Her dimpled cheeks and amiable face almost make her child-like in appearance. It is only because other whistlebait figure that we are reminded of the sexy roles that catapulted Ara Mina to stardom.
Her girl-woman looks form a deadly mix that men find hard to resist. But the sexy image also has a downside. It's easy for people to believe that sexy stars are materialistic social climbers who are easy to get.
To rise above the negative image, the 28-year-old Ara (who'll turn 29 this year) has immersed herself in her work as actress, singer, entrepreneur, and now film producer. But as the recent brouhaha involving Manny Pacquiao amply showed, she finds it difficult to shake off the negative image, mosdy attached to the history of her relationship with the male of the species.
"You know what, I'll be honest," she says. "May mga rich men na nanliligaw sa akin. Pero hindi ako attracted sa gano'n, kasi feeling ko gagawin lang nila akong trophy girlfriend or something. I make friends with them, pero hindi relationship.
"Meron din akong naririnig na mga guys na nagke-claim na kesyo naging kami or may nangyari sa amin. Puwede kang gumawa ng imbento, e. Kahit ngayon, puwede kong sabihin na naging kami ni Piolo [Pascual], di ba? Madaling sabihin, e. Pero ako, kung may boyfriend naman ako at mayaman, bakit hindi ko ipapakilala sa tao? E, di, sasabihin ko.
"Ang dami nang nanligaw sa aking mayayaman, pero hindi ko type. Like si Jules [Ledesma]—kung tutuusin, biyudo siya dati. Kung mahilig ako sa mayayaman, e, di, sana may history na ako ng mayayaman na binoyfriend ko.
"Pag nayayabangan ako—lalo na 'yong mga rich guys, magreregalo sa akin, 'tapos mayabang—hindi ko tinatanggap. Parang kaya kong bilhin yan. Ako kasi, hindi naman ako mahilig sa mga ganyan, na kailangan Louis Vuitton, kailangan ganyan."
Ara says she doesn't encourage suitors of this type because she doesn't go for shortlived romances.
"Pang-long-term relationship kasi ako. Kumbaga, kahit ilang beses na kaming nag-cool-off, naghiwalay, nagki-kiss-and-make-up pa rin. Parang, sige, okey, papatawarin hangga't kaya ko pa, kasi nga pangmatagalan ako. Yong iba kasi, once na nagkamali 'yong guy, ayaw na. Pinuputol na nila agad, para hindi na uulitin. Pero iba-iba kasi ang mga babae.
"Sa stage na ito, alam ko na kung sino ang nambobola at hindi. Alam ko na kung katawan lang ang habol sa 'yo. Napi-pickup ko na 'yong mga gano'n."
Of the many men who have wooed Ara, only a few have caught her eye and won her heart. The most prominent and recent ones are showbiz hunks Jomari Yllana and Polo Ravales.
Ara says that when she was deeply in love, she gave the best of herself to her boyfriend. But she knows that giving the best of one's self does not guarantee a lasting relationship. There is a gentleness in her voice when she refers to these two love affairs that did not end in marriage, and she still speaks fondly of her former beaus.
"Maalaga ako, sobra sa alaga. You can ask Jomari. You can ask Polo. Minsan, hindi maganda ang sobra sa alaga, e—'yon ang na-realize ko. Parang may factor na nate-take for granted ka. Na-spoil mo na kasi. Kahit hindi nila intention na gawin 'yon, magagawa nila, kasi spoiled mo na sila. Parang feeling ko ngayon, dapat may limitation Ara din, para naman for yourself.
"Jom made me a better person. Basta mahirap i-explain. Yeah, nasaktan din ako, pero naging stronger ako. Strong ako dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko sa kanya, pero may mga masasayang part naman talaga. Kumbaga, sa kanya ko na-experience na grabe pala ako magmahal.
"Hang years ding pinag-usapan 'yon, dahil doon sa ex-wife niya, di ba? Yon lang kasi ang pangit, lagi akong nami-misinterpret noon. Pero 'yong mga nakikilala kong tao, sinasabi na, 'Ay, ganito ka pala sa personal. Bakit ang image mo, parang ang taray? Parang salbahe ka, malandi ka? Pero napakasimple mo lang pala sa personal.'
"Laging gano'n ang impression sa akin. Ang wish ko lang kay Jom, mag-settle-down na siya with Pops [Fernandez], kung si Pops na talaga.
"May masayang moments din ako with Polo, pero magkaiba kami ng point of view sa buhay. Yong difference kasi is, at my age, masyado kong iniisip ang future. I always tell him na mag-invest ka habang kumikita ka.
