Martina Eileen Hernandez delas Alas-Sibayan (born November 11, 1964), known professionally as Ai-Ai delas Alas, is a Filipina singer, 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 (2003), which became a blockbuster hit. On account of the film's popularity, a television series spin-off was produced, as well as three sequels: Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat (2008), Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!) (2010) and Enteng ng Ina Mo (2011), with delas Alas reprising her role. She also appeared in the comedy film Our Mighty Yaya, which premiered on May 10, 2017, through Regal Entertainment.
Early and personal life
Martina Eileen Hernandez Delas Alas is the daughter of Rosendo delas Alas (1920–2008) and Gregoria delas Alas née 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 (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 assistant in a department store, and also performed as a stand-up comic in comedy bars around Metro Manila. 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 her engagement to Gerald Sibayan in April 2017; the two married in November 2017.
She is also cousins with Ogie Alcasid.
Career
Delas Alas started her career on GMA Network back in 1991, as a host of Saturday late-night musical variety show RSVP, with Dawn Zulueta and Ariel Ureta. Delas Alas co-hosted GMA noontime shows Lunch Date (1991–1993), SST: Salo-Salo Together (1993–1995) and Eat Bulaga! (2000). She was a member of the cast of GMA sitcoms Ibang Klase with Joey De Leon, Jessa Zaragoza, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Aiza Seguerra in 1997–1998, and 1 for 3 with Vic Sotto and Rosanna Roces between 1999 and 2001.
Delas Alas has acted in several films, including Ang Tanging Ina from Star Cinema, 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, 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 alongside Anne Curtis.
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. 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 and the comedy duo Jose Manalo 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, which replaced the longest-running celebrity talk show Startalk. She hosts this alongside Joey De Leon, Lolit Solis, and Ricky Lo. 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. She was one of the guests in the 10th anniversary of GMA Pinoy TV.
After the successful Enteng ng Ina Mo with Vic Sotto 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 and AlDub (Maine Mendoza).