Janine is beauty queen material

MANILA, Philippines - Janine Gutierrez is flattered that she is being considered as beauty queen material. Browse online pageant forums, and you’ll find her name on the wishlist of not a few hardcore pageant fans.

With the pageant season still on, some pundits as well as armchair beauty experts are suggesting the upcoming Miss World Philippines as an ideal stage for Janine, given that its reigning queen Megan Young was showbiz-bred before she became the first-ever Filipina to be crowned Miss World.

 â€œThere are people telling me (to join a pageant). I’ve also thought that maybe it’s a good sign that there are people asking. I mean, it thrills me that there are people thinking I have the potential to join. My mom wants me to (become a beauty queen) but I have no plans. I’ve never really thought about it. Mas gusto ko talaga mag-artista,” the 24-year-old, 5’6” tall Kapuso star who topbills the afternoon drama Villa Quintana said during a recent media encounter in Davao for a GMA Regional TV event.  

The eldest daughter of actor-parents Lotlot de Leon and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez stressed she has wanted to act for as long as she can remember, although her foray into the scene was somewhat late than what was expected because she first finished a degree in European Studies from Ateneo de Manila University.   

“Actually, (I was still in school when) I was already asking for mama’s permission if I could work, but she’d always tell me, it’s OK, don’t rush it. So, it was just right since the waiting bore fruit,” she said referring to Villa Quintana, her biggest break yet.

Villa Quintana, a remake of a hit GMA 7 teleserye in the ‘90s with Janine’s character originated by Donna Cruz, has been running since November of last year. Janine said that a big break like this didn’t come easy to her contrary to some impressions because of her “built-in” ties.

“I’ve long waited for a break. I really prayed hard for it because it’s not easy,” said Janine who entered showbiz in 2011. “I’m really trying my best because it’s really an answered prayer because I got to work with director Gina Alajar, and the rest of the cast, Ate Shine (Sunshine Dizon), Kuya Paolo (Contis) and Kuya Raymart (Santiago) and it helps that you work with (these actors) because I get to learn a lot just by watching them. They’re also taking care of me and (leading man) Elmo Magalona. They give us tips and advice.”

Nevertheless, belonging to a family of artistas is putting more pressure on her to do well. “Yes, I feel a little more pressured because minsan kasi pag anak ng artista ang expectation ng mga tao na pagsabak mo kasing galing ka agad ng mga kamag-anak mo. Eh mga kamag-anak ko pa naman talagang matagal na pong artista pero ang ginagawa ko nalang po ay I look up to my relatives as inspiration na dapat galingan ko din, na I can prove that I’m not just here dahil anak ako ni ganyan or ganito maipakita ko rin that I also love what I do and I want to do it well.”

Still, it does help to have family members in the same industry but only to a certain extent. She knows she has to stand out on her own merit. “Well, for sure, it helps that if you come from a showbiz family, you’ll also get into showbiz because you know a lot of people, and the people you’re working with have worked with your parents so there’s an instant connection. But (I’ve learned that) if you really want to stay long in the industry, you have to help yourself. Of course, it helps that you can ask advice from your parents and grandparents but in the end, it’s still you who will determine if you’ll be successful or not.”

And the advice that she takes to heart is from her mom: “She always tells me, you have to love what you’re doing because it will come back to you — the job that you want, the opportunities that you want — and I was able to really prove it. When you work hard, the things that you want to happen, the shows, the opportunities, they will come to you.”