Actress-turned-politician, Aiko Melendez, marks her birthday as well as her high hopes for the months ahead. Born “Aiko Shinoji” on Dec. 16, 1975, Melendez admits that she has no definite plans on how she will celebrate 34th as her schedule is jam-packed.

“This is peak season for us,” says the three-term Quezon City councilor. “But I’m hoping to spend it with my family, even for an hour. I terribly miss my kids.”

Aiko has been busy working around the clock as she readies her bid to run for QC vice mayor the running mate of mayoral candidate Mike Defensor in the forthcoming elections. For her birthday wish, Aiko is hoping for continued health and happiness for her family as well as winning in her 2010 bid.

When asked about her hopes for 2010, Aiko is very positive for what the future holds: “I’m excited to be running with Mike. I asked God to give me a mayor who has the vision as I do and the heart not just for the city, but most especially for the poor. What Quezon City needs for 2010 is someone like him who has the experience in administrative and legislative matters. Our team-up will compliment each other for the gain of our city. There is a lot of work that needs to be done.”

On being a serious politician

Recently, Aiko made headlines over a joke reportedly cracked by another celebrity/politician, namely the current QC Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, who reportedly quipped that she was lazy and had no projects laid down throughout her political career.

Despite this, Aiko knows that her role as a public servant is no joke and is serious in continuing her work to improve Quezon City.

“Modesty aside, my achievements as a councilor speak for themselves. Being an elected official for 9 years, I can confidently say that district 2 of QC can see the projects I’ve done. If elected in 2010, I will work doubly hard and not rely on the mayor’s budget which, sad to say is what happened to Herbert,” says Aiko, referring to the current graft and corruption controversy surrounding Herbert Bautista and his alleged ghost projects.

“Vice mayor should be a working position. From the time he was elected, I haven’t seen any projects reflecting his 300 million peso per year budget. Vice Herbert owes it to his constituents to at least clarify all the allegations and explain where all of his budget went. He can deny? Or admit? But at least he should take a stand on this sensitive issue.”

QC politics gets more ‘star-studded’

Other showbiz personalities will be trying their hand at QC politics as stars by the likes of Ara Mina, Alfred Vargas, Roderick Paulate, Arnel Ignacio, and others run for councilor spots in their respective districts.

When asked about what advice she would give to celebrities shifting their careers to the political arena, Aiko said: “Being a good public servant is very hard and takes 110 percent commitment. If there’s a single doubt in your capabilities and dedication, then don’t enter politics. There should be a calling and everything should come from the heart.”

Artists Rock the MRT for justice in Maguindanao

For the past five years, Rock Ed Philippines has worked to make the Filipino private citizen more interested in civic issues. Gang Badoy, founder of Rock Ed, and the organization’s member volunteers have worked hard to spread their message via music, the arts, poetry, sports, photography, fashion, graphic design, literature, new approaches to science, film, cultural studies, theatre, dance, and other creative ways. Rock the Riles is one such project aimed at changing society through education and educating the youth through rock culture.

Originally organized to celebrate Human Rights Day, Rock Ed decided to re-focus their zoom lenses on one cause: To just push for justice for the innocents slain in the Maguindanao Massacre. Rock the Riles saw concerned citizens clad in black turn out on Dec. 6 as they supported the theme “In solidarity, in protest, in anger, in grief.”

This year, despite having no corporate sponsors, Rock Ed succeeded in producing Rock the Riles, a successful orchestration of 8 simultaneous gigs in 8 MRT Stations. Over a hundred twenty bands, artists and media personalities joined forces in a plea for action and justice.

People lent equipment, committed to give water, food, print IDs, and at the last minute, Unilab Philippines came in to commit to help with the sound systems. Rock Ed confirmed that the savings these donations will be used to start the tuition fee fund for the children of the journalists slain in Maguindanao.

Some of this year’s Rock the Riles performers included Up Dharma Down, Swissy, Sandwich, Chillitees, Cambio, Malay, Imago, Zach and the Action Pact, Peryodiko, Sugarfree, Noel Cabangon, Giniling Festival, Alamid, Boy Elroy, Juan Pablo Dream, Radioactive Sago Project, Abby Asistio, Paolo Santos, Miguel Escueta… just to name a few.

From Taft all the way to North Avenue, each MRT station was assigned a different human rights theme like poverty, global aid, preventable diseases, maternal health, gender equality, the environment, education and child mortality. Photography, freedom walls and visual arts exhibits begging for justice were part of the whole day event as well as a screening of films in honor of slain film critic Alexis Tioseco.