"Mas matanda kasi ako ng three years sa kanya, e. Parang feeling ko, hindi pa niya naiisip 'yon, kasi dependent pa siya sa family niya, 'tapos ako, independent na. Kung hindi pa siya ready sa serious relationship ngayon, take advantage niya 'yon at isipin rin niya 'yong future. Kasi ang buhay ng artista, suwerte lang pag may trabaho ka pa.
"Sana iwasan na rin niya 'yong masyadong addict sa gym. Kasi, baka mamaya, pagtanda niya, singilin siya, di ba? Actually, karibal ko 'yong abs niya, eh Joke!"
She lets out a hearty laugh as she says this.
After all that Ara has been through, she admits to being more cautious about falling in love again. The next person who wants to come into her life will have to give her the TLC, or tender loving care, that she really needs. But Mr. Right has not come along.
"Hindi ko pa ma-feel 'yong magic," she says. "Yong something na kinikilig ka. Alam mo 'yon? Sa sobrang dami ng pinagdaanan mo sa love life, parang medyo aloof ka na. Hindi naman ako man-hater at all. Kumbaga, ang gusto ko, kung magbo-boyfriend ako ngayon, siya na 'yong mapapangasawa ko. Ayoko ng boyfriend 'tapos magbe-break din naman.
"Kaya di bale nang matagal akong walang boyfriend ngayon, kahit umabot pa ng dalawang taon. Kasi mag-iisang taon na akong walang boyfriend ngayong March [2008]. Tama, I've been single for one year na.' Ha-ha-ha! Pero kailangan ko talaga ng understanding, 'yong tipong ako naman ang aalagaan, di ba? Kasi panganay ako, e. Inaalagaan ko na ang mga kapatid ko."
The fact that she's currently unattached and very much available may have contributed to the spead of rumors that Ara is being pampered by the very much moneyed and very much married boxing champ Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.
THE WORLD CHAMP. Last year, Pacman made his first venture into film production and his first bid to be a certified movie star with the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Anak ng Kumander. It was during the making of the movie that he was linked to Ara, the actress whom he had handpicked to be his leading lady.
Ara says she first met Manny in his Mindanao hometown, General Santos City, a.k.a. GenSan. The two of them sang a duet in a program for the Araw ng GenSan festivities. Ara remembers that this was in early 2007, sometime before her own solo concert in February of that year.
"Pina-invite ako kina Manny. Parang may participation yata sina Manny do'n. Actually, hindi kami personally magkakilala."
Ara says the invitation came from someone she has known for some time, Jake Joson, who is Manny's chief of staff.
"Kinuha lang ako para kumanta. Then, after that, umuwi na ko."
But it was that innocent duet that sparked the rumors of a romantic relationship. Then, in May 2007, while Ara was on her way to Sultan Kudarat province in Mindanao for a show, she happened be on the same plane with Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao. This was during the election period, when Manny was campaigning as a candidate for congressman of the first district of South Cotabato.
"Sabi no'ng guard sa airport, Ay, nandiyan po si Manny, ah, 'tsaka si Jinkee.' Ito 'yong medyo na-link na kami because of the show in GenSan. So, sabi ko: 'Oo nga, baka mamaya ma-link na naman kami niyan. Nagkasabay pa kami ng flight.' 'Tapos, dumaan si Manny do'n sa business class. Binati naman niya ako, pero 'yong wife niya, malayo."
A few months after that chance encounter, Ara heard that she would be starring in a movie with Manny. She first heard the news from actor Rudy Fernandez.
"Nalaman ko 'yan kay Daboy. Siya pa ang nagsabi sa 'kin na, "Oy, may movie ka pala with Manny?'
"Sabiko, 'Ha? Anong movie? Wala namang offer sa 'kin.'
'"Oo, pang-festival. Na-approve 'yong pelikula n'yo.'"
Ara immediately called up her manager, Dondon Monteverde.
"Sabi ko, 'Kuya Dondon, may movie ba tayo with Manny?'
"'Wala."
'"Bakit 'ando'n 'yong pangalan ko? Di ba, pag nagsa-submit ng script, nando'n na 'yong pangalan ng artista?'"
She's referring to MMFF rules, which require prior script approval of a movie intended for the festival. It turned out that Ara was the choice of the director, Jose "Kaka" Balagtas," and of Manny Pacquiao himself, who was the producer of the movie to be called Anak ng Kumander.
