AFTER a little less than three years, Jomari Yllana completed his Master in Management Major in Public Administration (MMPA) degree and proudly graduated last Friday from the Philippine Christian University (PCU).

The actor and successful Parañaque councilor for three terms marched at the PICC (Philippine International Convention Center) Plenary Hall to receive his diploma, witnessed by his wife, Abby Viduya.

It was a tough battle for Jomari juggling his studies and work in Parañaque just to attain his goal and complete his master’s degree.

“There was a time we wanted to achieve something even in our age,” Jomari said. “Half a century na tayo. Everything changed during the pandemic. It changed our lives. I thought magugunaw na ang mundo. Todas na tayong lahat.

“I woke up one day when I had nothing left for me. I gave everything. My wife convinced me to take my master’s and finish my studies. The best feeling is giving back to the people who supported me when I decided to serve.

“Everything I wanted to accomplish, I set aside at the time when I worked as an actor. But when I was told that PCU was offering different special courses, convenient for any student whatever style of learning he chooses.”

Admittedly, Jomari came to a point where he realized everything changed globally. “Everything became so expensive,” he lamented. “Everything was challenging. Our environment became so different.

“But everything made us prepared for a better future, a better world for everyone. As a public servant who wants to serve the people around you, you need to be well equipped when the modern world started. We need to be updated.”

Jomari opted for hybrid learning online even during the pandemic for his graduate studies.

“That became convenient for me,” he said. “I worked Mondays to Fridays, but I found time to go back to school. Pasok sa oras ko. I can’t believe it that I finished my master’s.”

Admittedly, studying again is hard. “Kung gusto mong pahirapan ang sarili mo, mahirap siya talaga to go back to school,” he said. “But if you want it easy for you, that’s up to you.

“All the courses were there. All the options you want to take were there. Whatever your lifestyle is, your work is, your age, it’s very, very inspiring meeting those people who finished their studies.

“The environment around you, it makes you feel young. You are mostly with young people around.”

Jomari is proud to say, with all humility, that he is prepared to continue venturing into public service, whatever challenge is given to him.

Ten years ago, when he left showbiz, his bread and butter after he decided to enter politics, Jomari never shuttled between two jobs. He served and devoted his time while he was away from the camera.

“One year before my (political) term, I had to prepare first and learned the ropes. Come elections, when people vote for you, in the barangay level, LGU (local government unit) level, if God gave you a direction in life to serve and do public service, embrace it.

While others shuttled between two jobs, Jomari concentrated in public service. “All the calls inquiring for my acting job, I declined. I seriously focused on desk work and office work. I left showbiz.”

Jomari is pleased that his wife constantly supports him in his political work and everything else he does. “She is my biggest supporter,” he said of Abby.

Meanwhile, Abby, who tied the knot with Jomari two years ago in the US – after being away from him for more than two decades – is consistently proud of her husband.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you want to achieve something and reach for your dreams, that makes me so proud of him. I love you so much, baby.”

Abby was said to have inspired Jomari to pursue his master’s degree. “Not a lot of people know but my husband has such a brilliant mind,” she said. “It’s a shame if he is not going to use it and serve other people.

“He can even pursue his PhD (doctorate degree), why not?,” asked Abby. “Follow in the footsteps of your father so he will be proud of you.”

Jomari believes there is nothing impossible with God when you want to achieve something. “There are sacrifices along the way, but God will make you achieve your goals,” he said. “My father was a neuro-psychiatrist who served in the military.

“He finished at UST (University of Sto. Tomas). So if you count the years, he spent a lot of time being in school and completing his studies.”

“My father served in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for a long time. He was chief of medicine at the Armed Forces of the Philippines medical center. That makes you really so proud of him.

“I feel him always around me, guiding me constantly from heaven, looking at us. He left me not really wealth, but it’s the brand that he left us with the family name and the type of service that he did.”

So will he return to showbiz after politics? Jomari acknowledged that the most exciting in the life of an actor is being repackaged, in his case, where he would fall after his stint in politics.

“You have to think about your look, your age now,” he said. “It’s like setting up to launch a new product. That’s exciting if ever I will really go back to acting. I miss that. There’s take two, take three, a lot of takes.

“You really miss the world of make-believe. To me, it’s my Disneyland, m playground. Then you get paid. Compared to politics, there’s only one shot. That’s real life. I’m not sure, but I’m still young to play a lolo. (Laughed)

“I think about the actors I idolize, like Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, even Eddie Garcia. There are Albert (Martinez), Ian (Veneracion), Goma (Richard Gomez).”

Jomari is not too familiar with the new actors, but he is more excited to work with them. “I don’t know if it’ technology, but there’s a certain look now with the young ones that is very digital, with the lights, the camera angles and everything is based on short span. I didn’t get to do those fast-paced rate with the new technology.

“I am excited to meet new directors than work with the new artists. Ever since my first audition in director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna’s Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991), I didn’t feel nervous. I had no interest in acting then yet.

“We were nervous in memorizing lines and delivering our long dialogue at that time. Acting is more exciting for me.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio