PH Showbiz welcomes home ‘a dear, dear friend’
challenged your marriage, most especially when he was at his lowest point these past years. It would have surely been easier to move on like he said but what made you this superwoman he clearly sees you to be?” TheSunday gently pressed Mercado.
“Anolangsiguro, I’ve just been true to [ wedding] my vows,” she smiled and declared in all humility. “‘ In good times and bad’ noon paman… and lalonangayon that as mayor, nagkakasal ako. I am authorized to solemnize civil weddings.”
The levelheaded lady leader and wife continued, “You know in Bacoor, it’s a practice to come up with acronyms for a mayor’s name, so for Lani, yung ‘L’ stands for to ‘lead by example.’ So feeling komeron akong moral ascendancy to my constituents, to couples I marry nabinibigyankong guidance sasimulangbuhay nilaas husband and wife. Malinaman if you don’t walk the talk diba? So, now more than ever, nag- deepen yung appreciation ko for my vows and doonakohumuhugot.”
Mercado was neither ashamed to declare that she simply loves her husband to begin with —“Mahalna mahalkosiya!” she laughed.
“Hindikomagagawaito kunghindikosiyamahal. Atmahalnamahalkoang pamilyako.Kumbaga,sabi nganila,makikipagpatayan ka para sa kanila. And that’s how I am — how I’ve always been and how I’ll always be — as a wife and mother. I will always fight for them and remain committed to my vows.”
From another perspective, TheSundayTimesMagazine wondered how Mercado mustered the strength to keep it all together during Revilla’s detention, when as a wife, it must be unbearable to see her husband — the supposed head of the family, and more so in this case, the epitome of a proud, successful and
- graced and besmirched.
Revilla had always been a winner — be it in movies and politics — until such a big
taste of failure. How does a wife, no matter her natural strength of character, help her
and self-worth when his reputation and freedom have been taken away from him?
“You know, I really have to say that Bong and I are blessed in our relationship in that we always complement each other in every situation that comes our way. It just happens instinctively,” Mercado replied after a thoughtful pause.
“I’ve always said he’s the wind beneath my wings,
- cided to venture into politics because he guided me every step of the way. So when he was the one who needed me to make him strong, I was simply there for him.
“And yung presence namin— of the entire family — was very important. Although I would have wanted to visit him every day, I made sure to see him twice or three times a week with Sundays talagang devoted ng buongarawsakanya.
“Tapos whenever we were all together, as much as possible, we stayed positive. We made him feel our love and support in every way we can, and yungpag-asikasokosa kanyakahitsaloobhindinghindi
Mercado admitted that it became more difficult to visit her husband in Crame when she completed her tenure in Congress and won as mayor of Bacoor.
“When I was in Congress, I could easily go and see him from my office in Batasan, but of course, as mayor, my schedule became more erratic, my responsibilities changed, and I needed to be physically present to do them for my constituents. But I’m grateful that as my husband, he understood the situation and continued to support me completely. So kahitnanakakulong he continued to be my most valued adviser, my greatest critic and my No. 1 supporter.”
Revilla may have felt helpless in detention through his wife’s own challenges, but what this wise and loving woman made sure to show her husband is that she still needed him. She consulted him on every family matter and decision she had to make in his place; she continued to value him as her mentor in public service, seeking his
and thriving in his support.
Above all, Mercado said that together, she and Revilla — along with the rest of their family — steeled their relationship with one another
- ship with the Lord.
“Hindinaminmasu- survive ito if we didn’t put God at the center of our lives. There were times when we’d just cry our prayers out to-
“I mean we’ve always practiced our faith — we’re Born Again Catholics like Bong says because we never let go of Mama Mary — but siguropinaramdamsaamin that no matter what you’ve achieved, no matter how popular or successful you are, there comes a time for you to realize all the more just how much you need Him.
“So siguro for Bong who’s always been a winner, this — no matter how cruel it was — was something he needed to go through to be even closer to God, and he brought our entire family with him in doing that.
“May time talaganakakalabitin Lord, kayasabi kosamgaanakko, ‘ While Papa is inside, let us follow God’s word and show the people that the accusations are wrong by doing good and doing our best as individuals and as a family. Whether in my work as mayor, my children as students, in business or in public service, ipakita natin, with God’s guidance, kunganongklasengtaotayo.”
Finally asked what she hopes for Revilla from hereon, Mercado replied, “I’m sure there are those who are EXACTLY a month and a day since former Senator Bong Revilla was acquitted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan and released from detention at Camp Crame, he joyfully found himself back in the arms of his “first love.”
That is, the entertainment industry of the Philippines where he originally started his rise to fame as son and namesake of legendary action star Ramon Revilla Sr., while eventually making his own mark in the silver screen with such blockbusters as
“Ang Agimat,”“CaptainBarbell,” “AngPanday,”
and among others. On January 8, Ina ng Pelikulang Pilipino Lily Monteverde and Sampaguita Pictures scion Marichu Vera- Perez Maceda hosted a “homecoming” luncheon for a man they consider a valuable member of the entertainment industry and a beloved friend.
Revilla, with his wife and Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado by his side, walked into a roomful probably wondering why I agreed for Bong to run for the Senate again and filed
on his behalf. Kahitnungnakakulong last year and we didn’t know what would happen to his case.
“And now that he’s been ac- of cheers and applause that saw the likes of veteran actor Tirso Cruz 3rd, Monteverde’s daughter and Regal Entertainment’s top executive Roselle, showbiz doyennes Annabel Rama and Dolor Guevarra, director Eric Quizon, Dean of Philippine Entertainment Journalism Ethel Ramos, and the couple’s trusted and longtime manager Lolit Solis.
“People will always say what they want to say; everything we do is always given some shade,” Monteverde addressed the gathering after welcoming Revilla with a tight embrace. “I feel we have lost the right to make choices without people having opinions about them.
“But this afternoon, I do not care what people may think or what motives they think I may have for organizing this gathering. As far as I’m concerned, and from the bottom of my heart, I’m simply welcoming home a dear, dear friend whom we have missed. That is all there is to led to this darkest time in our lives. But as his wife — besides the fact that I saw by accident he was No. 8 in the surveys for Senator back in October atmay clamor pasa kanyaangsambayanangPilipino I want him to redeem the dignity that he lost.
“Nawala kasi ang lahat lahatsakanyasapanahong yun— milestones in our family including graduations, a wedding and my inauguration; opportunities in the Senate to legislate and better the lives of Filipinos; and even movies and TV shows he could have made with his talent for acting.
“As his wife gustokongmaregain niyayungdating Bong Revilla — his self- worth,