Aiko is happily separated

Curtain-raisers:

• Congratulations to Cesar Montano whose new starrer, Mananabas, grossed more than P5 million when it opened in Metro theaters last Tuesday. It’s a double victory for Cesar whose wife Sunshine Cruz gave birth to "my lucky charm," daughter Angelina Isabelle, last Sept. 23, three weeks before Mananabas’ playdate.

• With The Weakest Link now on air, televiewers are starting to compare who the better gameshow host is, Edu Manzano (Link) or Christopher de Leon (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?)? My final answer? Ask June Rufino, Edu’s manager and ranking executive of Viva Television, producer of Link and Millionaire.

• Have you had enough of the La Salle (champion) and Ateneo UAAP match? Tonight on The Basketball Show, host Bill Velasco pays tribute to both the La Salle and Ateneo players, with more features on Alaska Ace John Arigo, Batangas Blade Alex Compton and Negros Slasher Dino Aldeguer.

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Just because she’s separada (from husband Jomari Yllana) doesn’t mean that Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez is, you know, "easy to get," with the wolves thinking that Aiko is starving for attention (to put it mildly).

"I’m not ready for a new commitment," stressed Aiko who, in barely five months in office, has filed several resolutions, one of them for the revival of the Quezon City Film Festival as an annual event to be held during the QC Foundation Day. "I want everybody (Jomari included? – RFL) to know that I’m happily separated, doing my level best to be a single parent to our son Andre."

Still trying to lose some more weight (she’s suffering from hypothyroidism which makes her put on unwanted poundage), Aiko is slowly but surely getting back into the showbiz scene which she temporarily left when she ran in last May’s elections. Tonight, she (with Carmina Villarroel and Michael Rivero as co-stars) will be seen on ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (9:30 to 11, hosted by the unsinkable Charo Santos-Concio) in the episode Condo Unit. Find out for yourselves how Aiko is faring in her battle with the bulge and how her failed marriage has affected, if it did, her acting style.

A fast learner (thanks to her mentors in politics, one of them Tadi Palma), Aiko is beautifully blending into the QC political scene, waking up early to go to her office and reviewing/reading/researching when she has more resolutions to file. Her only complaint, she said jokingly, is that there seems to be "some maniacs" in the City Hall ("Some of them plant wet kisses on my cheek") and she gently wards them off by warning them, "Sige kayo, kapag may pinasok kayong resolution hindi ako ooo." That seems to have put those wolves in their places.

Criticized during her first few days as Councilor for directing the media to her then manager Douglas Quijano (it’s now Ogie Diaz managing her after Douglas gave up Aiko due to conflict of interest, Douglas also being the manager of Jomari), Aiko now tackles all kinds of questions by herself.

Asked if she’s affected by rumors linking Jomari to other actresses (such as Ara Mina, etc.), Aiko answered with a "who cares?" shrug.

Was she affected by the rumor that Ara (who denied it) was sleeping with Jomari in Parañaque City where Jomari is staying with his widowed mom?

"Ask her (Ara). After all, siya ang naru-rumor na natutulog doon; hindi naman ako."

What about the rumor that Ara gifted Jomari with a Rolex watch?

Smiled Aiko, "Mabuti pa siya binigyan; ako hindi."

Saying the main cause of her and Jomari’s split-up was their being immature (marrying early, etc.), Aiko hasn’t lost hope that someday – who knows? – they might reconcile, that’s why she isn’t entertaining the idea of filing for an annulment of their marriage.

"If ever," said Aiko, "sana ayos na ang lahat, so we can go on with our (family) life; tuloy-tuloy na."

And what does she plan to do if and when that (hoped for?) reconciliation happens?

In jest, Aiko gave three answers:

"1. Go to Vicki Belo,

"2. Study under Margie Holmes, and

"3. Find a congressman-father."

Rio hale and happy, too

When Rio Diaz-Cojuangco left three weeks ago for the States for her regular check-up (on her cancer cells), news spread that she was in very bad shape, so all her friends (and even sympathetic strangers) prayed hard for her recovery, as usual.

The good news is that Rio has breezed back into town the other night, happily announcing that no trace (again!) of cancer was detected by her doctor.

A month before she left, Rio paid a surprise visit to Love, daughter of (Kuya) Mar d’Guzman Cruz, who’s suffering from leukemia. Rio spent one whole morning at the Cruzes’ apartment in Quezon City, giving words of advice and moral support to Love who’s fighting her own battle with admirable courage.

As for her own condition, here again is an excerpt from one of the letters Rio has been sending Funfare to update me (and Funfare readers as well), written before the check-up was done:

As for me, after the first couple of weeks of endless tests, it became evident that more chemo would have to be done. I humbly sought the Lord and He answered me... and delivered me from ALL MY FEARS. I was reminded of one of God’s promises... "Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Many more tests had to be done and frankly being subjected to so many tests continually reminds me who is in control. I said to my Lord, "I don’t know if I can handle much more," but God said, "Yes you can! Yes you can." I brought my fears before the Lord and he said, "Fear not for I Am with you, for I Am your God. I will strengthen you and I will help you. I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you."

As all the preparations were being made for my children to come and join me here within the next few days, Dr. Teng and Dr. Fisher both announced to me that they couldn’t find cancer cells that would make me eligible for any chemotherapy at this point.

Before I could share this good news with anyone, including all those people who have prayed for me, even people I have never met, I went before my Heavenly Father and I thanked Him. All praise is His alone. I’m going home today to be with Charlie and our kids and the family. This is my miracle for the day. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

I love you dearly,

– Rio