Lani’s new dilemma

Lani Mercado has always been Miss Prim and Proper, even during the worst crisis in her life. When husband Sen. Bong Revilla, was being linked to several women, in and out of showbiz, Lani never lost her cool. She kept mum about it all, thinking that silence is the best part of discretion.

When son Jolo became an unwed teenaged father and got entangled in a mess over issues of support and others over his firstborn, Jose Gabriel by Grace Adriano, Lani opted to stay cool again. Rosanna Roces, meanwhile, Grace’s mother, was the exact opposite, dropping bombshell after bombshell against the Revillas.

And now that eldest son Bryan introduced girlfriend Maui Taylor to the family during Bong’s recent birthday party, Lani finds herself in the spotlight once more. She may not like it, but Lani has no choice. Especially now that she’s more accessible to the press because of her new soap, Now and Forever now on its third season with Agos, to premiere Oct. 10 on GMA. Yes, she has met Maui. But Lani refuses to judge her beyond saying that she finds the former Viva Hot Babe "charming and pleasant."

Only time, as always, will tell how the relationship between Maui and her son will progress. Still, with Jolo’s controversial case fresh in her mind, the mother in Lani can’t help but worry.

"I told Bryan not to be that serious yet. He’s only 18 going on 19. He’s also the eldest, so his younger siblings will follow him," says Lani.

Jolo’s experience may have traumatized her, but this doesn’t mean Lani will give up hoping things will turn out for the best.

Her wish for Jolo is for him to be prepared once the results of the DNA test to prove his paternity over Gabriel is released in a month’s time. As for Bryan, Lani is confident her son has a sound mind, and will therefore handle his relationship with Maui, and its effect on his life as well.

"He may have been concerned about Maui’s (sexy) image and its effect on us, so he took his time in introducing her to the family," muses Lani.

She is holding back further comment, however, until she gets to know her son’s girlfriend more. As of now, all Lani says is that Bryan and Maui exchange expensive gifts. The relationship, therefore, is a healthy give and take. So far, so good.

It’s so far, so good as well where Lani’s career is concerned. Her pace is more relaxed now that she’s a senator’s wife. When Bong was still Cavite governor, Lani put her career on hold to act as proxy in the dozen and one functions her husband had to attend to. There were projects to launch, weddings and baptisms to sponsor, guests and visitors in his office to attend to.

But now, Lani can return to her career with a vengeance, balancing work and motherhood all over again.

"The demand on my part is not so heavy anymore," she says. So she’s making up for lost time. Lani plays Olivia, a protective mom and battered wife in Agos. She will soon be seen in a woman’s show, this time in the soon-to-open Channel 11.

People are convincing her to run for mayor in Lipa (where her mom hails from), but Lani is not biting that fast.

"I got traumatized when I lost my bid for Cavite mayor," she admits. "But I had to move on. My family needs me. I had to find a way to keep them from feeling depressed. Dapat tuloy ang agos ng buhay."

That’s how Miss Prim and Proper has remained poised in the midst of the worst storms in her life. And how she has survived – scarred, but ready and willing to face the odds once more. (See related story on Funfare.)