"What I heard kasi, crush niya na daw ako noon pa. Siguro ito pa 'yong Tanduay days ko, 'yong naging calendar girl ako. May nagkuwento sa akin na hindi pa siya world champion or something, nag-aarti-artista siya na hindi lang ano.
[This probably means he was just playing bit roles back then.] Tapos, ang sabi, 'Kailan ko kaya makakapartner si Ara?' Something like that. Hanggang sa, ayun, naging world champion siya, nagpa-presscon, nag-produce siya, 'tapos ako ang kinuhang leading lady.
"So, after ilang days, pagka-approve, tumawag sila kay Kuya Dondon. Nagdadalawang-isip pa nga akong tanggapin. Sabi ni Kuya Dondon, 'Ikaw, pag-iisipan ko muna.'Kasi inalok din sa akin 'yong Desperados. Sabi ko, 'Sige, pahinging script, patingin.'"
Ara says that her manager's mother, "Mother Lily" Monteverde of Regal Films, talked to her about Desperados. The actress had previously won the MMFF best-actress award for her role in the very first Mano Po, Regal's entry in the 2002 MMFF.
"Si Mother, naglalambing, presyong kaibigan. Wala naman sa akin 'yon. Kaya lang, hinihintay ko 'yong script, di naman dumarating. Nagulat na lang ako, iba na 'yong cast, hindi na ako binalikan."
Ara had not done a movie in a long time, the last one being Shake Rattle and Roll VI in 2005. So she decided to accept the offer to do the Manny Pacquiao movie.
"Sige, sabi ko, dalhin muna nila kamo 'yong script, basahin ko muna. Kaso, hindi ako masyadong satisfied sa script. Sabi ko: 'Ayoko, hindi ko tatanggapin kung ganyan ang role.' Hindi ko type 'yong role na asawa niya, 'tapos rebelde din ako. Kasi, sabi ko, pa'no ako magiging rebelde, e, ang puti-puti ko? Siyempre, nasa bundok, nakikipaglaban ka, parang hindi realistic kung gano'n.'
"E, ang hirap naman kung magpapa-tan ako. Kaka-peeling ko lang. Tapos, ang hirap naman ng makeup, mainit, baka magpatse-patse, and sobrang hirap ng maintenance ng tanned-look na makeup.
"So they changed it to something else. Asawa niya na reporter naman. Talagang winork out nila 'yong script na para mapasama ako sa movie, and nadagdagan ng bagong characters, si Valerie Concepcion, 'tsaka si Lara Morena, kasi kailangan may kasama pa rin siyang rebelde."
"Tinanggap ko na din, kasi sabi ni Direk Kaka, ang dami naming project na hindi natuloy. Gusto ko naman pagbigyan si Direk Kaka, para matuloy na magkasama kami sa isang project."
Little did Ara realize that, by accepting the role, her life would be taking a wild roller-coaster ride from the very first shooting day.
"No'ng first shooting day namin, kissing scene. Do'n nagsimula 'yon, e. Nine takes. Hindi siya marunong ng cinematic ways, kaya kami maraming takes. Siyempre, ngayon lang siya gagawa ng kissing scene sa movie na gano'ng klase, di ba? Hanggang suntok-suntok lang siya. Kasi merong cinematic ways ang kiss, e. Merong iba na parang napipipi 'yong ilong mo. Parang ang pangit tingnan!
"Pero it doesn't mean na nag-nine takes 'yong kiss. Kumbaga, may nauna, 'yong sampal ko, hindi pa siya naka-kiss, parang gano'n. Pero all in all, nine takes. Dinemo ko pa nga sa kanya, 'Manny, ganito. Gaganituhin mo 'ko... Um!' E, 'tapos, napalakas 'yong sampal ko sa kanya. Sabi niya, 'Thanks for the massage!' Ha-ha-ha!
"Ang hirap i-explain sa tao, kaya ang sinasabi nila, A, gusto lang ni Manny, maka-kiss. Halata ko naman 'yon, if ever. Sa dami ng pelikulang nagawa ko, sangkatutak na kissing scene na nagawa ko, so alam ko napa'no iha-handle 'yong gano'n."
In the wake of the take-nine kissing scene, Ara found herself in the center of a controversy. A lot of gossip went around that the Pambansang Kamao was so smitten with the buxom actress that he wanted her to sing the Philippine National Anthem for his fight with the Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, which was slated for October 6, 2007.
