ShareThisMANILA – Long-time Quezon City Councilor and actress Aiko Melendez is hurting due to her loss in the vice mayoralty race in the city during the last elections.
And she’s hurting all the more because of allegations she was offered P100 million to back out from the election which eventually was won by Joy Belmonte, daughter of former mayor, now Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Aiko Melendez
“I was okay when I was councilor but [when the scope went as wide as] running for vice mayor, it was totally different, traumatic, and political in the most negative sense of the word. Iba pala talaga ang pulitika ng pulitika. Nasaktan at naapektuhan ako nang sobra nung pati pamilya ko na nadadamay sa gulo,” she said in a Bulletin report of Kaye Villagomez.
Aiko pointed out that because of her loss, it is unlikely that she will run for public office again.
The comely actress-turned-politician is now literally drowning her sorrows in show business where she is back in business.
“Napaso talaga ako sa pulitika,” she disclosed in an interview on the set of “Basahang Ginto.”
She said: “Once an actress, always an actress and I did not realize how much I missed showbiz until I tried it again that I could not believe this was what I gave up for nine years.”
Aiko said she is looking forward to a lot of things now that she’s back in show business.
“Ngayon marami nang artistang pasaway pero naaaliw ako kasi exciting pa rin ang business. Naiisip ko na, ‘Ito pala yung iniwan ko noon.’ Pero may mga young talents nga lang, and I won’t name names, na hindi alam kung anong opportunity ang dumarating sa kanila kasi merong may mga attitude. Hindi nila alam na sa panahon ngayon, ang bilis ng turnover ng mga personalities na mainit,” she said.
Aiko pointed out that she was not referring to co-star Carla Abellana. “Ah si Carla hindi siya ganun.”
“She’s very professional. Tahimik lang siya. Nakita ko kasi kay Carla, dahil siya ang madalas kong ka-eksena, kung gaano siya ka-hardworking. Quiet lang siya at nag-aaral ng script. Pasensiyosa siya, wala siyang reklamo kahit palipat-lipat siya ng location. May mga nakita na kasi akong artista na hindi naman yata talaga artista, dahil kahit bago pa lang sila, may attitude na. Paano na ‘yon kapag talagang sumikat na siya, mas mag-a-attitude pa siya. Mabibilang mo talaga ngayon kung sino ang mga tunay na artista.” she said.
Aiko was last seen on “Yaya & Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie.” Now, she is hoping that producer Lily Monteverde’s plan to reunite her and former Regal Babies/co-stars Ruffa Gutierrez and Carmina Villaroel in a project will push through.
“Yeah, I hope that pushes through. I’ve worked with Ruffa already sa TV5 drama but it would be nice to work with them both.”
Apart from working with Ruffa and Carmina, Aiko also said she welcomes working with Ara Mina, who is also an ex-girlfriend of Jomari Yllana, former partner and father of her son Andrei.