Jomari Yllana Gives Advice to Aiko Melendez on Being Kontrabida

Although she is set to work together again with her ex-husband Jomari Yllana in the upcoming kids-oriented Kapamilya series Atom.

Aiko Melendez said she is currently busy focusing her energy on the new afternoon drama series Reputasyon where she plays her first antagonist role. “Actually yung Atom (the upcoming kids-oriented Kapamilya series) dapat unang project talaga na dapat gagawin ko. Kaya lang management decision talaga na gawin ko muna yung Reputasyon,” she shared.

Aiko, who was married to Jomari Yllana for three years up until 2003, said that she is actually looking forward to seeing how the public will react to their onscreen reunion in Atom. “I’m really, really excited to work with Jomari again kasi siyempre yung team-up namin ni Jom, subok na yan eh. And kahit papaano talaga, everywhere we go, hindi na kami nakaligtas sa mga tuksuhan. Totoo pala may magic pa rin kami ni Jom, I so really want to work with Jomari,” she shared.

The dramatic actress said that Jom has even been giving her acting advice on how to be an effective kontrabida. Aiko is thankful for this because unlike Jom, her role in Reputasyon is her first time to be an anti-hero. “Siya kaya ang acting coach ko! He saw the teaser of Reputasyon and we’re in contact almost everyday lalo na ipinalabas na yung show. Tatawag pa yan sa akin. He calls me mama pa rin, ‘Alam mo mama, dun sa eksenang yun okay ka, magaling ka,’ Kasi siya hindi naman siya new sa pagagawa ng kontrabida kaya tinatanong ko siya paano ba gagawin ko. He’s very generous naman in sharing with me kung anong dapat gawin,” she added. The 35-year-old Reputasyon star said that because of her good relationship with Jomari, she is not discounting the possibility of a reconciliation in the future. “Feeling ko, possibly may gusto pa rin siya sa akin! (laughs). Papatayin ako ‘pag narinig ako nun (laughs). Sasabihin niya, ‘Kaw talaga, sa mga sinasabi mo, hindi na tuloy ako makababae kasi parang hindi na ako maka-move on sa ‘yo!’ (laughs). Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Bakit, hindi ba totoo?’ (laughs). Lalo na nung nakita nya ako, sabi niya ang laki na ng pinayat ko, anong ginawa ko? Sabi ko, ‘See, you’re missing a lot! (laughs)’ Kasi every time I see Jomari, like a few days ago, he was just in the house and he keeps on telling me, ‘Papayat ka ng papayat ah. Parang yan yung dati nung panahon na tayo, promise!’ So andun pa rin yun closeness. Hindi naman maaalis yun,” she explained.

Aiko said that despite the fact that they did not end up together, it does not mean they don’t flirt with each other anymore. For Aiko, having a close relationship with fathers of her children is important to her. “Siguro kasi it’s different when you had something before and when you see Andrei, oh ‘di ba carbon copy ng tatay so yung remembrance is forever nandiyan. Si Martin (Jickain, father of her daughter Martina) naman ang level naman namin is para kaming magbarkada so lahat ng mga dini-date niya, kailangan may approval ko. Sabi niya kung hindi ko gusto hindi na rin niya gusto. Sobrang open. Meron mang bagay dati na hindi okay yung relasyon ko sa mga tatay ng anak ko, this is one thing I’ve learned and I’d like to share siguro sa mga single parents na katulad ko. Siguro hindi nila dapat ipagkait na hindi okay ang relationship ng isang nanay at yung tatay niya kasi yung sa mga tatay yung hope nila na sana magkabalikan hindi na nga natupad, pati ba naman yung pagkakaibigan ipagkakait niyo pang makita ng mga bata? Kaya yun ang gagawin ko na kahit sino pa ang pumalit or sino pa ang bumalik, dapat ang relationship ko sa tatay ng mga anak ko hindi magbabago,” she stressed.

After a very public breakup with Bulacan Mayor Patrick Menesis this year, Aiko said she is happy enjoying her current singlehood along with her two children, Andrei and Martina. “I can say I’m better. So much better. I’ve been given so much blessings lately. Aside from the fact that I have two beautiful children who inspire me a lot, I’ve realized many things lately na hindi lang naman dapat ang love life ang magpapasaya sa isang tao. There’s so many reasons why I have to be happy. Etong work na nga lang sa Reputasyon, parang ngayon ko lang nari-realize na ang bait ng Diyos sa akin kasi two days after the controversy, binigyan na ako ng trabaho. Siguro ito na yung sinasabi ng Diyos na ‘Mabait ka naman na bata, o bibigyan kita ng trabaho para hindi ka naman masyado mag-emote (laughs)’ so I have no right to complain, life is beautiful still,” she shared.