"No'ng third shooting day namin, napapag-usapan na 'yong mga laban-laban. 'Sino kayang kakanta ng national anthem?' 'May audition na naman ng ano...' Nag-uusap-usap sila. Then may humirit ng 'Si Ara, kumakanta 'yan.'Kasi kumanta na si Sarah Geronimo, kumanta na si Lani Misalucha, kumanta na si Geneva Cruz. Parang ayaw na ni Manny na mag-ulit.
'"Kung gusto mo, ano, willing ka mag-audition?' sabi ni Manny.
"Sabi ko, 'Okey lang, wala namang problema.'
'"Ay, oo, maganda yon, para pag-usapan 'yong movie,' sabi niya.
'"Sige. Walang problema.'
"E, di, may pasample-sample pa. 'Bayang magiliw...' Pinakanta talaga nila ako sa shooting. 'Okey, a! Okey, a!' sabi niya. Sabi ko, 'Ginagawa n'yo na akong uto-uto, eh"'
What followed was a barrage of contradictory reports.
"May nag-confirm daw sa press, isa daw ako sa napipintong kumanta. 'Tapos, may nag-manipulate daw or something. Ang dami kong naririnig na hindi daw ako makakanta, kesyo daw ganyan si Jinkee, baka daw mag-suicide or whatever.
"Sabi ko, hindi naman ako nagsasalita sa TV na ako ang kakanta, bakit naman 'Hindi na si Ara ang kakanta!'? Gano'n na ang mga write-up. 'Teka, kailan ko sinabi na ako ang kakanta?'
"Sobrang naging stressful sa akin 'yong issue, pari 'yong issue ng pagkanta. Kesyo hindi naman daw ako bumibirit, ganyan-ganyan. Hindi naman issue before 'yong pagkanta ng national anthem sa boxing, ngayon lang."
PACMAN RETURNS. The filming of Anak ng Kumander was put on hold to make way for Pacquiao's training in the U.S. in preparation for his upcoming fight with Barrera. While Manny was away, rumormongers started to play. The tsismis this time was that Pacquiao had given Ara a luxury car, plus a house-and-lot, to make up for her disappointment over not getting the chance to sing the national anthem in an international bout.
Adding fuel to the fire, and to the surprise of showbiz and sports fans, Pacman suddenly cut short his training in the U.S. and abruptly came home to the Philippines on August 12, 2007. He did not bother to explain his reasons. Not even his trainer Freddie Roach or his mother Dionisia could tell why he had come back.
The gossip factories quickly churned up an explanation: Pacquiao was supposedly lovesick and wanted to be with Ara.
The actress was busy the day Pacquiao arrived and did not even know he was back in the country. It was the first shooting day of Selda, an indie film directed by Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, and Ara was shooting a scene with Sid Lucero at the Mowelfund Plaza in Quezon City.
"Hapon ko na nahawakan ang cellphone ko," Ara recalls. "No'ng binasa ko, ang dami kong missed calls. Ang daming mga text: 'How true na bumalik si Manny I because of you?'
"Sabi ko, wala, bakit po?'
"A, kasi kasama ko 'yong kaibigan kong editor kanina. Kanina ka pa daw tinatawagan.'"
Ara was as surprised as everyone else about Pacman's return.
"Hindi ko alam bakit siya bumalik. Kahit pamilya niya hindi alam kung bakit bumalik. Tanging asawa lang niya ang nakakaalam bakit.
"No'ng day na bumalik daw siya because of me, tina-try ko siyang i-text, tina-try kong tawagan 'yong ibang kasama niya. Walang sumasagot. Tin-try kong tawagan 'yong cellphone na alam kong cellphone niya para tanungin sa kanya na 'Hello, ako daw dahilan ng pag-uwi mo? Kamusta naman 'yon, di ba? Naka-off. Mga one week yatang naka-off 'yon.
"So, nalaman ko na lang 'yong sagot no'ng na-interview yata siya na sa Cebu o dito na siya nagte-train. Sinabi din na hindi totoo na ako ang dahilan kung bakit siya bumalik. Gusto lang daw niya dito mag-train or something."
Manny later gave an explanation for his return in an interview aired on GMA-7: "Maaring mastudy-han 'yong style ko. Maaring isa sa mga fans ni Barrera, 'yong kampo ni Barrera, magpunta do'n, dumisguise, at alamin ang mga pinaplan naming techniques."
In the same interview, Manny said that he had not talked to Ara and that he was embarrassed that she was suspected to be the reason for his homecoming.
But the nasty talk did not end there.
