No more rift between Aiko & Ara

Aiko Melendez and Ara Mina finally smoking the peace pipe was genuine.

Aiko said this at the press conference of her latest movie “Balatkayo” under BG Productions to be released under Regal Entertainment. She also added that both of them are happy and relieved that their rift is over.

“It was the right time to happen. We had a gap for 16 years and we are very happy na nagkabati na kami. Walang halong plastikan. Kung may plastikan yan eh sana noon pa kami nagkabati. We just waited for the right time. It’s God’s will that we finally got over it,” the “Wildflower” star said.

Aiko shared there is no more animosity between her and Ara. They can now breathe freely as if nothing untoward happened. They didn’t talk anymore about the past.

“It is now time to move on and it is nice to rebuild our friendship which was affected when we had a gap,” she further said.

While she is open to the possibility of working again with Ara, she would want to wait for a while before doing a project with her.

“Masyado pang fresh ang pagbabati namin and if we do a project together eh baka maungkat pa ang nakaraan sa promo. It is better if we cherish this moment na bati na kami. I am just busy with ‘Wildflower’ and the promo for ‘Balatkayo,’ but if we both have the time, we will have coffee and catch up,” said Aiko.

“Balatkayo” is opening in theaters on October 11. She is happy with the experience working with BG Productions and director Buboy Tan, who called her Ara on their first shooting day. But she didn’t take it against Direk Buboy.

She enjoyed playing her role as an OFW who had a problem with her son (played by James Robert) who was involved in a sex video scandal.

“You will see a different kind of Aiko in the movie,” said the actress who is getting rave reviews for her performance as Governor Emilia Ardiente in the top-rating series “Wildflower.”

She is happy with the good reviews she is getting as the villainess to Maja Salvador’s Ivy Aguas. Even if her role is bida-kontrabida, she never experienced being hit by an umbrella while in the mall or being confronted by people because her role is so wicked.

“I think people like the character of Emilia even if she is that bad. Kahit mga bata ay gusto magpa-picture sa akin. But I told the kids not to imitate what Gov. Emilia does because that is bad. So nakaka-feel good pa rin playing that role,” said Aiko.

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The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) hosted its first ever Moon Festival Luncheon for the media on September 30 at its headquarters on the 7th floor of Federation Center, Muelle de Binondo, Manila.

Next to the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, the Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival (ZhongqiuJié in Mandarin and “Tiong Chew Chue” in Hokkien) is the second most important festival in Chinese tradition with families and close friends gathering for reunions.

The Moon Festival is celebrated as a harvest festival for thanksgiving since ancient times on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar with the most beautiful full moon at night. This usually falls during late September to early October in the Western Gregorian calendar with full moon at night. This 2017, the Moon Festival will happen tonight. It is also celebrated worldwide, especially in Asian societies like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and other places.

The FFCCCII was established in 1954 for the main purposes of encouraging the Philippines’ ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs nationwide not only to help inclusive and dynamic national economic growth, but also to continue the Chinese community’s centuries-old tradition of philanthropic or socio-civic endeavors such as the construction and donations of public school buildings for rural barrios and other disadvantaged communities, to support the Filipino Chinese volunteer fire brigades which assist fire and other disaster victims of all socio-economic backgrounds, and assist other civic causes. The FFCCCII is headed by president Domingo Yap and its chairman emeritus Dr. Lucio C. Tan.