Post by WeLoveJen on Oct 30, 2008 21:57:47 GMT 8
Jennylyn Mercado stays a Kapuso
Philippine Entertainment Portal
Views/ Looking Back
Jaja Rodriguez
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
02:13 PM
Two months after giving birth, actress Jennylyn Mercado is looking pretty hot. And it's absolutely perfect for her comeback, which her network, GMA-7, is facilitating for her benefit. Juicing it up to the max, too.
The network is all-out in its support for the actress who had been sidelined because of pregnancy. By the looks of it, Jennylyn's loyalty to her network is paying off.
Exactly a year ago, in an October 29 interview, Jennylyn Mercado had expressed her loyalty to the Kapuso network: "Siyempre po, ito ang network ko...Kumbaga, dito ka lumaki, dito ka nakilala, dito mo na maipapakita yung loyalty mo, ang utang na loob mo, at kung paano ka talaga magtrabaho."
That comment, Jennylyn stressing her true alliance, may be considered a catalyst of sorts for the young actress. From a considerably mellow career, the intrigue of a possible network shift brought her to front and center of talks. Never was she able to leave the intrigue spotlight since.
Previous to her interview, Kapuso's prized talent, Angel Locsin (who shared a manager with Jennylyn, Becky Aguila) had left GMA-7 and jumped to the rival station.
"Nagpapasalamat nga ako at okay na ang lahat," related Jennylyn then, continuing to talk about her new project for the Kapuso Network, La Vendetta. "Bale ito ang pinakamabigat na role na maituturing ko. Challenging kasi ito dahil ngayon lang ako naging mother. Medyo mature ang role ko rito at heavy drama talaga dito."
As months progressed, news about Jennylyn alternated from speculations on how steadfast she would stay a GMA-7 talent, would she be lured to join Angel in the rival network, to hints on Jennylyn's alleged change of manager as she was supposedly unhappy with Ms Aguila.
"Sa akin naman na direktang nakikipag-usap ang GMA-7 at hindi na kay Tita Becky. Para walang problema at hindi ako naiipit, sa akin or kay Mama [Lydia Mercado] na lang sila nakikipag-usap. Tulad ngayon, maayos ang nangyayari sa career ko at hindi na ako floating tulad dati," revealed Jennylyn in November 2007. She was then in the thick of promoting a movie with Bong Revilla, Resiklo.
On December 2007, amidst clamor for Jennylyn to again partner with erstwhile real and reel sweetheart, Mark Herras (he won the Male Starstruck Ultimate Survivor title), an insider from GMA-7's Artist Center confirmed the network's desire to maintain Jennylyn's services. "Hindi naman siya pinababayaan. Hinahanapan siya ng project na babagay sa kanya. Kung hindi man nila tinanggap ng manager niya ang Joaquin Burdado, tuloy pa rin ang taping niya ng La Vendetta."
"Bago matapos ang La Vendetta sa January 2008, magsisimula na siyang mag-taping ng Maging Akin Ka Lamang. Nag-story conference na sila with Direk Gil Tejada na siya ring direktor ni Jennylyn sa La Vendetta. After the New Year, magsisimula na silang mag-taping. First team-up nila ito ni Patrick Garcia sa GMA-7."
Jennylyn confirmed her loyalty: "After all the trials and everything, ngayon masasabi kong happy ako kasi, kumbaga, hindi naman ako napabayaan ngayon kasi meron naman mga shows—like La Vendetta and may ginagawa akong album."
But in the face of a slowly stilling issue on contracts, trouble erupted anew for Jennylyn. It was no longer on her speculated network move. It was more on her speculated baby bump.
Patrick Garcia and pregnancy. To say that it was a rough relationship would be downplaying it a bit. From the start, Jennylyn Mercado's romance with Patrick Garcia was welcomed with a mix of muted enthusiasm and downright resistance. Her fans were mostly rooting for Mark Herras.
In her November 29 pictorial with FHM, talks rioted over the fact that Patrick was not present during Jennylyn's sexy shoot. "Very supportive si Patrick," defended Jennylyn. She averted the rumors that her boyfriend was a no-show because he was not in favor of her going sexy.
"Siyempre, girlfriend mo, ayaw mo ding mabastos," she said. "Gusto niya ‘yong irerespeto pa rin ako ng mga tao."
