Actress-politician Aiko Melendez said she's willing to do a television project with her former husband Jomari Ylana.

"Siguro darating 'yung right time na magkakasama din kami ni Jom...basta maganda ang script, something that the people will look forward to," Melendez told Kapamilya's daily morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda."

The Quezon City, 2nd District Councilor statement stemmed from reports that she could possibly work again with Yllana.

Yllana recently starred in a special episode for ABS-CBN's longest running drama anthology "Maalaala Mo Kaya" with his former girlfriend sexy actress Ara Mina -- the same person touted by many as the reason for the breakdown of Melendez' marriage with Yllana.

Melendez married Yllana in July 23, 2000 and they have a son, Andrei. After three years, their marriage was annulled.

On February 16, 2006, Melendez married model Martin Jickain with whom she has a daughter, Marthena. That second marriage quickly crumbled as well. After only a year, the couple separated. A court gave custody of their daughter to Melendez.

Yllana and Melendez, however, have remained good friend through the years.

Melendez , who is the daughter of actor Jim Melendez, said showbiz will always be a part of her life.

When asked if she would like to do an MMK episode, Melendez replied: "I wanna do MMK, I'd been really looking forward talaga na gumawa ng MMK whether kasama ko si Jomari or hindi, gusto ko talaga gumawa ng MMK.

Last Friday, June 30 MMK featured ex-sweethearts Ara Mina and Jomari Yllana. Their MMK was their first reunion project after they broke up in 2004.

And for the June 6 episode of MMK, watch out for veteran actress Helen Gamboa as she portrays the life of a mother who's facing all the challenges and taking all the heartaches for her dying son.

Agence France-Presse

With food prices hitting record highs the jury is still out in Asia as to whether genetically modified crops hold the key to future food security.

The Philippine government has openly embraced the commercial growing of genetically modified corn, but neighboring countries appear less than enthusiastic.

"There has been a lot of talk about developing high-yielding crops and crops that can cope with climate change using GM seeds," said Daniel Ocampo, a genetic engineering campaigner with the environmental group Greenpeace.

But, he said, the technology was still a long way from "addressing these needs."

Even so this has not stopped the Philippines from subsidizing the production of GM corn.

"This is despite the fact that GM corn and some conventional varieties have the same yield potentials," Ocampo said.

While Japan does not grow GM crops due to safety concerns among consumers it does import GM grains for use in making products such as cooking oil, animal feed and manufactured goods.

Japanese companies have been reluctant to test the market for consumer-ready GM food because of labelling requirements and public safety worries.

While Japan does not ban GM farming, strict regulation has discouraged corporate investment in the area.

But with rising food prices causing increasing concern in a country that imports more than half of what it eats, the government has said that GM crops may be a way to ease food security and environmental problems.

"Because of strong public concern about consuming genetically modified food, it does not make business sense for Japanese firms to farm genetically modified plants commercially," a Japanese farm ministry official said.

"However, given the expansion in the cultivation of GM products abroad and rising demand for food, we are reviewing ways to have the option of commercial farming in the future," he said.

In South Korea a law which came into effect on January 1 this year imposed strict rules on the import of GM seeds.

While there are domestic GM seed programs for experimental purposes none are for commercial use, an agriculture ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

"So far all imported GM seeds have been processed immediately after being cleared through customs," the official said.

"There have been no cases of imported or home-grown GM seeds being used for commercial cultivation here and we are not considering easing our rules despite price hikes," he added.

In Bangkok the regional headquarters for the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization said it had not seen any signs that governments in Asia were pushing for genetically-modified seeds.

"With modern agricultural technology countries should be able to produce enough food without genetically-modified seeds," said He Changchui, the FAO's regional representative for Asia.

"You don't need them. Just try to supply good fertilizer and good water," he said.

In China the State Council, or cabinet, issued detailed rules in 2001 covering safety, labelling, licensing for production and sales, and import safety policies of all GM products.

Xie Yang of the Development Research Centre, a major think tank under the State Council, said: "No genetically modified grain, including seeds, is allowed for edible consumption in China.

"Genetically modified products are allowed for indirect uses, such as making edible oil, but it must be labelled clearly."

There is successful research in China, but no commercial application yet, he said, adding: "It is said that there are breakthroughs in the research of rice and corn. But none is allowed on to the market."

According to Greenpeace's Ocampo the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia, and possibly all Asia, to have a commercial GM food crop.

"The government would say it is because the Philippines should not be late in embracing a technology that promises to help increase the income of farmers and provide higher yields.

"But the fact is the Philippines is so close to the US that whatever policies the US have regarding GM crops we usually follow suit."