NALULUHA kami habang binabasa ang isinulat na caption ni Aiko Melendez sa isang video kung saan mapapanood ang pagtatapos ng panganay niyang anak na si Andre Yllana.
Graduate na sa kolehiyo ang binata sa kursong Automobile Mechanic Course sa Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati. Naganap ang seremonya nitong Linggo ng hapon.
Inamin din ni Aiko na emosyonal siya habang sinusulat nito ang mga pinagdaanan nilang hirap para mapagtapos ang anak.
Aniya, “As i write this, I can’t help but be emotional. Una kasi di madali ung pinagdaanan ko para mapagtapos ko Anak ko yes on my own. Single mom ako d ba.
“Not complaining. I remember there were days na I was lacking in terms of financial at that time, Mader Ogie Diaz somehow knows my story. It’s a story of my UPS and DOWNS.
“Kasi my Son was going through a depression at that time, umabot sa time nag-campus tour kami ng anak ko from Ateneo, Lourdes, Colf pero sabi ko di ko susukuan anak ko igagapang ko yan.
“Panganay ko yan gagawin ko ang lahat just to make him finish College. Remember nag-artista s’ya for a time kaso ang dami nangyayari so I spoke to him and he said he will finish school and if Showbizness is still kind and will welcome him babalik sya,” pahayag ni Aiko.
Pagpapatuloy pa niya, “Few of my friends know hirap ako tlaga Pops Fernandez, Carmina Villarroel Legaspi, Gelli Rivera, Cez Gella, ‘yan ang me alam ng lahat ng luha ko, hirap.
“Me oras sunod-sunod tanggap ako ng tanggap ng work para to meet our payables and all. I’m Happy and sad kasi Dream ‘yan ng Daddy Dan Castaneda ko ke Andre Yllana to finish school kaso wala na s’ya. So, Dad finally eto na un! Graduate na Apo mo.
“I know you must be as proud as I am now.
“To my brother Angelo Castaneda thank you for being the 2nd dad of Andoy. And treating him as if your own. To my sisters Michiko Castaneda Bibit, Erika Akiko Castaneda Jacinto thank you also for encouraging Andre to never give up. Jojon Jacinto salamat for constantly reminding how important education is.
“And to Marthena Jickain for always lifting your kuya’s morale when he felt the lowest. You are kuya Andre’s sunshine,” emosyonal pang mensahe ng aktres.
Kasama rin ang boyfriend ni Aiko ngayon na si Zambales Vice Governor Jay Khonghun sa pinasalamatan niya na umalalay din kay Andre at nakasama nito sa lahat ng kanyang laban.
“Lastly, Jay Khonghun for convincing Andre in pursuing all his dreams, that in every downfall he must rise!
“Andre sorry emo si mama kasi tlaga lang Proud na Proud ako. You know I just want only the best for you. Di man tayo kumpleto pero binuo mo and ni Marthena ang buhay ko. Love you son ! Cheers! Sensya na mahaba! Masaya lang.
“Lastly to my mom na mahal na mahal ang apo nya salamat mami Elsie Castaneda if not for you wala ako mabubuting anak.”
Samantala, balik-showbiz na rin si Andre at ang Viva Artist Agency ni Ms. Veronique del Rosario ang namamahala sa kanyang career. Makakasama siya sa teleserye ni Julia Barretto na kasalukuyang nasa lock-in taping sa Subic.