In August 2007, Ara went on a North American concert tour with music icon Freddie Aguilar, and she got even more annoyed by the reaction of Filipinos to her.
"Hanggang sa Canada, hanggang sa Las Vegas na nag-show ako with Freddie Aguilar, 'sinisigaw ng tao sa akin si Manny. Para ko siyang ka-love-team! In fairness, sa buong buhay ko, never akong nagkaroon ng ka-love-team. Alam mo 'yon? Di ba naglabasan pa nga 'yong publicity pictures? Mala-Bea at John Lloyd. Sabi ko, 'Wow! Wholesome ito."
Her voice drips with sarcasm as she tells that story.
When Manny went back to the U.S. for his fight with Barrera at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, there was talk that he had brought along the actress for good luck.
"Dinala daw ako sa States during the laban, 'tinatago daw ako. Check nila 'yong lahat ng airlines. Excuse me! Check nila 'yong passport ko. Labas natin 'yong passport ko!
"Nandito kaya ako! Tulog nga ako no'n, e. May taping kasi ako the night before. E, di ba, morning ang live telecast? Sabi ng iba sa akin, 'Hindi ka ba manonood sa cinema?' Sabi ko, 'Naku, e, di, pinagtinginan ako ng mga tao sa sinehan. Matutulog na lang ako!'
"Hindi ako makabangon. Tina-try nila akong gisingin. 'Halika, manood ka!'E, wala kaming cable. Ubos na 'yong sa pay-per-view. 'Tsaka, bakit ba ako magsu-subscribe?"
Still irked by this rumor, Ara shows YES! her passport, with her U.S. and Canadian visas, to certify that no rendezvous happened between her and Pacquiao.
True enough, the stamps on her travel documents show that, in 2007, she left for Hong Kong on August 10, came home the following day, left for the U.S. on August 25, flew to Canada on August 30, and was back in the Philippines on September 2. She left again for Guam on December 12 and returned to Manila after five days.
The dates reveal that Ara was in the Philippines during the Pacquiao-Barrera championship fight on October 6.
Pacquiao emerged victorious against his Mexican opponent, and he was back in the Philippines on October 11. Not long after that, shooting on Anak ng Kumander resumed.
"Pagbalik niya, no'ng nag-resume na 'yong shoot, tahimik lang ako. Parang siya, tina-try niya 'yong attitude na parang walang nangyari. Parang kungpaano 'yong pagka-meet namin no'ng una, para hindi ako mailang. Kasi ako, tahimik, hanggang sa marami nang nagsabi sa kanya—may nag-press-visit—'kinuwento nila ang nangyari sa akin, 'yong mga issues. Yong 'pinakita sa TV na nagbubulungan kami. "Sabi niya, 'Grabe pala, 'no?' Nag-sorry siya. Sabi niya no'ng nag-presscon kami, 'Grabe pala, bugbog ka pala dito no'ng wala ako.'
"Sabi ko, 'Hindi lang bugbog, knockout ako. Knockout ako!' Nagpapatawa na nga lang ako.
"Sabi niya, 'Hindi, kawawa naman si Ara.'E, di ba, ang dami-dami na ngang lumalabas na issue ngayon? Rung alam niya lang 'niluha ko, di ba?"
And then the story of the ugly text messages to Jinkee came up. "After ng pagkabalik niya, no'ng lumala na 'yong issue, na-mention niya sa akin na may nagte-text kay Jinkee. Naninira about me. Na may relasyon daw kami ni Manny, et cetera, na totoong may mga rega-regalo. Hindi ko alam kung sino, kasi number lang, e. Siyempre si Jinkee, asawa, hindi maiiwasan na maniwala."
GIFTS FROM KUMANDER. According to the rumor mills, the gifts allegedly given to Ara by Manny included a luxury vehicle and a grand house in a posh village. Obviously hurt by the gossip that continues to go around, Ara feels the need to defend herself.
"He has nothing to do with my house!" she blurts out, unable to stave off her anger. "Itong bahay na'to? That's my loan! Fifteen years to pay!"
She had fallen in love with the house in the course of her efforts to teach then-boyfriend Polo Ravales to invest his money wisely. This was in early 2007.
"Ang totoo, hinelp ko si Polo na mag-search ng mapag-investan niya. Yong broker na kakilala ko, may ituturo sa kanya na property. No'ng araw na 'yon, nakita namin itong house na ito. Hindi kasama sa itinerary namin, kasi nasa main road siya. Sabi ng broker: 'Ibebenta rin yan pagkatapos. Kino-construct pa lang kasi'
"Sabi ko: 'Baka puwedeng tingnan na rin natin, bago tayo pumunta do'n sa ipapakita natin kay Polo. Andito na rin lang tayo.' So, tiningnan namin. Kahit hindi pa tapos, sabi ko, 'Wow! Parang ang ganda nitopag natapos na talaga.'
