In a few months, Ynna Asistio will be seen again in a TV series. The eldest of Nadia Montenegro and former Caloocan City mayor Boy Asistio is brimming with excitement.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asks her, "Isn't that difficult? Juggling studies and showbiz career?"
Ynna replies enthusiastically, "Alam ko naman na po na studies ang priority. At saka sinabi ko na rin kay Mommy na kahit mga one year ma-delay, basta ang promise ko sa kanila ni Daddy, tatapusin ko."
The sweet-faced star is a first year college student at Centro Escolar University, taking up Mass Communications.
So far, Ynna's academic performance last semester is an indication that she'll be able to handle things well.
In a separate interview, Nadia says, "I'm so proud of her because I told her, 'Just prove to me na kakayanin mo nang sabay.' Alam mo, I think it was a like a point three [0.3] na lang in one subject, she would have been a dean's lister. If not for her two absences, she would be in [the] dean's list."
The former actress wants her daughter to maintain good grades, so before Ynna gets bombarded by tapings and guestings, Nadia sets some rules.
The first is, "Hindi puwedeng mag-stop sa pag-aaral."
Second rule is about dealing with people, "I cannot tell you who this person is, how you treat this person, how will you love this person...I mean, you just have to be yourself and let them love you."
With regard to controversies, Nadia says Ynna, more or less, gets the drift. But still, she issues this reminder: "You can't believe everything."
The mom adds, "She understands naman because of what happened to me. I mean, di ba, she reads it, 'Ma, ba't sinabi niya ganito?' Parang naging example niya [ang] lahat ng nangyaring pinakamasama, nakita niya sa akin."
Nadia was referring to the controversies that surrounded her last year—first, with Gretchen Barretto, then with Cristy Fermin and Rose Flaminiano.
Any policy on boys?
Nadia firmly states, "Puwede siyang mag-boyfriend kapag 18 na siya," and that's barely a few months from now. Ynna will become a debutante come September.
PEP inquires: "Meron na ba siyang napupusuan para sa kanyang panganay?"
"Merong matiyaga, actually two years and half na siya nandiyan, and I love him to death," Nadia relates. "Honestly, madami, pero nakikita ko kung sino yung matiyaga."
The mom skips mentioning the guy's name, but we know that "Mr. Matiyaga" guy is Mark Herras, whom Ynna currently treats as barkada.