MANILA, Philippines – After serving as councilor for three terms in the second district of Quezon City, Aiko Melendez is not running for public office in the May elections. This led many to conclude that the comebacking actress has shied away from politics after she lost her bid in the vice mayoralty race in 2010.
“For now, yes, I am shying away from politics because I’d like to focus 101 percent on my career as an actress,” said Aiko after the grand presscon for the ABS-CBN primetime soap The Story of Us. “So with politics, it’s going to temporarily take the back seat.”
Still, curious minds are wondering why Aiko has decided to take a break from doing public service. Aiko gave a sweet smile and revealed that she felt it’s not the right time yet for her to seek a public post anew “because I’m still healing from my last elections and I think the presidential elections now ay medyo magulo so medyo manonood muna ko.”
However, the 40-year-old actress is taking to heart the worthwhile experience of serving her kababayan, not minding at all the negative impression of people towards some public servants.
“At the end of the day, you don’t regret (whatever it has been said or done), you just take all the positive sides and the learnings out of it because it makes you a better person.”
Aiko also wanted to make clear that nothing traumatic happened during her term. “No naman kasi na burn out lang ako; napagod ako and my kids need my full attention now. I have a 17-year-old son, si Andrei who needs a mom na talagang tutok and I also have a daughter si Marthena who is nine years old. When I was in politics, they kept on complaining that they seldom see me at medyo masakit ‘yun para sa nanay so now that I’m here again in showbiz, at least I can request to devote my Sundays for my kids.”Indeed, Aiko is back to drama acting with a significant role in the Kim Chiu and Xian Lim topbiller The Story of Us. She plays Carmy, the stepmom of Kim’s character Tin. And though her role has a negative connotation to viewers, Aiko was quick to say that Carmy is far from the “scheming type” usually seen in a drama show.
“I’m not the typical stepmom na masama ang ugali. Actually, that was my initial concern when I spoke to direk Richard (Somes). I told him that I don’t want to be typecast incontravida roles since I just came from portraying one in Inday Bote. He said my role will not appear as a contravida but will concentrate more on my being a mother.”
True to his words, direk Richard was able to display from the beginning of the soap how Carmy has been working hard for her special son Darwin (played by Bryan Andres) and stepdaughter Tin. The backstory showed how Carmy can easily decide to give up Tin due to their poor living conditions but her love for the latter prevailed. “The love of a mother will be showcased more in the middle of the story. I know every mom can relate to Carmy that’s why you should not miss every episode. The Story of Us is the story of every Filipino and how we handle life’s challenges.”
Like Carmy, Aiko is a loving mom to Andrei and Marthena, her children with Jomari Yllana and Martin Jickain, respectively. Both her marriage with Jomari and Martin had been annulled. But unlike Carmy who has no time for love, Aiko admitted that she’s been dating lately and her children know about it.
“Before I introduce to my kids whoever is courting me, I’ll make sure he is decent and worthy enough to be introduced. Kung alam ko na wala naman patutunguhan, I don’t because I don’t wanna hurt my kids, although I’m very open with them na ito ‘yung names. I don’t take guys in my house or I don’t allow them to court me in my house unless I’m really sure.”
It’s been seven years since her last serious relationship and until now Aiko is not in a hurry to find a new love. “I’ve been dating lang talaga. Si Jom, he knows when date-date lang pero pag pinakilala ko na sa kanya, nag-iiba na mukha n’ya. Lately, wala akong pinapakilala.”
She, too, revealed that she and Jomari agreed that if they are still both single three or four years from now, they will sit down and talk about the possibility of getting back together again.
Asked if Andrei and Marthena know about the agreement, Aiko said that it’s only her son who is aware of it because her daughter does not want her to have another boyfriend. “But she and Jom get along really fine. Marthena calls him ‘Dada.’”
What are Jomari’s endearing qualities that can serve as good reason for their reconciliation?
“I’ve never seen a guy who looked at me the way Jom has looked at me. It sounds cliché pero wala ehhe’s so much respect for me despite and in spite of what happened to us. May kilig? Yes, sometimes,‘yung kilig na ito yung dati kong katabi matulog, ito yung tatay ng anak ko at yung pagmamahal n’ya kayMarthena. ‘Yun yung mga kino-consider ko that’s why I’m very careful with the guy I go on a date with. Can he take me for what I am; who already has two kids? It comes with the package kumbaga so pag hindi wag na lang.”
For those not in the know, Aiko has allowed her son to enter showbiz. In fact, Andrei is now with Star Magic. “He doesn’t want me to be a stage mom so the least that I can do is to be there and make him feel that I and his dad are giving our 101-percent support.”
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Article Source: http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2016/03/14/1562580/no-more-politics-aiko
