Jomari Yllana and Abby Viduya set wedding date

After Jomari Yllana and Abby Viduya reconnected through social media in 2016, the erstwhile teenage sweethearts rekindled their feelings for each other and seriously considered tying the knot.

In 2019, Abby returned to the Philippines after staying in Canada for nearly two decades.

Now both 47, Jomari and Abby have agreed to tie the knot this November in Las Vegas. They will have their church wedding in the Philippines in 2024.

Jomari’s proposal to Abby early this year was not made public. He timed it when Abby’s mom, Isabelita Razon Viduya, returned to the Philippines last February. He seriously asked for Abby’s hand in marriage in the presence of her mom.

He was accompanied by his mom Vicky, son Andrei, brother Ryan and the latter’s wife, Jean.

“We will be away for two weeks,” Jomari said. “I can’t be away for so long because I have work as a councilor in Parañaque. I want to marry Abby before I end my term.”

Jomari has just wrapped up his latest and yet untitled film project, where he plays a gangster-bad guy. Erik Matti is at the helm, Dondon Monteverde is producer.

Last November, Jomari returned to the racing circuit after more than a decade when he joined the Paeng Nodalo Memorial Rally at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The race paid tribute to Paeng Nodalo, one of the country’s pillars of motorsports, who was behind the legendary Mabuhay Rally.

One activity Jomari recently laid his sights on is motorcar racing, not just his hobby but more so his passion. Held at the Okada Manila Boardwalk until Aug. 6, the five-day sporting event is done in memory of Eduardo del Rosario, who was fondly called Mang Ed, founding father of the Cavite Auto Racing Team.

The return of motorcar racing is estimated to gather collectors of rare racing cars and motorsport gadgets, an auto-cross race featuring at least 150 cars on Aug. 6, complete with matching champagne-popping.

There will be a whole day drifting exhibition and Philippine Autocross competing at Okada’s Boardwalk. Awarding will be held on Sunday.

Actor-politician Richard Gomez will be given a special award for his achievements and contributions to motorsport.

Matteo Guidicelli will be recognized for everything that he contributed to motorsport in the Philippines. Retired race car driver Michele Bumgarner will also receive a special award.

Okada Manila VP for sales and marketing Cielo Reboredo, Okada director for property, marketing and branding Victor Cesar Galzote and head of Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) Rikki Dy-Liacco are likewise working on the project.

“It will be an exciting weekend, rain or shine,” said Victor Galzote. “Part of the thrust of Okada Manila is we do collaborations. We did a lot of beauty pageants in the past – Miss World Philippines, Miss Earth and Miss Universe Philippines.

“We try to expand the collaborations because we have to target and touch different market segments in the industry. One other potential market segment that caters to our business interest is actually the sporting industry that is aligned with our strategy.”

For Jomari and Rikki, it all started with a cup of coffee. “Rikki and I know each other since Toyota Corolla cup days,” the actor-politician unabashedly shared. “That was the time of the Gwapings. Rikki was the champion then and I was in my rookie year.

“We were like the best competitors. For those who saw the movie, Rush (2013), I compare Rikki and I to Niki Lauda and James Hunt, who were both Formula One drivers. Rikki and I became best friends but our careers parted ways.”

“My career as a race car driver continued. I went into production. I was producing concerts, still into showbiz and then I went into politics,” he added.

“Rikki went on his own way, managing races both local and international. The biggest event he did was Le Mans Competition 2023.”

Early this year, Jomari invited Rikki to have a cup of coffee. “I told him I heard he is now the head of Motorsports of AAP. I congratulated him. Then, we met to do some catching up.”

“I said it’s time to give back to the sport that has been good to us. This is the sport that took our respective career far and wide. Rikki has more trophies than me. I have a few, but we both agreed to give back.”

Thankfully, the biggest integrated resort and casino, Okada Manila, readily accepted them. “We found a home with Okada Manila, who accepted us wholeheartedly,” revealed Jomari.

“That’s why we are now here to launch the first Motorsport Carnivale. We are very happy that we found a home for motorsport.”