Aiko Melendez has built a long career in Philippine entertainment while also establishing herself in politics, but away from cameras and public service, one of the biggest parts of her life is being a mother. The Filipino actress has two children, a son named Andrei “Andre” Yllana and a daughter named Marthena Jickain.
Aiko’s children come from her two previous marriages. Andre is her son with actor Jomari Yllana, while Marthena is her daughter with former chef and model Martin Jickain. Both children have grown up around the entertainment industry, although they are gradually creating identities of their own.
Andre has explored show business as well as motorsports, while Marthena has attracted attention for her fashion sense, education and recent interest in acting. With their mother continuing to balance entertainment and politics, the Melendez family remains familiar to Filipino audiences.
How Many Children Does Aiko Melendez Have?
Aiko Melendez has two children, one son and one daughter.
Her eldest child is Andrei “Andre” Yllana, who was born in 1998 during her marriage to actor Jomari Yllana. Several years later, Aiko welcomed her second child, Marthena Jickain, in 2006 during her marriage to Martin Jickain.
There is an eight-year age difference between the siblings.
Despite having different fathers, Andre and Marthena are part of the same close family unit built around their mother. Aiko has regularly spoken about motherhood over the years, and her children have occasionally appeared alongside her at public events and on social media.
Both have also attracted attention independently of their famous mother.
Who Is Andrei “Andre” Yllana?
Andrei Yllana, often called Andre, is Aiko Melendez’s eldest child and only son.
Born in 1998, Andre is the son of Aiko and Filipino actor and politician Jomari Yllana. With both of his parents being recognizable public figures, he was introduced to the entertainment world from an early age.
As he grew older, Andre began developing his own interests.
He has pursued opportunities in local show business, following a path that is hardly surprising considering his parents’ backgrounds. At the same time, he has also become interested in car racing, another connection to the Yllana side of his family.
Rather than relying entirely on the popularity of his parents, Andre has gradually worked on establishing his own public identity.
Andre Yllana’s Interest in Racing
One particularly interesting part of Andre’s life is his connection with motorsports.
His father, Jomari Yllana, has long been associated with cars and racing in addition to his entertainment and political career. Andre appears to have inherited some of that enthusiasm.
Car racing offers a very different environment from acting. It demands concentration, physical preparation, technical knowledge and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
Andre’s involvement in both entertainment and racing shows that his interests are not limited to one industry.
For Aiko, watching her son develop interests of his own has also meant seeing him move beyond simply being known as the child of two celebrities.
Who Is Marthena Jickain?
Aiko Melendez’s second child and only daughter is Marthena Jickain, born in 2006.
Marthena is Aiko’s daughter with her former husband Martin Jickain, who has worked as a chef and model. As Aiko’s only daughter, Marthena is sometimes affectionately described as her “unica hija.”
Over the years, Marthena has attracted considerable attention from Filipino entertainment audiences. Her photos have frequently drawn comments about her striking appearance and model-like features.
But appearance is only one part of her story.
Marthena has also shown a strong interest in education and recently began exploring acting, suggesting that she may be building a future that combines academic interests with creative work.
Marthena Studied at the University of Oxford
One of Marthena’s notable educational experiences was completing a law summer course at the University of Oxford.
The experience showed an academic side that people who only knew her through celebrity family photos might not have expected.
Studying law, even through a summer program, can expose a student to subjects involving critical thinking, argument, communication and legal principles. For Marthena, the Oxford experience provided an opportunity to explore those interests in an international academic environment.
Her educational journey also demonstrates that growing up in a show-business family has not limited her choices to entertainment.
Whether she eventually pursues law professionally remains her own decision, but the experience added another interesting dimension to her growing public profile.
Marthena Has Also Tried Acting
Despite her academic interests, Marthena has not completely stayed away from the industry that made her mother famous.
In 2026, she made her short-film acting debut, marking an early step into performance.
The development naturally attracted attention because Aiko has spent decades working as an actress. Having a daughter explore the same profession creates an obvious connection between generations.
However, it is still early to know whether Marthena intends to make acting a long-term career.
A short film can provide an opportunity to experience production, working with a director, learning lines and performing in front of a camera without immediately committing to a full entertainment career.
For now, Marthena appears to be keeping several possibilities open.
Aiko Melendez’s Two Children Have Different Fathers
Andre and Marthena were born during different chapters of Aiko’s personal life.
Aiko married Jomari Yllana, and their relationship resulted in the birth of Andre. Although the marriage eventually ended, both remained connected through their son.
Aiko later married Martin Jickain. Their daughter Marthena was born during that marriage.
Those relationships did not last, but motherhood remained one of the most consistent parts of Aiko’s life.
Raising children while working in entertainment can already be demanding, and Aiko later added another major responsibility by becoming involved in politics.
Through those career changes and personal transitions, her children have remained central figures in her life.
Aiko Has Previously Considered Having Another Child
Although Aiko is already a mother of two, she has previously spoken openly about the possibility of having another child.
At one point, she discussed being open to expanding her family and explored subjects such as egg freezing.
It was a personal topic that attracted public interest because of her age and her established family with Andre and Marthena.
However, Aiko currently remains a mother of two. There has been no addition to the family beyond her son and daughter.
Her willingness to discuss the possibility also showed how seriously she has considered motherhood throughout different stages of her life.
Growing Up With a Famous Mother
Being the children of Aiko Melendez means Andre and Marthena have grown up with public attention that most families never experience.
Their mother’s acting career has kept her recognizable for decades. Her later move into politics added another layer to her public profile.
Yet Aiko’s children seem to be developing lives that are not completely defined by her fame.
Andre has explored acting and racing. Marthena has shown interests ranging from law and education to fashion and acting.
Their different paths demonstrate how two children raised in the same celebrity family can develop very different ambitions.
Aiko Melendez as a Mother
Aiko’s career includes acting, television appearances and public service, but motherhood has remained an important part of her personal story.
Her children are now old enough to pursue their own goals, which has changed Aiko’s role from raising two young kids to supporting two increasingly independent young adults.
Andre, born in 1998, has already had time to explore several professional interests. Marthena, born in 2006, is at an earlier stage of deciding what direction she wants her adult life to take.
Aiko has appeared proud of both.
Rather than expecting her children to follow exactly the same career path she did, their different interests suggest there has been room for them to find their own direction.
Aiko Melendez Children Continue Building Their Own Lives
Aiko Melendez has two children: Andrei “Andre” Yllana and Marthena Jickain.
Andre is her eldest child and only son from her marriage to Jomari Yllana. He has explored show business and car racing, carrying connections to both sides of his famous family.
Marthena is Aiko’s only daughter from her marriage to Martin Jickain. She has attracted attention for her model-like appearance, studied a law summer course at the University of Oxford and made an early move into acting through a short-film debut.
Although both were born into a well-known entertainment family, Andre and Marthena are gradually writing stories of their own.
For Aiko, that may be one of the most rewarding parts of motherhood. Her children grew up watching her build a career across entertainment and politics, and now they are old enough to decide where their own talents and interests will take them next.