Arjo Atayde teases wedding with Maine Mendoza is 'soon;' pushes for Eddie Garcia bill passage
MANILA, Philippines — Actor-politician Arjo Atayde is containing his excitement for his upcoming wedding to Maine Mendoza, rumored to be happening at the end of the month.
Arjo attended the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at Quezon City's Batasang Pambansa, but like last year, did not bring a plus-one.
The actor-politician mostly kept away from cameras before and after the event, however, TV5's Von Belinario was able to ask Arjo if he had any wedding jitters.
"I'm just excited, 'yun na lang sasabihin ko," Arjo said with a smile.
Asked if the wedding was going to be on July 28 — a source told Philstar.com that Arjo and Maine will tie the knot this weekend in Baguio — Arjo only said it was "soon."
Apart from his general thoughts of SONA 2023, Arjo was also asked about the possibility of the Eddie Garcia bill becoming law in the current session of Congress.
The Eddie Garcia bill, named after the late legendary actor, aims to protect workers and independent contractors in the local entertainment industry. Garcia passed away in June 2019 at 90 years old following an accident while filming a series.
The bill, which Arjo co-authored, had unanimously passed the House on a third reading earlier this February and awaits Marcos' signature.
Arjo shared that he and fellow congressman Toff de Vencia, himself also bill co-author involved in the local entertainment business, have been working on the bill's full passage but acknowledged there's been an imbalance between actors and producers — somewhat similar to the ongoing actors' strike in Hollywood.
"As an actor myself coming from the industry, I know there's much to develop, but for it to be recognized is already a must," Arjo said. "It has to be deliberated properly but for now definitely, bias aside, I think there's still things to improve."
Prior to SONA 2023, the noontime variety show "E.A.T." threw a bridal shower party for Maine wherein co-hosts Paolo Ballesteros, Wally Bayola, and Zombie pretended to be macho dancers while Ryzza Mae Dizon, Joey Generoso, Carren Eistrup, and Ice Seguerra all performed song numbers.
Both Arjo and Maine's families met last June for the traditional "pamamanhikan" where individuals ask for the blessings of their spouse-to-be's parents to wed.
Arjo and Maine were engaged last July, four years after they first met (and exactly nine years after Maine's viral "Arjo cutie" tweet), but have remained mum about a specific wedding. — Video from Von Belinario's YouTube channel
RELATED: WATCH: Paolo Ballesteros, Wally Bayola, Zombie surprise Maine Mendoza in 'EAT' bridal shower
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