Aiko Melendez's daughter Marthena Jickain, 18, just earned five college admissions abroad!
Her recent achievement was revealed in Aiko's YouTube vlog-the actress' first-ever one-on-one interview with her daughter from her former marriage to Martin Jickain.
In the interview, Marthena talked about turning down the opportunity of studying abroad and choosing a top Philippine university instead. Her decision, she says, was for Aiko's sake.
She explained, "Actually, I applied kasi abroad din ng college and I got accepted. Pero iniisip pa rin ni Mama na, 'You're still my baby girl,'" she said. "Siyempre, andon yung emotional attachment, which I one-hundred-percent understand,' ganon... Pero I know naman to myself na where I am now is exactly where I need to be."
Being more specific, Marthena gave details about her five college admissions: "Three in the U.K. and then two in the U.S."
Speaking her mind in the vlog, Aiko said that while she wasn't ready yet to "let go" and give her daughter a certain kind of independence, she would have allowed Marthena to pursue her studies abroad.
In the conversation, Marthena talked about experiencing a glimpse of life abroad during her short stay in the States. She lived with her aunt, Aiko's sister, and took care of her younger cousins.
Marthena observed, "Iba yung level of independence 'dun-from your own chores down to the smallest things, you have to do it by yourself. Here kasi in the Philippines, we have helpers, kasambay, who would help us along whatever we do in the house."
Turning to her mom, she added, "As a baby girl, lahat ng kailangan ko andon kayo. Doon sa U.S., wala talaga. You have to be very independent."
READ: Marthena Jickain on Choosing a University in the Philippines and Her Future Plans
Back to her college studies, Marthena will be taking up Developmental Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Her chosen study is a multidisciplinary course in law, politics, and economics, which are the fields Marthena is interested in. "At least, I get to have a glance [at] those areas all at once," she commented.
She is leaning toward becoming a lawyer someday, and considers her mom Aiko as a huge influence, who intermittently served as a councilor in Quezon City since 2001.
The actress mentioned that Marthena took up a summer course in Law in 2023 at the Somerville College Oxford, which counts two former prime ministers in England and the only British woman to win a Nobel prize for science as its alumni.
Aiko then asked her daughter how she sees herself in five years.
"In five years' time, hopefully, naka-graduate na ako by that time," answered Marthena. "Sana by that time, I'm still playing volleyball. Sana na-pursue ko na rin yung goal ko na ipagpatuloy siya i-pursue."
"Hopefully, I get to do that if it's God's plan for me and if I work hard enough for it." Finally, Marthena left a message to her mom, "I'm really grateful kasi you're always there."
She detailed that Aiko would show up in her volleyball practices even on occasions when the actress was taping until the wee hours of the morning, and called them "special moments."
And since she is now of legal age, Marthena hopes that her mom will give her a bit more freedom to do things on her own terms. "Sana you believe in me enough na kaya kong gawin yung mga bagay na pino-prove ko naman sa iyo na gusto kong gawin," Aiko's daughter said.
"Alam ko naman ang pagiging mother mo, sana may mga bagay na feel ko, if you'd say yes to it, I'd probably [have] pursued it."
For her part, Aiko said that she would make adjustments to accommodate her daughter's request, albeit gradually.
Good luck with your next endeavors, Marthena!
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