While taking a break from politics, former Parañaque City Councilor Jomari Yllana revealed one of his biggest dreams — to become Ambassador of Spain, a heartfelt wish inspired by his mother.
In our interview on April 25 with selected media including LionhearTV, Jomari shared that his mother’s roots trace back to Mallorca, Spain, and it has always been his promise to bring her back to their family’s homeland.
“Gusto kong maging ambassador ng Spain,” Jomari said with a smile.
He recalled telling his mother: “Bigyan mo ako ng konting panahon, dadalhin kita sa lugar kung saan nanggaling ang roots mo.” After his mom recovered from a health scare that left her in a coma for two weeks, Jomari became even more determined to fulfill that promise.
To his delight, Jomari also learned that he shares family ties with Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal, further deepening his connection to Spain.
“Kuwento-kwento, nalaman namin, pinsan ko pala si Rafael Nadal! Kaya sabi ko sa nanay ko, ‘Mangarap na lang din ako, okey ba sa ‘yo maging ambassador ako ng Spain?'” he shared, laughing.
Although he acknowledged that ambassadorial positions are appointed and must go through a process, Jomari is optimistic. Given his credentials — including completing his three terms as councilor — he would not be required to take the foreign service exam, making him eligible should an opportunity arise.
After completing his term as councilor for Parañaque’s 1st District, Jomari decided to take a step back from politics, allowing his wife, former actress Abby Viduya, to pursue her own political journey. Abby is now running for councilor in the same district.
Contrary to assumptions, Abby clarified that it was her decision — not Jomari’s urging — to run for office. In fact, Jomari initially discouraged her because of the often messy and controversial nature of politics.
Abby explained that constituents themselves requested her to continue Jomari’s community projects, a request she found hard to ignore, especially after realizing how deep her family roots run in Parañaque.
While on political hiatus, Jomari is also making a comeback in showbiz. He has already completed filming the movie ‘Call My Manager’ with Judy Ann Santos, which is awaiting release.
Beyond acting, Jomari plans to pursue a course in musical scoring, with the ambition of eventually directing his own films — and handling the musical scoring himself.
Another passion project he hopes to realize is creating a docuseries about motorsports, tapping into his love for car racing.
If Abby wins a council seat and Jomari successfully lands an ambassadorial post, the couple may face a long-distance setup, with Jomari based in Spain.
Still, their bond remains strong. After rekindling their romance in 2019 — decades after first falling in love — the couple got married in Las Vegas in 2023. They even joke about getting married again in Bicol when time permits.
