Jennylyn & Mark keep it reel

It was in 2004 when Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras were first seen on TV as GMA 7’s burgeoning It-Couple. From the moment they forged real-life romance right after winning StarStruck, to calling it quits but keeping it platonic, one thing’s for sure: Jennylyn and Mark’s onscreen chemistry has always been their strongest suit.

Jennylyn and Mark are reunited in Rhodora X, a groundbreaking drama that delves into the complexities of the human mind. The ambitious, compelling series is part of the network’s opening salvo for 2014.

“It’s been a long time coming na mag-partner kami ulit ni Mark,” says Jennylyn. Her loveteam with Mark took a backseat in 2009 at the conclusion of their last TV project, Ikaw Sana.

“I’m excited sa kalalabasan ng Rhodora X, kasi maraming nag-e-expect sa pagbabalik-tambalan ng Mark-Jen,” Mark says. “Bonus na lang yung kilig dito. The story itself, kakaiba. Creepy, suspense, drama — it’s a different story for GMA.”

In Rhodora X, Jennylyn takes on an unconventional character never-before-seen on Philippine TV — the titular Rhodora, who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). As a young girl, Rhodora was abducted and abused, prompting her mental faculties to create another persona — the scheming alter-ego Roxanne, whose criminal mind and evil machinations lead to terrifying events in the lives of people around her.

Mark is Joaquin Vasquez, a shipyard heir and fiancé to Rhodora’s sister, Angela (played by Yasmien Kurdi). Angela is later accused of murdering Joaquin’s secretary out of jealousy, and is sent to prison despite her innocence. In Angela’s absence, Joaquin falls for the caring Rhodora and marries her — oblivious to the fact that her alter-ego, Roxanne, is responsible for his secretary’s murder.

Jennylyn went through intensive research to play her character. She attended consultation sessions with a psychiatrist to better understand the mental anguish of clinically-diagnosed DID patients. She also took workshops to internalize her character’s complex personality.

Mark is proud of the transformation that Jennylyn has undergone over the years. She spread her wings and took command of her life. “Jen is already a woman in every sense of the word,” he says. “Yung pagiging mature niya sa trabaho, the way she deals with life, hindi mo na makikita sa kanya na bata pa din siya. Iba na talaga.”

Both artists attest that the fun dynamics of their friendship fuels their intense onscreen chemistry. “Yung connection namin ni Jen offscreen, iba eh,” says Mark. “Never kaming nagpaka-showbiz sa harap ng camera at sa harap ng mga tao. Kung napapansin nila na may sweetness kami, kung napapansin nila na nandoon pa ring yung spark, it’s because of our friendship. From StarStruck until now, hindi ‘yun nawala.”

Mark has always been the goofy one, adds Jen. “Super saya pa rin niya kasama. Super kengkoy. Super pilyo!” On the set, the two often spend time with each other — usually in the company of their co-star and fellow StarStruck graduate Yasmien Kurdi.

“Si Jen, maraming dalang pagkain sa taping ‘yan! Isa ako sa umuubos ng pagkain niya,” reveals Mark. “I often ask her, ‘O Jen, anong baon mo ngayon?’ Kung hindi ako tulog, nandoon lang ako sa tent nila ni Yas, nakikigulo.”

Mark recounts how he often sneaks into the ladies’ tent in between takes for good old fun. “Pero ang pinupunta ko talaga doon, yung hihingi ako ng pagkain sa kanila,” he quips.

Yasmien has been a long-time friend to the pair. Together with Rainier Castillo, the three formed StarStruck’s first-ever Final Four. Ten years after StarStruck, Yasmien is now a happy mother to one-year-old daughter Ayesha Zara, as is Jennylyn to her four-year-old son Alex Jazz.

“Ibang-iba na si Yas,” says Jennylyn, “magaling na siya noon, pero mas lumalim pa ang pag-arte niya ngayon.”

Mark agrees, citing Yasmien’s little bundle of joy as the impetus for her newfound maturity.

“Nung dumating si Ayesha sa buhay niya, sobrang nag-mature si Yas as a woman and as an actress. Napakalayo from Day 1 ng StarStruck,” he says. “Mas gusto ko aura niya ngayon. The way she thinks, iba na eh. Di na siya yung isa sa mga naging baby namin sa StarStruck.”

Jennylyn and Mark are happy to veer away from the sugar-coated pleasantries of most onscreen flames. Their love team was never “showbiz,” say the two. It’s good that their rapport is built on friendship. Reel or real? The Mark-Jen tandem is here to stay. Should fans expect more collaborations down the road? Jennylyn takes center stage, “Looking forward to it!”