Prized actress Ara Mina will accept Manny Pacquiao’s help with her campaign if he offers to do so.

“Tatanggapin ko -- para na lang sa kunsimisyon na bigay n’ya sa akin,” Ara told Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online and other members of the press during the “Tinik Sa Dibdib” press conference held inside GMA-7 on Sept. 22.

Ara, who is running as Councilor for the 2nd district in Quezon City in the 2010 elections, was alluding to recent rumors that broke of her being seen with Manny at a hotel in Malate and for allegedly giving her a house.

“Sorry to say—I know he is a hero—pero sana magkaroon naman siya ng balls na ipagtanggol ako kasi sobra na akong nadudurog. Kayod ako ng kayod kakatrabaho para may pambayad ng bahay tapos...” she said.

Asked what kind of help she should receive from the Boxing Champ, Ara joked, “Bayaran n’ya yung bahay ko para tapos na!”

Is she willing to guest in “Show Me The Manny?”

“Ang tagal…ang tagal naman nila ako tawagan,” she quipped.

Turning serious, Ara emphasized that she is happy with her life. Her love life is going great guns, she said, while work offers continue to pour in.

“Masayang-masaya na ako sa love life ko kaya ‘di na ako naghahangad ng bonggang-bonggang career. Ang may trabaho ka lang nowadays at ang hindi ka naman nawawala sa eksena—swerte ka na non, ‘di ba?  Ganun talaga, as you grow younger and younger…”

Ara will soon be seen in GMA-7’s Sine Novela soap opera, “Tinik sa Dibdib.” Her character, Trixie, is a reprise of the role played by Pilar Pilapil in the film version.

“I hope magustuhan din ng mga tao ang interpretation ko nung character. No one can approximate the way Pilar tackled the role so I didn’t even begin to try. Hinanapan ko ng ibang anggulo yung portrayal ko,” said she.

The actress isn’t worried that her kontrabida roles will affect her image as an aspiring public servant.

“Ang mga tao naman, alam 'yong totoong ako. They know it’s just work and that I’m just trying to be a versatile actress,” said she who was recently seen in the soap opera, “Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?”

Ara bristled when asked about people who look down on actors trying their luck in politics.

“Bakit si Ate Vi? Si Isko Moreno? Hindi ba madami naman silang nagawa sa panunungkulan nila sa bayan? Ang pinakamahalaga ay ‘yong may malinis na intensyon.

“Besides, lahat naman ng bagay ay napag-aaralan. Pag nakaupo ka na sa pwesto, pwede mong isabay sa pagtulong sa kapwa ang pag-aaral gaya ng ginawa ni Ate Vi at Isko,” she said.

Ara denied that her non-showbiz boyfriend will be funding her campaign.

“Sinigurado lang niya kung gusto ko talagang tumakbo. Then ang sabi niya, ‘Ok, I’ll support you’ pero ‘di niya sinabi na financially. Siguro, moral support ang tinutukoy niya.

“Hindi ako yung tipo ng tao na magsasabing, ‘Give me the money.’ Nagtratrabaho ako para may pantustos ako sa mga pangangailangan ko.”

She admits, though, that her friends volunteer help but only in kind.

“Never cash. ‘Yung tipong may nag-volunteer lang na magpagawa ng T-shirt. Ganun lang,” she said.

Ara said she won’t exit showbiz if she wins next year. She said she still needs to earn as an actress because she has no plans of using her salary as councilor for herself.

“Pero s’yempre ang priority ko na kapag nahalal ako ay ang paglingkod sa tao.”

“Tinik Sa Dibdib” stars the award-winning actress Sunshine Dizon in the lead role, along with Marvin Agustin, Bembol Roco, Daria Ramirez, Michelle Madrigal, Deborah Sun, Maybelyn dela Cruz, Jen Rosendhal, Rico Barrera, and Miguel Tanfelix.

The soap opera is under the direction of Gil Tejada Jr. It will premiere on GMA-7’s Dramarama sa Hapon block on Sept. 28 after “Daisy Siete” and “Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit.”

“Tinik Sa Dibdib” is a remake of a 1985 film starring superstar Nora Aunor. It tells the story of Lorna, a woman who escapes from her dysfunctional family by getting married only to find herself in a more complicated situation.