Aiko Melendez, (Aiko Shimoji) is an award winning actress and a former public servant in Quezon City. Acting is in her genes as her father was a very popular actor, Jimmy Melendez.
Her career started in the late 1980s when she was discovered by Regal Films and thus became one of the film studio’s solid stable of young actors. Her acting is lauded and recognized by the industry and she has received several acting awards for ground breaking performances. Among her awards are:
- Best Supporting Actress (Sinungaling Mong Puso) – Star Awards
- Best Actress (Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie) – Film Fest
- Best Actress (Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie) – FAP
- Best Actress (Sayo Lamang) – Film Fest
- Box Office King and Queen – Guillermo Mendoza
- Most Promising New Star – Star Awards
- News Maker of the Year 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002
Aiko also had several nominations, namely:
- Best Actress (May Minamahal) – Famas
- Best Actress (May Minamahal) – Star Awards
- Best Actress (Maalaala Mo Kaya) – Famas
- Best Actress (Maalaala Mo Kaya) – Star Awards
- Best Supporting Actress (Buhay Ng Buhay Ko) – Star Awards
- Best Actress in Single Performance (Regal Drama Presents) Star Awards for TV
As a public servant, she was the councilor of Quezon City and have initiated several projects that focused on education and health – providing free computer lessons and feeding programs to those who cannot otherwise have access.
Aiko now balances her time as an actress for several top rating television shows and as a mother to her beautiful children – Andrei and Marthena.