Sen. Bong Revilla was looking healthy eight days after his recent gallbladder and gallstones removal as he met with members of the press on Monday at SuperSam in Quezon CIty.
The actor-politician and his wife, Representative Lani Mercado threw a thanksgiving following his recent operation and also to mark the birthday of Cong. Lani.
Sen. Bong also happily announced he will be seen in a GMA weekly program, “Walang Matigas Na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis,” that will pair him with an actress he has never worked before. Sen. Bong will soon start taping the series, which is set to air in June.
“I support kahit sinong ka-tandem ni Sen. Bong,” said Cong. Lani.
“Mahusay na leading man si Sen. Bong. Tapatan na lang nya. Collaboration naman ‘yan,” she added.
Before shooting starts, Sen. Bong and Cong. Lani will fly with their whole family to Palawan where they will spend their Holy Week break.
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The couple now have six grandkids, the eldest of whom is 18 years old.
The couple will mark the 37th anniversary of their first wedding which happened in Glendale, California on May 28, 1986. Their Catholic wedding was held in Cavite on March 25, 1998.
How will Sen. Bong describe his “forever leading lady” of thirty-seven years?
“She is the perfect mother to our kids,” he said, referring to Cong. Bryan, Cong. Jolo, Inah, Gianna, Loudette and Ram. “Everlasting ang kanyang beauty. Matalino pa, nag perform pa as mayor, congresswoman… Maganda pa ang lahi.”
Cong. Lani said she and the senator may not be showy but they have their sweet moments, especially in their farm in Cavite.
“Gusto ko kahit matanda na nag ho-holding hands pa rin,” she said.
The good-looking couple delighted the press when they gave in to requests to kiss like newlyweds.
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Cong. Lani is turning fifty-five – she doesn’t look it – on April 13.
“Akala ko thirty-five ka lang,” Sen. Bong teased.
The congresswoman from Bacoor said she will be sharing her special day with her constituents. “May gimik kami. Mamimigay kami ng fifty-five na pustiso, wheelchairs, hair makeovers, fifty-five two thousand pesos. May pa-contest kami ng selfies, best smiles at yung mahirap, selfie with me nung last project ko sa showbiz ten years ago,” Lani shared.
There will also be a free concert featuring Ate Gay and December Avenue, among others.
Her birthday wish, she said, is for all her loved ones.
“Good health for our whole family lalo na at hindi na tayo bumabata,” she said.
The Revillas now have six grandkids. The oldest, Ram, the son of Jolo, is already eighteen years old.
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Meanwhile, Bong blasted the Bureau of Immigration (BI) regarding its statement about the offloading incident at the NAIA last month.
According to Revilla, his office has received numerous concerns and complaints about arbitrary offloading at NAIA, and was in the process of investigating the matter when the issue blew up. “Tinitingnan na namin ito since last year, at eto at pumutok na. Mismong kaibigan ni Congressman Bryan Revilla na papasyal lang sa Singapore twice in-offload despite our correspondence with BI,” he shared. “Ang katwiran ng BI, iba raw ang nasa legal at head office nila sa mga nasa airport. Wala daw silang control sa mga nasa airport.
Tama ba ‘yun?”
Revilla criticized the BI’s existing offloading practices saying that while the spirit behind it may be noble, the results speak for itself.
According to the BI, of the 32,404 Filipinos offloaded in 2022, only 472 were related to human trafficking, 873 allegedly misrepresented themselves, while 10 were minors.
“Sa lagpas 30,000 na inoffload at inabala ng immigration na ‘yan, wala pang 4.2% niyan ang may semblance of basis. Mas nakakagalit, only 1.45% ang sinasabi nilang connected sa human trafficking,” Revilla pointed out. “Over 95% talagang inabala at pinagastos lang.
Ibig sabihin, isa lang sa bawat dalawampung inoffload nila ang medyo may basis. ‘Di ba kalokohan ‘yan?
“Sobrang daming naabala. Sobrang daming nasayang na oras at pera. This really says something about the accuracy and efficiency of their performance.”
