WE met Melissa Mendez more than 40 years ago when her discoverer, Ces Evangelista, brought her to the GASI offices for a pictorial. She was then still a teenager. As an actress, she became a favorite leading lady of the top action stars then.

Now, Melissa has a daughter who has also joined showbiz. Her name is Alexandra Yap, who was signed up by GMA Artist Center as one of its newest build up stars. She was introduced in “All Out Sundays” will all the other new Kapuso stars recently.

Alexandria’s father is former Regal action star Raymond Keanu. She is the youngest of Melissa’s three daughters, who are all good looking.

“Nasa dugo talaga niya ang pag-aartista at noon pa niya gustong mag-showbiz,” says Melissa. “She can sing, dance and act. But I told her tapusin muna niya ang kanyang pag-aaral. Now, she has graduated from De La Salle, major in management. She was a dean’s lister. So now that she has a degree, okay na sa’king sumubok siya sa pag-arte.”

Alexandra is also the niece of Glenda Garcia (Glenda Yap in real life, and a discovery of People’s Journal entertainment editor, Eugene Asis). Glenda, Melissa’s younger sister, is one of our most reliable and versatile character actresses today. Glenda just appeared as a villain in the hit “First Yaya” and will now be seen this Saturday in the episode “The Sacrifice” in GTV’s “My Fantastic Pag-ibig” with Anna Vicente and Dave Bornea.

Melissa turned 57 last July 27 but she looks much younger than her age. She is happily married to Eric Gobencion and continues to be very active doing teleseryes and movies. She asked daughter Alexandra to prepare herself well before joining showbiz. “Kumuha na siya ng acting workshop so alam na niya kung ano ang papasukin niya,” says Melissa. “And now, sa GMA, she is doing more workshops bago siya bigyan ng assignment. Sabi ko sa kanya, kailangang matuto siyang makisamang mabuti sa ibang tao, maging polite and humble at never na lalaki ang ulo.”

Well-trained and well-equipped.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Mario Bautista