Jennylyn Mercado, please

MANILA, Philippines - 11 years is a long time to be in any industry; 11 years in the fickle and cruel world of Philippine show business is a feat not accomplished by many.

Last year, actress Jennylyn Mercado, 27, almost became another casualty of the mean fame machinery. And it’s not for lack of talent. In her decade-long career, Jen has done regrettably forgettable projects, sure, but she has also portrayed a handful of memorable characters. Most notable was her performance in the period flick Rosario, a heartbreaking account of business tycoon Manny Pangilinan’s great-great-grandmother’s life. Jen played the beleaguered matriarch with depth and restraint, and a quiet sensuality that seared her in viewer’s memories. Unfortunately, passion projects like Rosario don’t come by often. What come by often are the relentless issues about Jen’s personal life. The intriga inventory usually includes: her colorful love life, her tumultuous relationship with her baby daddy, and any possible chismis that can be conjured from those topics. At one point, Jennylyn decided she’s had enough.

“Sabi ko, ‘Pagka tapos ng contract ko, ayoko na. ’Di ko na kaya.’ Siguro dahil ang daming binabato sa akin na intriga, na pati yung anak ko tinatamaan,” she says. Jen was ready to throw in the towel, take up culinary arts, and lead a more peaceful and private life as a restaurateur.

And then Rhodora X came along. Jen, who’s so used to playing the underdog, the hapless victim in most of her projects, couldn’t resist this rare, offbeat role. In this teleserye, she played a woman struggling with Identity Disorder. In essence, she was portraying three different characters: “Isang sobrang bait, isang masamang masama, at isang bata.” To prepare for her turn as crazy-ass Rhodora X, she pored over psychology books for hours, watched documentaries about real-life patients, and underwent a grueling workshop to get into character. Her hard work paid off. “Maganda yung kinalabasan,” she says, smiling. “Sabi ko, ‘Ah, puwede pa. Baka may follow-up pa to, tingnan natin.’”

Good thing she decided to wait it out. The follow-up project turned out to be English Only, Please, the rom-com that would earn Jennylyn Mercado her first Best Actress Win at the recently-concluded Metro Manila Film Festival.

BACK IN THE GAME

Right now, we are in a huge estate in the middle of nowhere (a.k.a. Taytay, Rizal), where she’s taping an episode of Second Chances, her new teleserye about… second chances. We’re squeezing in this interview and photo shoot during Jen’s lunch break. (Trust us when we say it took supreme effort to make this Supreme cover happen.)

Anyone charting Jennylyn Mercado’s showbiz trajectory can see that her star lost some of its luster after she gave birth at 21, and Jen acknowledges this. “Noon, talagang kaliwa’t kanan [ang trabaho] eh, halos hindi na ako umuuwi,” she recalls. “Pero nung nagkaroon ako ng baby, one at a time lang. Isang project, tapos every other day pahinga.”

But those days are over. Ever since her Best Actress win, the star’s schedule has been “packed,” says her longtime “mommyger” Becky Aguila. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are blocked off for taping; Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for rehearsals (Jen’s Valentine concert is happening on February 13), magazine and/or endorsement shoots, plus an appearance at a corporate event or two if time permits. On Saturdays, Jen tapes for her cooking show Sarap With Family, and on Sundays she sings, dances, and hosts on variety show Sunday All Stars. “Walang pahinga. Balik sa dating gawi,” Jen says, with a contented smile, referring to the halcyon days before her unplanned pregnancy.

BEST ACTRESS BEHAVIOR

Jennylyn’s portrayal of everygirl Tere Madlansacay earned her not just a trophy but new fans as well. Dan Villegas, her director for English Only Please, says, “It was a pleasure to work with Jen. Masarap ka trabaho ang mga taong passionate sa kanilang craft.” Dan’s girlfriend and one of the movie’s screenplay writers Tonet Jadaone affirms his opinion of the actress: “I didn’t see all the entries, [pero] nagalingan ako kay Jennylyn. Tama pagka- timpla ng comedy at drama, hindi OA. Parang hindi siya umaarte.”

 “I wanna share this story,” Jen says, visibly excited. On their first shooting day, director Dan Villegas set up his camera and announced he was ready to roll. But he simply asked Jennylyn and Derek to walk around the set and be their normal selves. Jen took that instruction to heart and let it rip. “Ginugulo ko si Derek! First meeting namin yun ah! Sabi ko, “Huy, ’Wag kang mahiya ah. Okay lang, wala akong malisya,’” her voice full of mischief. A few hours later, Dan summoned her and said, “Nakikita mo yang pinaggagagawa mo? ’Yan si Tere! ’Yan ang gusto kong makita!”

 The second installment of English Only, Please is now in the works, and it’s slated for release in February 2016. “We’re shooting it somewhere else,” Jen says, standing up, signaling the end of this 20-minute convo. “It’s going to be special.”

Her hairstylist who’s been quietly observing the interview offers insider info just as the tape recorder stops rolling. “Maraming ad lib ’yung movie,” he says. “Yung Beyonce scene? Dinagdag lang ni Jen. ’Yung “Maghihiwalay rin kayo”? Impromptu yun.”

I could hug this fabulous hairstylist right now.

He just confirmed my suspicion.

Everything I loved about Tere was pure Jen.

More Jennylyn Mercado, please.

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Tweet the author @IrishDDizon.