Aiko, Ara finally bury the hatchet

Aiko Melendez (left) and Ara Mina

After years of bickering, actresses Aiko Melendez and Ara Mina have finally buried the hatchet.

The two actresses—who both had romantic relationships with actor Jomari Yllana and Bulakan, Bulacan mayor Patrick Meneses—earlier said they were only waiting for the right time to iron things out between them.

At first, Aiko was reluctant to share the good news with the Inquirer of what happened while they were attending the wake of the father of show biz columnist Rommel Placente in Quezon City on Saturday night. She said: “I don’t want to put [any] malice [to it]. What’s important to me is that we’re finally OK.”

Prodded to talk more about the moment, Aiko relented: “I made the first move. I saw her sitting alone. She was talking to no one, so I sat beside her and asked how she was doing. That’s how it started. I wanted to make her feel that there shouldn’t be any tension between us anymore. I hugged her.”

Aiko added that she first “exchanged hellos” with Ara at their friend, actress Rufa Mae Quinto’s wedding in November 2016. “Last night was more memorable. We were finally able to laugh (at the past) … You see things differently when you have God at the center of your life. All the anger and pain disappear. Everything is light.”

“I am deeply humbled (by the experience). What’s cute was that I also met her daughter, Mandy. We even have a picture together,” Aiko recalled. “Hazel (Ara’s real name) and I are text mates again. There’s no more animosity. I want her to feel that I’m sincere.” —MARINEL R. CRUZ