After serving three terms as councilor of Parañaque City’s 1st District, actor-politician Jomari Yllana is stepping back from politics — but the Yllana legacy may continue through his wife, Abby Viduya.
In an interview, Abby, a former sexy actress now aiming for public office, clarified that it was her decision to run for councilor, not something pushed by her husband. In fact, Jomari initially discouraged her from entering politics, citing the chaotic and sometimes toxic environment.
“Open book naman ang buhay ko. Wala akong itinatago, kaya wala akong ikakatakot,” Abby said when asked if she feared political mudslinging.
Abby shared that since 2022, constituents had been encouraging her to continue Jomari’s community projects. She also discovered deep family roots in Parañaque — both her Rivera and Razon clans hail from Baclaran — making her decision even more meaningful.
Meanwhile, Jomari is set to return to his first love: showbiz. He has completed shooting ‘Call My Manager’ with Judy Ann Santos, awaiting its release. Beyond acting, Jomari plans to pursue a course in musical scoring, with dreams of eventually directing films — and handling their musical scoring himself.
Another surprising revelation? Jomari harbors a dream of becoming Ambassador to Spain. His mother has Spanish roots from Mallorca, and Jomari promised to take her there after she recovered from a recent health scare.
“Sabi ko sa nanay ko, ‘Kung mangangarap lang din ako, bakit hindi maging ambassador?’” Jomari shared, laughing.
Interestingly, since he completed three terms as councilor, he wouldn’t be required to take the foreign service exam — a minimum eligibility for ambassadorial appointments.
However, if Abby wins and Jomari pursues an ambassadorial post, the couple might face a long-distance setup with Jomari relocating to Spain. But the two, who rekindled their love six years ago after decades apart, say they’re strong enough to handle it.
If elected, Abby’s primary advocacy will be empowering women in Parañaque through livelihood programs. She aims to launch initiatives that help women in District 1 become financially independent and self-sufficient.
“Gusto ko silang bigyan ng oportunidad na kumita ng sariling pera at magkaroon ng lakas ng loob,” she said.
Abby’s path to politics is unexpected but organic. After rekindling her romance with Jomari and returning to the Philippines in 2019, she got involved in supporting his council work. Unbeknownst to her, it was the start of her own journey into public service.
Armed with real-world experience and a strong educational background — including a Certificate in Accountancy, a Certificate in Elder Care, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Office Administration gained during her years in Canada — Abby hopes to bring a fresh perspective to Parañaque’s city council.
She is running under Team Bagong Parañaque, with Edwin Olivarez as their mayoralty candidate.
As for Jomari, while he’s taking a break from politics, he isn’t closing the door completely. “Maybe Congress someday,” he hinted — but not for now.