"Wala naman akong planong ibenta 'yong dating bahay ko. Inisip ko tuloy, ibenta na lang 'yon, 'tapos ito na lang ang bilhin ko. Ang ending, ako ang nakabili ng bahay, hindi si Polo."
She went full steam into producing the funds for her new house. "March 2007 nag-apply rin ako ng loan, para may magamit ako alinman ang mauna—ma-approve ang loan or mabenta 'yong bahay.
"Ang tsismis pa nga sa akin no'n, tatakbo akong konsehal, di ba? So, kamuntik pang hindi ma-approve ang loan ko, kasi akala nila gagamitin ko 'yong funds for my campaign. Sabi ko: 'Of course not. Hindi ako tatakbo.'"
Her loan finally got approved on the last day for filing certificates of candidacy. "Na-approve siya ng mga last week of March, pero mga April something lumabas 'yong pera. Kasi, kahit approved na, parang nag-aalangan silang i-release 'yong money."
She also went on the campaign trail. "E, tapos nagka-campaign pa ako no'n. So, 'yong time deposit ko 'tsaka 'yong mga kinita ko sapag-campaign for different politicians, 'pinandagdag ko pa do'n sa house."
And finally, she sold her vehicles. "At saka 'binenta ko lahat din 'yong luma kong sasakyan. Tatlong sasakyan ang 'binenta ko. 'Yong Mark 3, Expedition, at Trooper. Kung hindi kailangan ng pera noon, hindi ko ibebenta 'yong Mark 3. Ibibigay ko na lang kay Cristine [Reyes, her half-sister], kasi sobrang suwerte sa akin no'ng van na 'yon, e."
She did buy a new GMC Savannah for her use. "May naririnig din kasi ako na may paiyak-iyakpa daw ako ke Manny para mabilhan ng sasakyan! Kotse? Nag-down-payment naman ako. Pero sige, ilalabas ko lahat ng loan ko. Ilabas na nating lahat!"
At the time of the interview, Ara had already sold her old house. "Kaya yon ang ginagamit kong panggastos-gastos," she says.
The only gifts that Ara insists she received from Manny were fruits that he brought to the set when they were still shooting the movie—and they were not even in a gift pack or a fruit basket.
"Fruits lang ang 'binigay niya sa akin. Noong first shooting day pa. Hindi talaga 'yong basket. Mangoes, may apple, orange. So, parang pinabili lang. Kasi shoot, 'tapos malayo 'yong location. Hindi talaga 'yong naka-set. Kinain namin sa shooting. 'Pinamigay ko din sa iba do'n. Hindi niya din ako binigyan ng flowers. Kung nagbigay siya ng bulaklak, e, di, lalong natsismis ako?
"At saka, niloloko ko nga no'ng nag-resume 'yong shooting: 'Oy, congratulations, ha? Thank you sa chocolates, ha, kahit wala.'E, siyempre hindi naman siya sanay sa showbiz na 'Hey, I have pasalubong for you.'"
THE REAL KUMANDER. Despite all the titillating stories in circulation, there has so far been no face-to-face encounter between Ara and Jinkee Pacquiao, Manny's wife.
"Di ko pa nami-meet personally si Jinkee. I'm not close to her. Hindi kami nag-uusap. Parang for me, wala akong dapat i-explain, e. I've explained many times sa TV na 'Jinkee, 'wag kang maniwala sa mga sulsol ng iba.'
Jinkee Pacquiao has been characterized by many as the jealous, hysterical, confrontational wife. But Ara herself says she doesn't want to be judgmental.
"Selosa daw talaga 'yon, e. What I heard, kahit mga lalaki daw,pinagseselosan. Sabi-sabi. Pero siyempre, ayaw ko siyang i-judge. Hindi ko naman siya kilala personally. Sabi ko nga, 'wag na mag-artista si Manny kung ganyan siya kaselosa.
"Pero si Manny naman, kahit hindi pa ako nali-link sa kanya, talagang pinag-iinitan din siya ng media, di ba? Kay a ngayon, natatakot ang mga leading lady sa kanya. Si Jinkee na lang ang i-leading-lady niya para wala nang problema."
