
Alma Moreno is seeking reelection as a councilor of Parañaque City. Together with other candidates from Team Bernabe, supporters of Mayor Jun Bernabe and Congressman Ronald Bernabe, the actress filed her certificate of candidacy on Thursday (Nov 26), in the city's local Commission on Elections office. Alma's former husband Joey Marquez, meanwhile, is running for mayor under the opposing party. In an interview with the press, Alma said she thinks Joey will understand her decision to go against him. "Palagay ko maiintindihan ako ni Joey kasi nandito ako sa partido ni Mayor Bernabe, sa Team Bernabe, 'no? Tinanong ko siya noong hindi siya tatakbo. So, I know maiintindihan niya ko. Dito kasi talaga ako. ‘Pag dito yung puso ko at nakasagot na ko, may isang salita kasi ako," she said. She would also stand firm if Joey uses the relationship card to get her support. "Siyempre respeto, natural tatay siya ng mga anak ko, nandun pa rin yun. Kaya lang, hangga't maaari, ako nilalayo ko na yung mga anak ko para hindi na madamay pa, 'di ba? Katulad nito, hindi na kasama yung mga bata para hindi na maipit. Dahil kawawa naman yung mga bata. "Basta walang issue sa 'min, kumbaga professional kami. Basta tatay siya ng mga anak ko, nanay ako ng mga anak niya, hanggang dun na lang," Alma explained. Alma added that her workload, coupled with the recent loss of her cellphone, are preventing her from talking to her former husband. "Nagbago pa ko ng number kasi nawala yung isang phone ko... 'Saka lagi akong wala, busy. As in super-busy," she said. Asked to comment about the recent Joey Marquez-Joanne Quintas sighting, Alma said, "It's his life now. I'm happily married." Alma's marriage to Joey in 1992 produced four children: Yeoj, VJ, Em Em, and Winwyn. The union was officially annulled in 2004. Alma's other children include Mark Anthony Fernandez, with the late action star Rudy Fernandez, and Vandolph, with King of Comedy Dolphy. Alma rose to fame in the late 1970s as a sexy actress. Her films include Ligaw na Bulaklak (1975), Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16 (1976), Hinog sa Pilit (1976), Magkaribal (1979), City After Dark (1980), and Aswang (1992). She last starred in the daring indie film Tiltil (2008), directed by Neal Tan.
PEACE IN MINDANAO. Last March, Alma married Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic. The grand Islamic wedding was held in Vistamar Resort in Mactan, Cebu. In lieu of the looming issue of the Maguindanao massacre, Alma wanted to assure the press that Mindanao is not a "disturbing" place to visit. In fact, she regularly goes to Lanao del Sur, where her husband is based. "Ewan ko, nandun sa isip ng tao na Mindanao, nakakatakot. No, hindi yun totoo," Alma remarked. "Napakababait na mga tao sa Wao [Lanao municipality]. Totoo 'yan. Hindi ka matatakot. Lalo na sa Bumbaran [Lanao municipality] na sinasabi rin... Mayor dun mabait. ‘Pag pupunta ako dun, isasama ko kayo. 'Wag kayo matatakot." As proof of the peace in Mindanao, Alma said she even spreads her good works not just in Parañaque City but also in Lanao. "So meron na kong ginawa, umiikot-ikot na kong kaunti, umiikot din ako dun. Meron din akong organization na tinayo sa Wao, na meron naman ako dati," she said. But Alma won't leave Parañaque. "Siyempre, ang district one Paranaque, nasa puso ko rin kasi, siyempre, hindi ko iiwananan," she said. -
Mark Angelo Ching, PEP