Source: www.push.com.ph

Aiko Melendez on Working With Cristine Reyes

What Aiko Melendez admires most about her Reputasyon co-star Cristine Reyes is that she is true to herself. “Hindi siya mahirap pakisamahan, what you see is what you get,” Aiko described Cristine. She continued that if Cristine is sad, she just remains quiet in one corner. “’Pag mainit ang ulo niya, dun lang siya sa isang tabi, pag masaya siya, sobrang saya naman siya so hindi mahirap pakisamahan.” Aiko continued that she appreciates Cristine’s personality because unlike other celebrities, Cristine’s attitude makes her easy to get along with. “Hindi kagaya ng iba na maraming front, ‘yung paplastikin ka o hindi mo kayang basahin.”

Reputasyon also serves as Aiko’s comeback project after taking a break from the limelight. “Sobrang happy ako na ang comeback ko ay dito via Reputasyon. ‘Yung role ko dito is something different and something na talagang excited akong gawin dahil mapaglalaruan ko siya in terms of acting. I play the role of Catherine Delamayor. Kami ni Cristine ang maglalaban ng reputasyon ng bawat isa dahil marami ang mangyayari ritong twist na dapat pakaingatan mo ang reputasyon ng isang tao.”

As early as now the actress is already getting good reviews for her performance as seen in the teleserye’s trailer. “’Yun ang maganda pag matagal kang nawala tapos maganda pa ‘yung role mo. Maganda pa ‘yung mga artistang makakasama mo, so nae-excite ka nadadala lahat,” she explained.

Despite feeling the pressure, Aiko is still confident about their project because all of the people behind this teleserye really worked hard to come up with a quality program. “Hindi lang casting ang magaling the script itself and the direction, everything was really prepared and talagang tailored sa bawat isa sa amin kaya excited ako.”

Aiko will be the antagonist in the series but added that there is also depth in her character. “Meron siyang pinanggagalingan. Hindi siya ‘yung tipikal na kontrabida na parang masabi lang na may kontrabida. ‘Yung sa akin meron redeeming factor. ‘Yun ang kailangang pagkatutukan dito kasi may dahilan kung bakit ako naging ganito.”

Source: www.push.com.ph

Aiko Melendez on Reputasyon

Aiko Melendez will make her TV comeback via the upcoming teleserye Reputasyon, which will also star Cristine Reyes, Rayver Cruz, and Jason Abalos. The actress added that she plans to keep herself busy with work so she can move on from her failed relationship with Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses. She added that she is setting aside her love life for the meantime.

“When you’re moving on there’s so much blessings,” she said. “I’m so busy with work and ngayon ko napagtutuunan uli na alagaan ang sarili ko and siguro I can say after ‘yung bagyong dumating sa akin, ang good riddance ay be busy and be beautiful.

“Hindi ako ‘yung tipo ng tao na kahit hindi maganda ang kinahinatnan nito eh magdu–dwell ako on being negative. I want to be positive and ‘yun ang gusto kong pagtuunan [ng pansin],” she explained.

She added that her past experiences also taught her to deal with breakups better. “Ako ipinapasa-Diyos ko na lang lahat. Ang natutunan ko kapag marami kang baggage sa puso mo at ikaw mismo ang nagdadala non, makikita sa aura ng tao. So ngayon ako natutunan ko na isumbong lahat sa Kanya. Nung isumbong ko lahat sa Kanya, para masaya ako ngayon, hindi ako nasi-stress, wala akong wrinkles ‘di ba? Mahal ang pampa-beauty.”

Aiko also said that she welcomes suitors but it might take some time before she decides to be in another commitment. “There’s nothing wrong kung magpalipad-hangin, [pero] hanggang dyan muna sila and kung makakaantay sila sa panahon na okay na okay na ako, na fulfill na ako sa career ko, sa mga anak ko, tsaka ulit ako sasabak.”

Prior to doing Reputasyon, Aiko was supposed to make a teleserye first with former partner Jomari Yllana but the project was called off. “It’s management’s decision na unahin ko muna ang Reputasyon, pero I’m bound to do the project with Jomari. I think after Reputasyon ‘yun na ‘yung isusunod,” she said.

Aiko admitted that she is already excited about working with Jomari. As a matter of fact, the actress said that the actor is her acting coach for Reputasyon. “Kakausap ko lang sa kanya kahapon tinatanong niya tungkol sa Reputasyon. Siya ‘yung mas kabado para sa akin,” she explained. “More than sa project namin, nagiging acting coach ko si Joms. Kaya kapag magkatrabaho na kami, kaming dalawa ang maglalaban sa aktingan.”

Aiko became playful when she seemed to suggest that she and Jomari might end up together in the end since they are both single. “Ako naniniwala na ang special feelings will always be there, it could be rekindled or it could be in a different level. I can say right now, my feelings for Joms will always be special because tatay siya ng anak ko and it will remain for the rest of our lives. Magkaroon man siya ng love life, ako, may soft spot ‘yan lagi sa akin.”