Her first play was "Ang Mga Tagahabi", directed by Rolando Tinio (an adaptation of The Weavers by Gerhart Hauptmann), when she was a drama student at the Philippine Normal University in Manila in the 1970s.
She became a regular performer at the Teatro Pilipino and Bulwagang Gantimpala theatre groups at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.
She played the role of President Corazon Aquino at the 1986 political satire "Bongbong at Kris" at CCP's Bulwagang Gantimpala in 1986.
[1][2] Ama made her film debut in 1982, when she starred in the movie Himala (Miracle), directed by Ishmael Bernal.
"[2] She also said that she was thrilled to see other veteran Filipino actors win Cinemalaya awards that year, including Anita Linda and Eddie Garcia, which she called "the night of senior citizens.
"[2] Quiambao suffered a heart attack on June 28, 2013, while attending the premiere of the one-act play, Pamamanhikan, in which she was performing as part of the Virgin Labfest 9 theatre festival.
Let us pray for the eternal rest of her soul... Let us all remember Ama with fondness as a colleague, a mentor and a friend."