Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto has nothing but support for her son Luis

MANILA, Philippines – Luis Manzano has been thrust in the middle of controversy when he admitted he and Jennylyn Mercado are "definitely dating" on the May 21 episode of "E-Live." What makes this admission noteworthy to showbiz watchers is the fact that Mercado herself has just recently split up from boyfriend Dennis Trillo; and judging from Mercado's recent magazine tell-all, the split was not that amicable.

Following this confirmation from Luis, his mom, Vilma Santos-Recto, gave him a piece of advice on how to deal with naysayers, “Kapag inintindi mo ang lahat ng ito ay hindi ka magiging maligayang tao.”

Known to be quite candid and open about his relationships even to the media, including the high-profile one he had with former girlfriend Angel Locsin, Manzano has likewise kept his mother in the loop when it comes to his personal affairs. And this budding relationship with Mercado is obviously not one he's hidden from her.

 “Yeah in a way, alam ko rin naman na nagde-date-date," Santos-Recto admitted on a "Showbiz News Ngayon" report on May 25. "Ang iniisip kasi ng iba parang mabigat na mabigat na 'yung relasyon. Bago pa lang naman ito. Nagde-date lang sila, nagkikita sa training.”

With negative comments hanging over his head for choosing to date a single mother like Mercado---who already has a son, Alex Jazz with another ex, actor Patrick Garcia---Luis readily came to Mercado's defense.

“Everyone deserves a fresh start,” Manzano explained in the same "E-Live" report. “Parang ano lang ‘yan eh, ‘pag nakulong ba ang isang tao, ibig sabihin hindi na ba siya pwedeng magbago o bumait? The moment na masyado kang mag-stereotype ng tao, napaka-judgmental mo naman. Lahat tayo may nagawang mali. Sabi nga nila ‘he who has no sin shall cast the first stone.’ So parang ganon. Kung may someone na may perfect past, kakamayan ko [siya].”

Manzano also noted his mother was a single mom herself when she met Sen. Ralph Recto.  “Ang argument ko sa tao, eh ‘di sana hinusgahan na rin ang mommy ko nung pumasok si Tito Ralph sa buhay niya. Nung pumasok si Tito Ralph sa buhay ng mommy ko andun na ako.”

However, news surfaced that Santos-Recto's devoted followers, the Vilmanians, allegedly felt irked by the comparison to Mercado. To this, Santos-Recto asserted on "SNN" that,  “Wala naman pong masama doon kung nabanggit ni Lucky na nai-compare ako kay Jen, maybe because the time when I got married again, anak ko na siya. Siya 'yung 'di nakaranas ng discrimination kahit nagkaroon ako ng second chance at married life,” she pointed out.

“Ang Vilmanians ko, palagay ko, malawak ang isip niyan. Pero kung may reaction man sa Vilmanians ko, hindi lang naman sila ang nagre-react. Ganoon yata talaga ang tao, mapag-react,” she added.

Hoping for no less than her son's happiness, Santos-Recto's message to Manzano was, "Basta ang pinaka-importante, kung ano ang nararapat mong gawin na sa tingin mo ay ikakaligaya mo, [at] nakakapagpaligaya ka ng ibang tao, hindi ka nananakit... go ahead, because that is your life, at the end of the day."