One lucky PEPster's joyful encounter with Jennylyn MercadoPhilippine Entertainment Portal
Bong Godinez
Friday, May 29, 2009
![](http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/786/pepb.jpg)
For lucky PEPster Joy Morales, meeting Jennylyn Mercado up close was, like her name, sheer joy, not to mention that it was a pleasant sendoff gift before she and husband Geoff Amarante went on their honeymoon in Baguio.
Joy’s admiration for the versatile actress dates back to Jennylyn’s Starstruck days.
“Kasi marunong siya umarte and magaling din siyang sumayaw tapos marunong din siyang kumanta. Kahit saan puwede siya,” Joy told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last May 14.
Much has changed, of course, in Jennylyn’s career since she emerged in 2000 as the first Ultimate Female Survivor in the maiden season of the reality-based talent search show, Starstruck. Even her personal life took a different turn when she became pregnant courtesy of now ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia. Jennylyn gave birth to son, Alex Jazz or AJ on August 16, 2008.
For Joy, Jen’s courage in dealing with problems made the actress-singer more than just a celebrity idol.
“Hanga ako sa kanya kasi survivor talaga siya. Ang dami na niyang pinagdaanan and yet nakayanan niya,” said the 24-year-old fan who works in Makati City.
MEETING JEN. Surviving and moving forward, incidentally, were the same battlecry Jennylyn had in mind when she recently staged her birthday concert, I Am Woman, at the Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan.
Not one to miss such an important event in her idol’s life, Joy planned to buy tickets to witness the special concert. Luckily for Joy, PEP was giving away free tickets to lucky fans who wanted to catch Jennylyn live. As an added bonus, the winner would have the chance to meet Jennylyn up close and personal.
Joy tried her luck and won.
Joy was accompanied by her husband Geoff and, together with the PEP team, arrived at the venue much earlier. The original plan was to meet Jennylyn first before the concert would start, but since the singer-actress was busy preparing for the evening show, we decided to do the meet-and-greet after the concert.
Brimming with excitement and anticipation, Joy watched the concert while seated at the front row: singing along and taking pictures as Jen delivered her extensive repertoire, from dance music to pop and standard tunes.
Joining the concert singer as special guests were Jasmine Fitzgerald, Christian Bautista, Nico Antonio, Jay-R, Mark Herras, Richard Poon, Janno Gibbs and Ogie Alcasid.
As the concert drew to a close, it was finally time for Joy to meet Jennylyn face to face. We waited for a few minutes outside the dressing room, and then Jen emerged and happily greeted her avid fan amidst the crowd that gathered to also catch a glimpse of the Kapuso star.
Jen—though taking only a few minutes to catch her breath—intently answered questions and gladly had her pictures taken with Joy and even with Geoff.
Talking to PEP after her encounter with Jen, Joy said she admired the actress-singer even more for her down-to-earth nature and candidness in dealing with her fans.
Making her way to the exit of the Music Museum, Joy quietly played back the pictures preserved in her trusted camera. Even without the need to ask her, one look at Joy and the answer was there for the picking: It was an unbelievable night!
Subscribe to Jennylyn’s Fanatxt! Text JENNYLYN or GOMMS JENNYLYN ON to 4627. P2.50/txt for Globe, TM, Smart, Talk 'N Text and P2.00/ txt for Sun. P5.00/mms for all telcos.