In a report in the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP, www.pep.ph) on January 2, 2008, Ara admitted that she had received angry text messages that purportedly came from Jinkee.
"Aaminin ko, may nagte-text sa akin," Ara told PEP. "Pero dinededma ko, kasi baka mamaya naman, hindi talaga si Jinkee ang nagpadala at may gumagamit lang sa pangalan niya."
Ara says she would not hesitate to greet Jinkee if their paths ever cross.
"Babatiin ko siya. E, sinasagot ko naman lahat ng issue sa TV. So, dapat hindi siya naniniwala. Tanungin niya ang asawa niya sa lahat ng issue. Kasi marami masyadong nakapaligid kay Manny, e. Hindi mo na alam kung sino ang paniniwalaan mo, di ba?"
As for Manny, Ara says there was never anything special in the way he treated her during, or even after, their movie teamup.
"Laging dialogue niya, 'Beautiful!' Kunwari solo shot ko. After ng take, sasabihin niya, 'Beautiful!' Pero kahit naman sina Daboy, pag nasa shooting kami, binibiro ako na 'Ang ganda talaga ni Ara. Mabait na, masipag pa! Maganda na, marami pang pera!'Ha-ha-ha! Yong mga gano'n-gano'n na joke."
While making Anak ng Kumander, Ara says, the cast always dined at one long table.
"Parating in-between namin nina Lara at Valerie si Manny. Hindi 'yong nagsosolo kaming dalawa na, 'Wow! Sweet!' Walang gano'n. Mahilig siyang maglagay sa plato namin nina Valerie at Lara ngpagkain. Parang lahat ng ulam, gustong ilagay sa 'yo.
"Basta ako, natural lang ako. I see nothing wrong sa mga ginagawa ko sa set. Bastapagdating kopa lang sa set, bumebeso ako agad kina Manny. Pero napapansin ko na ang darning nanonood. Sabi ko nga, 'Wow! Love team ito!"
The champ may have become comfortable with Ara while they were filming their MMFF entry, but she says they never really got too close for comfort. They exchanged stories about each other's families, and Manny often teased Ara about her ex-boyfriend Polo.
"Nagpapatawa lang siya. Komedyante siya in real life, e. Niloloko pa nga niya ako kay Polo. Nagkukuwento ako, pero Hindi naman super-kuwento unless itanong. Siya naman, nagkukuwento din sa akin tungkol sa mga anak niya, ganyan. Nag-aaral sa ganyan, 'tapos nagpapabili ng toys. Mga gano'n lang.
"Minsan, aakbayan ka niya, but it's normal. Kahit sina Daboy, aakbayan ka. Normal lang naman 'yon. Hindi naman 'yong niyayakap or hino-holding-hands to the max. Aakbayan ka. Minsan gaganyan sa 'yo. [She demonstrates leaning on someone's shoulder.] Normal lang. Kahit nga sina Ogie, sina Wendell [Ogie Alcasid and Wendell Ramos, her co-stars in Bubble Gang]. Ewan ko—'yong iba, masyadong malisyoso."
But because of the persistent gossip, Ara and Manny opted not to exchange cellphone numbers anymore.
"Na-interview kami about it. Sabi niya, 'Nagti-text ba tayo? Hindi naman, e. Kahit hindi na lang natin alam ang number ng isa't isa.'
"Hindi ko na hiningi 'yong number niya at all. Every minute, every day, every hour, may nagtatanong sa 'yo. "Tapos, nasa diyaryo ka lagi, front page! Nasa news ka lagi. So, sinong hindi maba-bother?
"Nagpalit na nga ako ng number ko para hindi ako matawagan ng kung sino-sino na nagtatanong. Pari nga kay Manny, di ko 'binigay 'yong bagong number ko. 'Binigay ko na lang 'yong number ng assistant ko do'n sa legman for coordination sa shooting. Pero siya, hindi siya kumokontak sa 'kin."
AFTER THE STORM. It's not hard to see that Ara is still reeling from her ride on the rumor roller coaster. Fortunately, she says, she has family and friends to whom she can turn for solace, support, and understanding.
She says her Bubble Gang mates, including its director, Uro de la Cruz, occasionally tease her, but at the same time they advise her: '"Wag ka nga maapektuhan. Hayaan mo sila." But she can't help being affected by all the brouhaha.
