Jennica: No qualms playing a mother role

MANILA, Philippines - “I’m fine with it,” replies Jennica Garcia when asked about playing a young mother in the GMA 7 afternoon soap Bukod Kang Pinagpala. “I have no hesitation. I didn’t even bother myself to ask why the role (was being offered to me). I think my mom had me when she was 19. I have no qualms playing the role. As an actress, I want to try something new. I’m waiting for roles like this.”

Jennica’s Ofelia is a far cry from her last assignment in Kasalanan Bang Ibigin Ka? where the concern of her character was all the affairs of either young or adult love. This time around, the joys and sacrifices of motherhood and the issue on legal custody are part of life equation. Mothers, regardless of age and social standing, can attest to these.

“My character Ofelia just wants to get her child Lara and to have the custody over her,” shares Jennica. “What people can look forward to is when Ofelia and her child meet again and how the mother reacts when she sees the child with a different persona.” This is true because Lara will suffer from amnesia. It is a new Lara, who speaks English with British accent with no traces of an impoverished upbringing and lifestyle. As co-star Mark Anthony Fernandez puts it, “there will be a 180 or 360-degree turn” in the girl’s life.

Was there a time that her parents Jean Garcia and Jigo Garcia fought over Jennica’s custody?  

“Nothing that I know of,” she answers. “There came a time when I was growing up that I wanted to know why (they separated)... My dad respects my mom’s decision. He knows that I wanted to stay with my mom. He has a family of his own to begin with. My mom has no one. My other sibling is 11. It was a long time that it was only me and my mom being together. She would be very lonely if I left her side.”

Jennica knows where Ofelia and Camille Prats’ character Bessie are coming from.

“She’ll do everything and anything to get Lara, even if she hurts people along the way or steps on someone else’s toes,” says Camille, who welcomes the changes of her character. “She’s strong and bad. Lumalabas na ang sungay niya.”

This is a twist afternoon televiewers can sink their teeth into. The characters are not caricature type.

Making Ofelia’s life miserable and sometimes unbearable is Bessie, who gets obsessed with Lara, shares Camille. “When the child is out of her sight, she easily gets panicked,” she says. “She gets obsessed of having a child and having Lara. Lara will be a bad girl.”

Away from the klieg lights, Jennica enjoys the company of her family and boyfriend Alwyn Uytingco. They would go out of the country and explore the sights and sounds of a place.     

“Last year, Alwyn and I visited four to five countries,” recalls Jennica. “I think there was a trip or two with mom. When I have work, I plan what to do and where to go when the soap wraps up. When the soap is ongoing, I have no time to take a break or to go somewhere else. The work finishes late and I’m tired of doing other things afterwards. I also spend time with my father.”

Jennica has definitely no qualms sharing with everyone what’s going on in her personal life. Hers is an open book, she thinks. This child of showbiz is also open to different possibilities as to where career will bring her.