SEN. BONG REVILLA and Congresswman Lani Mercado have been married for 36 years now. Bong is now 56 and Lani is 54. Their marriage is one of the most long lasting in local showbiz. What’s their secret?
“I guess, unang-una, nakakapit kami kay Lord,” says Bong. “We got married so young, but hindi kami nagkamali sa isa’t isa.
"Marami rin kaming pinagdaanan but with the Lord’s help, nalampasan namin at heto pa rin kami.
"Dapat may commitment kayo sa isa’t isa, kasi yung pag-aasawa, hindi naman parang damit yan na huhubarin at magpapalit ka na ng ibang damit.
"Paano kung may mga maliliit pa kayong anak? Tiyak na maaapektuhan.”
“Ang paghihiwalay, dapat pag-isipan munang mabuti,” says Lani. “If you can still save your relationship, then save it.
"When I was a mayor, marami akong ikinasal and I always tell them na ayokong makitang yung ikinasal ko, maghihiwalay lang. The basic unit of our society is the family. At kapag nabuwag ang pamilya, diyan magsisimula ang mga problema.
"Sa mga ikinakasal ko, I tell them, ‘Kayo ang mga sundalo ko para paigtingin at pagtibayin ang samahan ng pamilya.’ Both husband and wife should make an effort to make their marriage work.”
Bong and Lani have seven children and they’re happy that all of them are now accomplished in their own fields.
Their youngest, Ramon Vicente or Ramboy, has finished business management and was there at the birthday lunch his dad hosted for the entertainment press.
Jolo, their second child, was also there and he’s now congressman in Cavite’s First District. Bong is really proud of his whole family and he says he no longer aspires to run for a higher position when his term as senator expires.
“Sa kanila na ang mataas ng position,” he says. “Ako naman, tutulong na lang sa mga tao.
"When I said before that I intend to run for higher office, doon nila ako dinurog. Ganyan kadumi ang politika rito sa atin, kaya napunta ako sa Crame. Happy na ako sa pagiging senador na nakakagawa ka ng batas para makatulong sa kapwa mo.”
What can he say to those who continue to bash him?
“Hindi mo naman maiiwasan na may bashers pa rin. Kakambal na natin yan, so pabayaan na lang natin at ipag-pray na lang natin sila.
"Hindi na ako nagpapaapekto sa bashers. Basta kahit anong gawin nila, hindi ako titigil sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan.”
His “Agimat ng Agila” on GMA-7 was a big hit. Will they have a Book 3? “Iba naman. Napag-usapan namin ng GMA, pahinga muna si ‘Agimat’. Ang gagawin ko is ‘Alyas Pogi, The Series’.
"As a movie, ‘Alyas Pogi’, about a fearless law enforcer, is one of my biggest hits, so susubukan naman nating gawin siya sa TV. I am a loyal Kapuso at mawawala lang ako sa kanila kung ayaw na nila sa akin.”