"Lately, after ng Manny issue, parang naging aloof ako sa mga tao. Dito ko nalaman kung sino 'yong mga totoong kaibigan ko. Siguro, parang naging way na ito para malaman ko kung sino sa showbiz ang pagkakatiwalan. Na-discover ko during no'ng issue 'yong mga taong nagsasalita against me, na wala naman silang kaproof-proof. Hindi ko lubos maisip na bakit nila ako ginagawan ng ganitong intriga. Wala naman akong pangit na pinakita sa kanila.
Ara's family has also been affected by the issues that have been raised against her. She and her younger sister Cristine— who herself got embroiled in the Dennis Trillo-Carlene Aguilar controversy—have been made to appear as part of a family of home-wreckers.
"Sobra naman sila. Ang mommy ko, hindi nang-agaw ng pamilya. Siya ang original! At hindi kasal sina Dennis at Carlene. Wala na sila, sa pagkakaalam ko. It just so happened na nabuntis si Carlene, di ba? So parang nagkakataon long 'yong kina Dennis at Cristine.
"E, bakit si Polo, may pamilya ba? Di ba, si Jomari lang naman? I mean, nagkataon lang din naman na ang biggest issue ngayon e 'yong kay Manny.
"Pati personal na buhay ko, naapektuhan na. Yong family ko, hindi na nila nakayanan, kasi alam nila kung gaano ako ka-workaholic. Hindi ko na sila nakikita kung magtrabaho ako.
"Pero 'yong ibang tao, puwedeng maniwala sa issue, di ba?Ano naman ang tingin nila sa akin—hindi kumikita? Yong maniwala 'yong ibang tao, malaking damage din 'yon, e.
"Nakakainis lang ang ibang tao kung mag-judge. Lalo na ako, na parang titiisin ko na lang magtrabaho every day kesa 'yong manghingi or parang dipa kuntento ako kung ano meron ako.
"Kasi kung ano 'yong 'binibigay ninyo sa tao, in return 'binibigay naman ng Diyos, e. Kaya sabi ko, itong Manny issue na ito, may purpose din ito. Siguro may magandang mangyayari sa akin after this storm."
Ara has chosen to move on by concentrating on her work and her businesses. At press time, she is busy with the post-production details of Ate, the indie movie she produced and starred in, and has been promoting Selda.
She is also hands-on with her Ara Mina Foundation, and her production company, Posh Entertainment Productions. Osteria 88, her upscale restaurant on Tomas Morato, Quezon City, has closed down. But she will soon be opening her new venture, Cafe Mina, at the Marikina Riverbanks.
Though she has previously been seen in GMA-7 productions (Bubble Gang, Lupin), she's now doing the ABS-CBN afternoon soap Prinsesa ng Banyera, portraying the lead antagonist Cassandra. Ara clarifies that she does not have an exclusive contract with either of the two networks.
"Parang gusto ko right now, mag-freelance, e. Parang 'yong ginagawa rin ng ibang artista na per show lang. Wala akong exclusive contract, per show lang.
"Nagpaalam naman ako nang maayos sa GMA. Hindi daw puwede 'yong may regular show ka sa kabila, 'tapos may regular ka din sa kanila. May inalok sila sa 'kin na show, kaya lang na-late i-offer. Natanggap ko na 'yong sa Banyera. Gusto kong magkaroon ng isang salita. Kasi, baka mamaya ma-hassle ang Banyera because of me dahil umoo na 'ko, tapos porke't me in-offer ang Siyete e tatalikuran ko sila.
"Very open naman ako sa GMA kung ano ang nararamdaman ko. Kaya every guesting ko rin sa kabila [ABS-CBN], 'pinapaalam ko."
The Pacquiao issue comes up again. "I told them [GMA-7] na sana ipagtanggol din ako sa Manny issue," Ara says candidly.
"Meron silang sarili nilang reason, meron din akong sarili kong reason. Ang reason nila: para mamatay na rin ang issue. Kaya lang, hindi naman mamamatay 'yon hangga't walang nag-e-explain din, e. Lalo na si Manny, nasa laban pa.
"Pero tapos na 'yon, nagkausap na kami ng GMA. At saka, sobrang dami na ng talent para intindihin pa din nila siguro 'yong issue."
In the end, Ara's inherent good nature takes over: "Ano naman ako, minsan pag naintriga, iiyak ko lang, wala na. Afterwards, wala na. Okey na ulit ako. Paikot-ikot lang naman ang showbiz, e.
"Sabi ko, grabe talaga. Pero nakahinga-hinga na 'ko. Kasi may bago nang issue kay Manny—'yong may kahalikan daw or something na lumabas sa Internet. Okey, sabi ko. I'm done."