LANI MERCADO TALKS AFTER 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TO SEN. BONG REVILLA

Lani from igma.tv

NOW THAT Lani Mercado has adjusted to the rigors of her new as a congressman, she goes back to her first love, acting, playing the role of Dennis Trillo’s overprotective mom in “Dwarfina”. “I made sure my return to acting won’t adversely affect my work in congress,” she says. “Unang-una, yung taping ko coincides with the time na recess kami sa kongreso so libre talaga ako.”
She and hubby Sen. Bong Revilla are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in April 2011.

Will they still have a renewal of vows in the church where they originally tied the knot in California? “That was the plan before. But after my husband signed up an exclusive contract with GMA-7, he was offered na dito na lang gawin ang silver wedding renewal of vows namin, with GMA helping us and with them having exclusive rights to the ceremony. They’re happy na pareho kaming Kapuso ni Bong at bibihira daw sa showbiz yung inaabot ng 25 years kaya tutulungan nila kami. So, if ever, kailangan ng malaking preparasyon diyan kasi ang magiging guests namin, hindi lang from the world of showbiz but also from politics kasi pareho na kaming may public position ngayon.”

Has her feelings for Sen. Bong remained the same after 25 years? “After six kids at ang daming bagyong dinaanan naming together, I can say na di nagbabago ang love ko for him and I can feel na mas tumindi nga ang pagmamahalan namin sa isa’t isa lalo ngayong may mga apo na rin kami. Nagkaroon ng mga problema and I’d be a hypocrite if I’d say na di ako nasasaktan, but the thing is you don’t dwell on the negative but on the positive side of the relationships, like si Bong, he never let me just stay behind us but he encouraged me to be on my own. Kaya nga tinulungan niya kong manalo as congresswoman. So I hanged on to the positive aspects of our relationships and, at this point, all I can pray is wala na sanang dumating pang mga pagsubok sa’min bilang mag-asawa.”