He may or may not stage an acting comeback, but what’s certain is that Jomari Yllana wants to put to good use his latest achievement, a master’s degree in Management from the Philippine Christian University (PCU).

Jomari received his diploma during an hours-long graduation ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City last Nov. 29.

The actor-politician led his fellow graduates in reciting the pledge of honor.

He joked, “I guess they assigned me the part to make sure that I would attend the ceremony.”

Jomari, a three-term councilor in Paranaque City, told Manila Bulletin moments before graduation that it took him more than two years to finish the program.

“This has been a pandemic project. when everything changed. I realized in 2020 that I was nearing my half-century mark.

“There were still a number of things I felt I had to do or achieve, or finish. I told my wife, Abby, before it gets too late, I might as well do the things I have to finish,  including going back to school.”

He was inspired when he learned that PCU was offering different special courses, convenient for any student whatever style of learning he chooses.

Abby Viduya-Yllana, who has filed her certificate of candidacy for councilor of the 1st district of Parañaque, says she’s proud of her husband.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are. If you want to achieve something, you reach for your dreams. My husband has a brilliant mind. It’s a shame if he’s not going to use it to serve. I push him the way he pushes me every day,” she said.

Jomari chose hybrid learning online at the height of the pandemic for his graduate studies. He found it convenient, allowing him to be at his office Mondays to Fridays.

Admittedly, studying again is hard. “If you want to punish yourself, go back to school,” he said.

“It makes you feel young, however, being among mostly young people.”

He calls Abby his biggest supporter.

“For me, the best feeling is giving back to people who support us.”

Jomari says there is nothing impossible with God when you want to achieve something.

“There are sacrifices along the way, but God will make you achieve your goals.”  

“My father, he finished at UST, was a neuro-psychiatrist, who was chief of medicine at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.”

“He left us with not really wealth, but the family name and his brand of service.”

Is he returning to showbiz after ending his nine-year-term as councilor next year?

Jomari acknowledges that the most exciting part in the life of an actor is being repackaged.

“It’s like setting up to launch a new product, considering one’s looks, age, circumstances. I find that exciting as acting is my Disneyland.”

He looks at actors that he admires, Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Sean Connery, Mel Gibson,  Eddie Garcia. There are also Albert (Martinez), Ian (Veneracion), Goma (Richard Gomez).

Welcome to the club, a new and enhanced Jomari Yllana!