayan," she claimed. "Saan ba nanggaling iyon? Saan ba nag-start? Hindi ko rin alam kung paano natapos. Basta alam ko na mahal namin ang isa't isa."