Nagbalik-tanaw si Aiko Melendez sa unang pagkikita nila ng yumaong movie producer na si Lily Monteverde, o mas kilala sa tawag na Mother Lily.
Isa si Aiko sa tinaguriang Regal babies ng Regal Films, na itinaguyod ni Mother Lily.
Sa eulogy para kay Mother Lily kagabi, August 7, 2024, isa si Aiko sa naatasang magbigay ng pananalita.
Read: Monteverde family mourns the passing of Mother Lily
Lahad ni Aiko, "I was only six years old when I first met Mother, here in Valencia.
"And sabi sa akin ni Mother, 'Gusto mo bang mag-artista?'
"Sabi ko kay Mother, 'Mayaman ka po ba?'
"So, sabi niyang ganun sa akin, 'Aba, itong batang to, sisikat to, sisikat to.'"
Doon na raw nabigyan ng mga proyekto si Aiko sa Regal Films.
"Tapos after nun, they gave me a break through Where Love Was Gone, where I played the young Snooky Serna.
"And then after that, I was relaunched again, via Underage Girls alongside Ruffa [Gutierrez] and Carmina [Villarroel].
"And then, doon sa aming tatlo, I was the first one na binigyan niya ng break, and gave me a solo via Too Young.
"And funny thing about my movie Too Young, noong first day ng showing ng pelikula namin, flop.
"But si Mother hugged me and said, 'Babawi tayo, anak. Sisikat ka. Pag sinabi kong sisikat ka, sisikat ka.'
"After three months, she gave me another break via My Pretty Baby, where after that movie, sunud-sunod na.
"And Mother Lily believed in me. Kasi sabi nga niya, 'Sisikat ka, Aiko.'"
Read: Dina Bonnevie recalls fond memories with the late Mother Lily
AIKO MELENDEZ: "MOTHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
Mula sa pelikula, masuwerte rin si Aiko na binigyan siya ng TV shows ng Regal
"And then again, sa mga ka-batch ko, ako ang kauna-unahan niyang binigyan ng isang... pinaalala ni Direk Manny Valera kanina, ang Regal Drama Hour Presents Aiko.
"Again, sumugal na naman si Mother Lily sa akin. And that show lasted for 13 years.
"That was one of the longest drama TV aired ever in Channel 13."
Mensahe pa ni Aiko sa namayapang producer, "So, Mother, thank you so much for everything, for believing in me when no one did.
"I will miss you, Mother. Ma'am Roselle, naalala mo yung Mano Po?
"Ni-request niya ng pangalan ko, Lily, Lily Chua.
"Si Mother Lily requested that again kay Ma'am Roselle.
"Sabi niya, 'Roselle, gusto ko pangalan Aiko, Lily. Kasi paborito ko yan si Aiko.'
"So, Mother, hanggang sa uli, naniniwala ka pa rin sa kin.
"Kaya, I know you're happy wherever you are now."
Dagdag pa ni Aiko, "By the way, sa mga hindi po nakakaalam, dalawa po kaming Regal baby sa pamilya ko.
"Dahil naniniwala din po siya sa Papa Jimi [Melendez] ko.
"Kaya, Mother Lily, I love you.
"I know you're with my Papa Jimi now. Please send him my regards. And you will be missed forever.
"And your legacy will live on in our hearts forever."
Read: Aiko Melendez has no issue about Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters billing