Actress Lani Mercado was very busy during the 43rd birthday celebration of her husband Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla at Whitespace in Pasong Tamo, Makati City, last Friday, September 25. Lani was the over-all head of the committee that managed the star-studded party—she ushered guests to their seats, oversaw the program, food and venue, and planned the theme "Amazing Bong" with the help of the staff of GMA-7's Saturday show Kap's Amazing Stories.
The press had the chance to stop Lani for an interview only a few minutes before the party started at 8 p.m. We immediately asked her about her wish for her actor-turned-politician husband.
Because her husband will run as a reelectionist senator next year, Lani's wish is naturally political in nature.
"Ang wish ko sa kanya makapagpatuloy pa siya ng isa pang termino. Six more years. Dahil alam naman natin na marami pang kailangang maganap at gawin sa lahat ng bahagi ng bansa, lalo na sa lalawigan naming mga [Caviteño]," she said.
Sen. Bong Revilla won a seat in the Senate in 2004 under the administration's K-4 coalition. He had previously held positions as governor and vice-governor of Cavite, and chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board.
Like her husband of more than 20 years, Lani had also sought a political seat in 2001, when she ran for mayor of Bacoor, Cavite, but lost. This year, Lani revealed plans to run as congresswoman of the same district.
Before she finally makes her decision, however, she says she will seek the opinion of the people first.
"Yan ang tatrabahuhin ko, sa kaya kong abutin," she said.
ONLINE SPAT. PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) also asked Lani for her reaction to the recent attacks of actress Rosanna Roces against her family. The former bold star accused the Revilla family as "magnanakaw ng apo" on her Facebook account, calling them other names as well.
Lani's second son, Jolo Revilla, got Rosanna's daughter Grace Adriano pregnant in 2004. Their son, Gabe Revilla, is currently living with the Revillas.
Lani told PEP she does not have an account on the popular social networking site, so she hasn't seen Rosanna's updates and doesn't care to give them weight.
"Sa kanya na 'yon kung dun niya nave-vent yung kalungkutan niya, e di okay lang," she said.
But will she press libel charges against Rosanna?
"Let's keep it quiet," she answered.