Actor Jomari Yllana has revealed that he continued to turn down movie and television offers as he decided to seek reelection under the first district of Paranaque in the 2022 national elections.
"Politics involved a lot of work. Kasama ito sa sakripisyo. Walang ibang magaling na magtuturo sa'yo kindi experience. I don't want to miss out on anything. So when I was elected for the first time, I decided on my own to run my office," said Yllana, during a Zoom conference with the entertainment press recently. "Hindi ako nag assign ng COS (Chief of Staff). I've decided na parang hinahati ko yung office per department."
"It was a really big sacrifice. Halos 25 years ako nasa harap ng camera. So nag-enroll ako sa UP ng Public Administration at natutunan ko kung gaano kalalim ang responsibilidad ng isang pulitiko.
"Nakakalungkot dahil minsan may mga role na magaganda. Tatawag ang 'Probinsyano,' ang ABS-CBN, ang Regal Films. Minsan nakaka-meeting ko pa si Dondon Monteverde at Erik Matti pero hindi ko mabitiwan yung trabaho kasi sacrifice talaga.
"At saka walang oras dito. Bigla kang kakailanganin ng kapitbahay mo, ng barangay mo. Bigla kang tatawagin sa city hall. So yun ang sakripisyo ko," he said.
In the 1990s, Jomari rose to fame when he was introduced in the teen flick "Gwapings." It was in 2016 when Jomari first ran as councilor for the 1st district of Paranaque. Then he was reelected in 2019.
Jomari, 45, said that he is focused on creating livelihood projects for his constituents.
"Yun ang malaking pinagtutuunan namin ng pansin, ang makagawa ng livelihood programs para sa ating mga kababayan," said the actor-politician.
Jomari admitted he really misses show business.
Asked what would make him return to showbiz, Jomari said: "Perhaps pagnatapos ang term ko. I guess that's the time gagawa uli ako ng movies or teleserye. Kapag nakapag pahinga na ako from politics, baka bumalik uli ako sa showbiz."
Jomari's last television appearance was for the TV series "The Half Sisters" for GMA Network in 2015. His last movie was "The Healing" which was shown in 2012.