Aiko Melendez talks about her kids, Jomari, and why she doesn’t have suitors

Aiko Melendez

“I’d like to have another child, but [not] with a different man,” says 38-yearAiko Melendez, who at some point after their separation, suggested to ex-husband Jomari Yllana that they should get back together if they found themselves still single at the age of 40.

Aiko has a 16-year-old son, Andrei, with Jomari; and an 8-year-old daughter, Marteena, with former model Martin Jickain.

“When I broached the idea to Jom, he just looked at me and smiled sexily,” she added, in reference to Yllana’s reaction to her suggestion.

Aiko denied rumours that she is currently dating an athlete who is years her junior, saying that she does not “want to assume anything.”

“He probably just wants to be my friend,” the actress said.

As for Jomari, she said that they are still good friends, and that he is probably the reason she is still single.

“I think Jom is the reason I don’t have suitors—guys seem to believe I’m reconciling with him. Meanwhile, I go out, but often with friends.”

Aiko emphasized, however, that at this point, her children are her priority.

“Andrei is a teenager now and asks questions that I wish he’d ask his father. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about teenagers. I also pray a lot. I’m lucky because Andrei is a respectful kid; he understands that I want only what’s best for him,” she said of her son with Yllana.

She described Marteena as a spirited and feisty girl, who is quite possibly her “karmic reward.”

“She’s so much like me, an actress-politician in the making. I am sure she will give me headaches. It’s good that I still have my mom to help raise my kids,” she said

The actress admits that 2014 was a rough year for her, and that she was “tested emotionally, financially, spiritually,” but that it turned around when she yielded to a Higher Power.

“Things improved when I surrendered myself to God. Now, I’m back to acting and I’m super-excited,” she shared

These days, Aiko keeps busy with her role in the ABS-CBN morning drama series “The Gift Giver,” which also stars Dimples Romana, Carlo Aquino, Louise Abuel, Gerald Madrid and Nadine Samonte J; under the direction of Jerome Pobocan.