Ara does a Madonna

So you think Ara Mina sings only on the side – you know, doing it only as a "hobby" when she’s not busy with movies.

"The truth," said Ara, "is that I take my singing seriously. Kina-career ko ang pagkanta, hindi lang pampalipas-oras."

On Saturday, July 27, starting at 9 p.m., Ara will mount the stage of Virgin Cafe (Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City) in her first ever solo show called Like a Virgin, her "tribute" to Madonna, her idol. Although Ara has done several shows in Metro Manila, it was always with somebody (such as Ai-Ai delas Alas at the Music Museum), so it’s understandable why she’s on pins and needles this time.

"Heto, nangangarag," smiled Ara when she showed up at the new Citrio Restaurant (at the ground floor of the Imperial Palace Suites on Timog-Morato Rotonda), a few feet away from Orly Ilacad’s Virgin Cafe. "Kasi naman, I’m directing my own show and I was also the one who conceptualized it. I even chose the repertoire. Ako ang direktor na walang staff," she added jokingly, throwing a glance at her manager, Dondon Monteverde, who’s producing Like a Virgin. "Siguro, nagtitipid ang producer."

The show is so titled because Madonna is not only Ara’s favorite singer and idol but also her role model in a way.

"Part of my repertoire is a Madonna medley," revealed Ara. "There’s also a Corrs medley because The Corrs are also my favorite. I’m expecting a mixed audience of both young and old, so I included old and new songs in the line-up to make everybody happy. Mayroon ding dance tunes. I don’t expect everybody to just sit there listening while I do those dance tunes; I want them to get up and dance with me."

Even if she won’t be dressing as sexily as Madonna usually does on her shows, Ara promises that she’ll be "sexy enough" in casual clothes specially prepared for her by Dickies (of which she’s an image model).

"I want the audience to feel at home; I want them to see me as I am, Arang-Ara. My attire won’t be super-bongga because the Virgin Cafe stage is not that huge, so limited ang movements ko."

Ara said she used to take voice lessons under a member of The CompanY but due to schedule constraints, she has lately been doing it (vocalizing and all) alone in the privacy of her room (no wonder you haven’t heard any of her neighbors file any complaint – for public disturbance? – have you?).

"Singing has always been my first love," said Ara, and it’s not only because she was pinaglihi after Sharon Cuneta, her No. 1 favorite local singer. "I also love acting, of course, so I take both crafts seriously. The day after my Virgin Cafe concert, I’ll start shooting a new movie, Regal Films’ Two Timer in which I’ll play the rich boutique owner (wife of Albert Martinez, as a psychologist) who is fond of having one-night stands with just anybody. Our director is Mel Chionglo."

What!?! Bold again? But didn’t she say that she was turning her back on the "bold" and concentrating on serious acting?

"Uy, wala akong sinabing ganyan! I never said in any interview that I would stop doing bold roles. Gawa-gawa lang ’yon ng ibang writers dyan."

The impression was that if Ara would continue doing bold movies, she might displease her father, Quezon City Congressman Chuck Mathay.

"My father doesn’t meddle in my career. Besides, he understands that everything is all part of my work. He knows that just because I do bold movies doesn’t mean na nagwawala na ako."

Neither is Chuck the one who paid for Ara’s 50 percent share in Osteria Italia (along Tomas Morato Avenue, Q.C.) which is, contrary to wild rumors, doing well since it opened several months ago.

"The money I invested came from my own savings," said Ara, as if she owed anybody an explanation.

She admitted, though, that the Cosmopolitan Restaurant adjacent to Osteria has been losing money and might be in danger of closing if business continues to slump.

"My share in Cosmopolitan is only 30 percent," clarified Ara.

Two weeks ago on S-Files, Jomari Yllana admitted that he has a non-showbiz girlfriend (from Cebu), thus erasing once and for all persistent rumors that Ara was his "kept" girlfriend, an "issue" which Ara and Jomari’s estranged wife, QC Councilor Aiko Melendez, have discussed in tears on national television.

"At least," smiled Ara, "one of us has finally confessed kung sino talaga ang sweetheart niya."

Asked if it’s true that her real lover is a QC councilor, Ara reacted in jest, "Sino? Si Aiko? Uy, hindi ako tomboy, ha!"

Seriously now, according to Ara, her lovelife is zero and she prefers it that way.

"If you have a boyfriend," she stressed, "abala lang ’yan sa trabaho mo. No matter how super-understanding your boyfriend is, he can get affected especially if, like me, you’re playing bold roles. And then, that starts a fight and your work is adversely affected in the process. Masaya ang walang boyfriend; walang hassle."

Maybe that should make Aiko breathe easily.

Now, is Ara inviting Aiko to watch her concert?

Said Ara, "Everybody is welcome, as long as he or she buys a ticket."

There. Spoken not like a virgin (in controversies, that is).