|
By Ricky T. Gallardo
Some women cannot live without love. Romantic
love, that is. Not Ara Mina.
The fearless and voluptuous actress has been
devastated by love several times in the past but she tells us that
these experiences have only made her a more resilient woman.
“Falling in and out of love has taught me some
priceless lessons, not only about love itself, but more so, about me
as a person. You know, how much I can love, how much I can give, how
much I can sacrifice, and how much I can tolerate.” Strong words,
certainly, especially coming from someone who now claims that she
can feel complete even with the absence of a romance in her life.
The last relationship she admitted was the one
with actor Polo Ravales. “That has been more than a year already,
“ she recalls, letting out a half-smile, half pout. “Ang tagal
ko na palang walang jowa [an original gay term meaning boyfriend
that has since become popular and aceeptable for all genders].”
She clarifies that she’s not in a hurry to
fall in love again. ”My career is my priority at the moment.
Things are happening at a pace that I like, you know, not too fast
and not to slow. There’s balance and I can do other things that
can give me fulfillment.”
Ara is in the main cast of the much talked about
afternoon daily drama Ligaw na Bulaklak, directed by the well-loved
Randolph Ranay. The series is getting very good reviews, where
critics raving about the program’s well-written script (Keiko
Aquino), the polished storytelling, and the competent performances
of its actors led by Sid Lucero and Nonie Buencamino.
“I am happy that I was given the chance to
play the villainess in Ligaw na Bulaklak, “ Ara enthuses, adding,
“Being a contravida requires a different level of acting and I’m
glad that our director and writer gives me opportunities to grow and
expand my grasp of the acting business.”
Her few detractors are busy spreading that her
move to ABS-CBN was a big mistake since she now only appears on
afternoon programs compared to her heydays in GMA where she was
given prized roles in primetime. “They can say all they want to
say. I love my job. I take it seriously and there’s nothing wrong
with one’s show assigned to the afternoon slot.”
“A true actor does not give less than what his
or her role requires just because his or her show is in the
afternoon. Even if they have smaller budgets for afternoon shows,
the responsibility of everyone in the production remains the same. I
still give my 100 percent everytime.
All seems to be well now with Ara. She has
patched things up with equally controversial sister Cristine Reyes,
who is also getting her own project at the ABS-CBN compound. “We
are very OK now, “ volunteers Ara, “we treat each other with
respect, at hindi naman talaga maaalis ang concern ng isang ate,
hindi ba?”
Ara does not feel any pressure that her younger
sister is in a romantic relationship at the moment. “Hindi naman
ito contest, hindi ba? If my sister thinks she has found the right
man, then I will fully support her. In my case, I can wait. “
Indeed, patience has its rewards. Ara Mina has
proven this several times in the past. “ Love can wait. I believe
he will come, “ she ends, on a very positive note.
|
