TATES GANA used to just stay at the sidelights supporting her longtime companion, QC Mayor Herbert Bautista, dad of her daughter Athena, turning 20 in October, and son Harvey, turning 13 next month. Now, she is also taking center stage as the host of “Serbisyo Publiko”, along with Angelo Almonte, aired Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 12 Noon, on DZRJ 810AM and on 8 Tri-TV Cablelink Ch.7. So what convinced her to host a show?
“Actually, noon pa ako may offer to host a radio show, or even a TV show, but I’ve always felt na mas mabuting nasa background lang ako ni mayor,” she says. “Pero dati na akong tumutulong sa mga taong nangangailangan, like sa ChildHaus ni Mader Ricky Reyes. Last election, I ran as councilor sa hangarin kong makatulong pa sa mas maraming tao. E, hindi ginusto ni Lord na manalo ako. Tapos, dumating itong offer ng Trimedia Broadcasting Network and I realized na hindi naman kailangang nasa politics ka to help people. With this show, makakatulong kami ng co-host kong si Angelo Almonte to be the link in helping people in need to refer them to the right agencies and organizations who can help them. This is really a good way to help the public and we’ll help lahat ng taong hihingi sa amin ng tulong, from problems with the SSS, DTI, yung mga maysakit, lahat.”
Their show started airing last Monday. “I was so nervous kasi hindi ako madaldal. Tapos isinalang agad ako with Angelo. Sabi ko nga kay Mayor, kinakabahan ako, but he said, kaya mo yan.”
So it’s not true that she and Mayor Herbert have parted for good, especially after he got linked to Kris Aquino? “We never lost communication. Lagi siyang very supportive sa akin. Nagte-text siya.”
But we thought their kids felt bad and cried hard when the mayor was rumored to be considering walking down the aisle with Kris? “Umiyak nga sila, but then, siguro, dapat lang nilang pagdaanan sa buhay ang mga ganung klase ng problema. Basta ako, I have no bad thoughts or bad words for Kris. At si Mayor, mabait naman siya, hindi nagkukulang sa amin. Noong magbakasyon kami sa States ng mga bata, sumunod pa nga siya to be with us.”
She never asked the Mayor to marry her? “Honestly, hindi na ako naghahanap pa. Happy naman ako, e. I have accepted the situation. Very thankful nga ako sa dami ng blessings sa akin. I’m happy with our kids. Athena is now in 3rd year majoring political science at the Ateneo, very active sa iba’t ibang orgs and extra-curricular activities doon. Si Harvey naman, who tried acting in ‘Goin Bulilit’, may offer to be part ng bagong JaDine series. Kaso regular student siya at grade 8, hindi pinayagan ng school. Now, may offer uli to be part ng isang movie for the Metro-Manila Filmfest. We’ll see kung papayagan siya.”