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Jomari Yllana and champion racer Rikki Dy-Liacco promote Okada Manila Motorsport Carnivale 2025. Josh Mercado

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Jomari Yllana

Josh Mercado

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746244900486Jomari-Yllana.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Jomari Yllana and champion racer Rikki Dy-Liacco promote Okada Manila Motorsport Carnivale 2025. Josh Mercado</div>MANILA -- Jomari Yllana has been fascinated with racing since he was a teenager, mainly in the underground scene, and in 1996, he formally became a professional racer by joining Team Toyota TOMS, which opened many doors for him in the racing community.Yllana, like other professional racers, stated that talking about racing always makes his eyes light up, and that he enjoys the satisfaction and health benefits it provides.However, when his firstborn son, Andre Yllana, was born, his father, Andres Yllana, pushed him to step down out of concern for his safety.“Sabi ng dad ko, ‘Narating mo na lahat.’ ‘Hindi pa international,’ I told him. He said, ‘Huwag na baka diyan ka pa matsambahan. May apo na ako. May anak ka na,’” Yllana shared.He then retired for about 10 years. However, in 2011, he founded the Yllana Racing Team, competed in South Korea, and became the first Filipino podium finisher at the Yeongam International Circuit in 2014.Racing appears to be calling for Jomari, as one of the country&#x27;s most anticipated racing events, the Okada Manila Motorsport Carnivale 2025, has been announced, with Rikki Dy-Liacco as co-organizer, a champion racer and Head of Motorsports at the Automotive Association Philippines (AAP), the country&#x27;s official representative to the Federation Internationale de l&#x27;Automobile (FIA).“We’re bringing back the fun in Metro Manila and the excitement of motorsport step by step will get there,” Yllana said.“We want to rally every racing enthusiast, family, and fan into one inclusive and passionate motorsport community,” he added.The motorsport festival will formally begin on May 4, with a variety of activities including slaloms, drag races, and night rallies. There will also be a tarmac challenge in Lubang, Mindoro, in June. On May 31, they will launch Jom&#x27;s Cup, a 1/8-mile drag racing event that will take place at Okada Manila&#x27;s Boardwalk and Gardens, and on June 21 and 22, they will hold the largest night race.The event was praised as the largest motorsport gathering in recent years, demonstrating the vibrant Filipino automobile culture.“Way back in 2023, we announced that we’re going to wake up a sleeping giant, right? So the sleeping giant is awake. It’s big, it’s a monster, and it’s hungry. So the master plan for this year and the following years to come is to put the Philippines back to the world map of motorsport. So that’s the target this time,” he proudly said.Motorsport Carnivale draws inspiration from the prestigious Philippine Grand Prix, which took place in Manila from 1973 to 1976. Yllana aims to reignite the same enthusiasm with younger audiences and new fans.“Through this event, we were reminded of the passion that fuels our local motorsport scene, and we’re just getting started,” Yllana told the media.<div>Acting comeback</div>During the event, Yllana also discussed his comeback to acting in Erik Matti&#x27;s &quot;Call My Manager,&quot; an adaption of a Turkish drama and comedy series set to air later this year.In the series, he plays a powerful politician and bandit, comparable to Robert de Niro or Al Pacino, and is produced by Dondon Monteverde.“It was great doing the role after a long time of not acting. My character is bad. Warm up ko ‘yun to return to acting,” he shared.When asked about his preparations for his acting comeback, Yllana replied, “I’m looking actually more excited with production. When you’re an actor, you have to be physically prepared. It’s so hard to lose weight. I don’t weigh myself. Takot ako. As long as I can still memorize the dialogue in the script, I will accept film offers. I’m very excited.”He added, “I will make my preparations. Body, mind, and soul. Pagsasabayin ko na. I have an eye condition. I take stem cell treatment for my eyes. I have a few wrinkles here and there. I have to address a few issues with my body.Yllana expressed his excitement about creating a racing community where amateur and professional racers may connect. He added that now that he is not campaigning for political office, he has more time for acting and arranging racing events.

The motorsport festival will formally begin on May 4, with a variety of activities including slaloms, drag races, and night rallies.

The motorsport festival will formally begin on May 4, with a variety of activities including slaloms, drag races, and night rallies.

Jomari Yllana announces racing event, acting comeback

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Jomari Yllana announces racing event, acting comeback

Josh Mercado

Published May 03, 2025 12:02 PM PHT

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