Aiko Melendez on how she handles exes, protects her kids from bashers

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

Success story: A terminated...

for Joseph’s eligibility, Atty.

Gurfinkel convinced the Embassy to reinstate the case.

Joseph’s new interview was scheduled in March 2022, and Joseph’s visa was issued, to the joy of Nanay Pilar, who was finally reunited with her son after such a long time.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 13 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Direk Derick Cabrido...

and at the same time, I welcome the chance to work with JC (Santos) and Bela (Padilla). I’ve seen their films and they’re so invested in their characters.”

Direk Derick has nothing but praises for JC and Bela who were both collaborative on set. They would share their inputs to make every scene more affecting and their acting more convincing.

“This is the first time that I’ve got to work with them and everything turned out fun, sobrang masaya ‘yung set. One thing that I really appreciate about them is their teamwork.” He furthered, “A lot of times, especially in those scenes that were difficult to do, they were there to share their inputs. They would say what they wanted to happen (in a scene). They wanted a good result to the point that, I remember, they asked for another take because I would always ask them if they were happy with the result at ‘pag feeling nila kulang pa, I would respect that. So, sobrang na-appreciate ko ‘yung ganun (attitude).”

No wonder, the director found working with JC and Bela a breeze. He was doubly impressed with the two actors’ attitudes towards work when he learned that even before shooting started, JC and Bela had already discussed their respective characters and how they were going to approach their roles.

“They have a great tandem. Binubuhat nila ‘yung isa’t-isa sa mga eksena. There’s this one scene where JC and Bela were sitting on a sofa which was not originally part of the script but we decided to include it in the movie because it captured something unique.

“They’re so collaborative that you could see their kind of partnership is very natural, lumalabas ng kusa.”

After doing so many horror films, how challenging was it for him working behind the cameras of the romantic movie Wish You Were The One?

“Coming from a horror movie, it felt like new to me, nanibago ako. But like what I’ve said, the story is unique especially with Bela and JC, ang laki ng respeto ko sa kanila sa ‘pag gawa ng pelikula. I’ve watched almost all of their movies together and I can really say that there are so many (parts in the story) that you have to watch out for. Ibang-iba ‘yung atake

“Apart from them (actors), the timeline is not the usual timeline of a movie. It’s so unique in a sense that it happens in a 24hour timeline. I mean, you can see if it’s really possible for two people to fall in love within 24 hours,” he replied.

Wish You Were The One is set to open on Aug. 23 in cinemas nationwide. n

“I DON’T want to complicate things,” said actress Aiko Melendez as a way to explain the kind of relationship she opted to have with the fathers of her two children, Andrei and Marthena.

Andrei, 24, is Aiko’s son with Jomari Yllana, while Marthena, 17, is her daughter with Martin Jickain. Both men have their respective partners now and Aiko is dating Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun.

“I’m a single parent—I’m both mom and dad to my children. I also have to be the disciplinarian and the spoiler at the same time. With Marthena’s relationship with her father, I really don’t meddle. Martin and I talk only when we have to. That’s my way of showing respect to our respective partners,” Aiko told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent interview.

“It’s different when people see us together, even though we no longer like each other romantically, kahit wala nang malisya. People always react, especially when they see us on social media. In fact, there’s this one instance a few years back during Marthena’s birthday,” the actress began. “I posted a picture of Martin, Marthena, Jay, me and Andrei. It got so many reactions from bashers that Marthena asked me to take it down. I was like, ‘Can’t they be happy that I have this setup with the fathers of my children?’ It seems like they aren’t. Marthena said, ‘I think people will really have a hard time understanding. Like what you told me before, we don’t owe anyone any explanation about what’s happening in our lives.’ This is why I talk with my exes only when I have to. We don’t need to be textmates,” Aiko pointed out. Aiko said she has a similar experience with Jomari, whom she opted not to hang out with any more “to avoid complications.” She explained: “People know this—we tried to be friends for a time, but we would always feel pressured by people’s reactions because they all want us to get back together. We have moved on. I don’t want to be put in an awkward situation with Jom. Since Andrei is already of age, he can very well tell his father what he needs,” Aiko said.

Jomari is set to tie the knot with former actress, Abby Viduya, in November.

Hands-off

Aiko also swears that Jay never meddles in her relationships with her exes. “He respects me. When it comes to disciplining my children, he is hands-off because I’m the mother, although he is very close to the two, especially Marthena. I would sometimes tease him that he is playing favorites. He just said, ‘I care for them both, but we have to really focus on Marthena because she’s the girl and she’s younger.’”

Meanwhile, Aiko just finished her college degree in mass communications at Philippine Women’s University and eventually plans to take up her masters. At 47, she said returning to school at this time in her life was tough.

“Studying is not easy, but once you finish it, you will realize it’s all worth the trouble. Other students can relate to what I’m saying. Up to now, I’m still on