Ara Mina still friends with her daughter’s father

Ara Mina (center) with daughter Amanda and ex Patrick Meneses

“We are still friends,” said actress Ara Mina of her ex-boyfriend, Bulakan, Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses. The ex-couple, who separated in 2015, recently celebrated their daughter Amanda’s second birthday. “Christmas Eve was spent with my daughter’s family on her father’s side. But Christmas Day was spent with mine. We did the usual Christmas traditions—we ate and opened presents together,” she said at Amanda’s underwater-themed party, which was organized by baby product company Nuby.

Before the year ends, the actress plans to mount a garage sale, the proceeds of which will go to her self-named charity foundation, which supports kids with Down syndrome. “I have always loved children,” said Ara, who has a younger sister with Down syndrome.

“My heart turned softer when I became a mom. But I have always tried to help in my own way,” she said. —Allan Policarpio

Ara Mina with daughter Amanda

Amanda at 2