Aiko Melendez Opens Up Her Relationship With Her Two Ex-Husbands

AIKO MELENDEZ says rumors that she and Jomari Yllana have reconciled are not true. “We’re just the best of friends and we’re better off that way,” she says. “Friend ko naman both my exes. Martin (Jickaine) and his wife now are both good friends o mine. Our daughter ni Martin, si Marthena, who’s now 7, once asked me why she and her brother Andre, who’s now 15, have different dads. I explained it to her at naintindihan naman niya. Right now, I’m unattached.”

Her last BF, Mayor Patrick Meneses, is now with Ara Mina who’s currently preggy. Any message? “Huwag na lang. Baka ma-misinterpret pa even if I mean well. So quiet na lang.”

Aiko is busy promoting her first Cinemalaya entry, “Asintado”, in various GMA-7 shows since its director, Louie Ignacio is a resident Kapuso director. “I really want to try doing an indie film. Direk Louie told me I’m his only choice to play the role of the mom. When he sent me the script, I liked my role. It’s very quiet, no big teleserye acting needed. First time ko pa to join Cinemalaya, so I accepted it.”

So how’s indie filmmaking compared to mainstream? “Sa mainstream, pampered ka, malaki ang bayad. Ito, you do it simply for the love of, kasi limited ang budget. Ang lalayo pa ng locations namin, Pagsanjan in Laguna and Bibiclat, Nueva Ecija. Abonado ka pa. But then, I enjoyed it. Kaya nga magpo-produce na ko ng sarili kong indie film with me and Jomari in it, to be directed by Rechie del Carmen of ABS-CBN.”

How is it working with Jake Vargas as her eldest son in “Asintado”? “Noong una, nahihiya siya. Miss Aiko ang tawag sa’kin. Marami siyang fears. Sabi ko, relax, anak kita rito. All you need to do is ipasok mo ang character sa loob mo. He delivered. Magaling din ang bunso ko rito, Miggs Cuaderno, who plays an autistic boy na asintado.” How about Direk Louie? “So much fun to work with. Walang tension sa set. Napakabait. He gave me freedom on how to interpret my role. ”

Exactly 20 years ago, she won best actress in the Manila filmfest for “Maalaala Mo Kaya, the Movie”. Does she expect to win for “Asintado” this time? “You know, after that Manila Filmfest scam 20 years ago, I don’t want to expect anymore pag may awards night. Kasi that time, sabi nila, sure winner ka na! Nag-expect ako, e ibang name ang tinawag. Na-scam pala. This time, I also don’t expect kasi Nora Aunor ang kalaban ko. Ate Guy is Ate Guy and I have so much respect for her. I’m just happy I’m able to make a good film I can be proud of, ‘Asintado’.”