Jessa returns to her roots

MANILA, Philippines - With Kokak finally bowing out of the boob tube, its lead stars can’t help but feel wistful and nostalgic about their hectic, but nevertheless fulfilling experiences over the past six months.

For Jessa Zaragoza, playing Sarah Lahbati’s mom for the GMA 7 afternoon fantaserye has been a rewarding experience that not only broadened her acting palette, but also won for her a new generation of fans.

But more than the acting plaudits and rave reviews, what Jessa will miss more will be the intimate, off-cam bonding moments with fellow co-stars Caridad Sanchez, Deborah Sun, Shyr Valdes and their other “tentmates.”

“It’s a privilege to work with Tita Caring (Caridad Sanchez) because she’s very, very professional. I admire her passion for our craft,” Jessa confides. “Likewise for our director, Ricky Davao, who gives us the freedom to improvise our lines. Maybe it’s because he’s an actor himself, and knows what it feels like to ‘speak out’ in your own unique way.”

Although her big, expressive eyes make her a natural standout in dramatic roles, the porcelain-skinned actress is willing to step out of her comfort zone and branch out into more offbeat, even comic roles.

She says, “Honestly, I’m open to all. I always want to challenge my versatility as an actress. I’ve been doing this since I was 11 years old, but I still feel that there are a lot of roles that I haven’t portrayed and would love to tackle. I also love doing comedy, specially working with Direk Joey Reyes.”

As for her singing career, Jessa is collaborating with award-winning OPM composer Vehnee Saturno for her forthcoming album. “I’ll be going back to my OPM roots for this one,” Jessa shares. “Expect more of those heartbreak, jukebox-type songs, pretty much like Bakit Pa?, which Tito Vehnee composed and turned out to be my anthem of sorts.”

Looking back, Jessa’s gut instinct for Bakit Pa? proved her right. “I cried when I first heard it,” she recalls. “I felt the message and the heart of the song. I was still young then but I could relate to the song, that’s why I poured out everything when I recorded that song. It was also the last song I recorded for my debut album. It was supposed to be just a filler song for the album but it turned out to be the biggest hit. Nakakatuwa!”

Despite her hectic showbiz schedule, Jessa enjoys playing her role as full-time mom to eight-year-old daughter Jayda. “She loves singing!” she exclaims. “We were surprised with her choice of musical influences: Celine Dion, Etta James, Liona Lewis and Adele.”

And unlike most showbiz marriages riddled with controversy, the low-profile union of Jessa and Dingdong Avanzado has been rock-steady. “We’ll be celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary on March 18,” she shares. “I can say that we are stronger than ever. Dingdong is such a loving husband and a good father to Jayda, and we are each other’s best friends.

To keep fit, Jessa works out thrice a week, does Bikram Yoga and watches her diet. Her key to looking fab? She says, “Moisturize! Even Dingdong has taken after me and started using moisturizer. And the biggest secret to looking good and feeling great? Sleep!”