"[But] hindi niya gagawin ‘yon, yung pipigilan niya ako, ‘yong sa mga damit. Trabaho naman ‘yon, e, and alam naman niyang meron akong limitations for myself. Alam ko kung ano 'yong mga dapat kong gawin, siyempre, para irespeto din naman ng mga tao na makakakita noong magazine."
Aside from talks about his unfavorable reaction to her FHM shoot, rumor had it that the two were constantly fighting, one reason being Patrick's addiction to an online casino. In a write-up, Jennylyn was even said to have made a tantrum in public.
"Sorry, pero ang cheap talaga ng issue na ‘yon.. Puwede naman kaming mag-away sa loob ng bahay. Pero sa labas? That's sad!"
In a surprising twist, in January of 2008, a TV report showed the couple at the sala of a judge in an apparent attempt to tie the knot. "Jennylyn is six weeks pregnant and that's why I'm here, I would want to set things right sana to get married and panagutan siya. But, of course, the judge said marriage is... It is very easy to get married but to get married to reasons dapat," Patrick confessed.
"Takot muna yung nangibabaw. Kaba, takot, nerbyos, lahat na. Tapos, after nun, kasi kasama ko naman si Pat, e...," Jennylyn narrated her emotions.
With the judge discouraging a marriage based on the wrong reasons, there was no wedding for Jennylyn and Patrick. In the meantime, their announcement had the impact of a cyclone.
Entertainment media were in frenzy as how to best cover Jennylyn's pregnancy. It was top news at the time—what with Jennylyn being in the prime of her young career and Patrick Garcia being one of the few young stars who had more or less created a name for himself.
The couple, at the outset, accepted the glare of the media in stride. Jennylyn's only concern at that point was her craving for "Sandwich, ganun. Spaghetti parati, pasta parati."
"Kung anu-ano na ang gusto kong kainin. Minsan gusto ko matamis. Minsan gusto ko ng maasim. Paiba-iba kaya ang hirap! Mahirap pala ang buntis!"
"Bigla na lang kasi nag-iiba ang feeling ko," she added about her pregnancy. "Kaya para akong laging nasusuka. Mabuti na lang kanina, natapos na yung kinunan na scene kasi sumama ulit pakiramdam ko. Pero mabilis naman ako maka-recover. Uupo lang ako at okey na."
As for the gender of her baby: "As in lahat nang mga bumati sa akin na mga mommy na sinasabi na boy daw ang magiging baby ko...Nagtataka nga ako, paano nila nalalaman? Sinasabi nila na nag-iba raw ang hitsura ko. Kitang-kita raw nila na lalake ang magiging anak ko.
"Si Mama [Lydia Mercado] nga sinabi sa akin na ang pangit-pangit ko na raw. Siguro raw lalake ang magiging anak ko kasi parang umiitim ako. Naku, sayang naman ang pag-endorse ko ng MET kung iitim ako!"
"Ayoko naman na may masabi sila sa trabaho ko. Ayokong maging problema ako. Ito namang La Vendetta, commitment ko naman ito sa GMA-7. Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa GMA-7 kasi nagparamdam sila ng suporta sa akin at kay Patrick [Garcia]. Mabuti na lang at nakunan na ang mga last scenes ko kaya mapapanood pa nila ako sa huling week ng La Vendetta."
Jennylyn was supposed to be in Maging Akin Ka Lamang with Patrick Garcia, in fact she had shot some scenes already, but due to her unexpected pregnancy, the project was passed on to Nadine Samonte.
Bravely marching on, Jennylyn continued with her other commitments, including a February show. "Noong December 2007 pa kasi naplano ang show na ito at nagkataon nga na may magandang nangyari sa akin sa pagpasok ng 2008. Kaya kasama iyon sa ipagpapasalamat ko sa ika-5th anniversary ko sa showbiz. Manood sila kasi baka ito na ang last time na mapanood nila ako sa stage na kumakanta."
"Importante naman kasi yung health ko and yung baby. So family muna, kami munang tatlo."
Jennylyn, the single mom. There was a noticeable trouble in Jennylyn's ‘paradise' when the actress became inconsistent in her work.
In her presscon with Asian star, Jacky Woo for their movie, Half-Blood Samurai, Jennylyn was even a no-show. Her manager, Becky Aguila defended her ward.
"What Jen needs right now is compassion and understanding. Mahirap ang kalagayan niya. Being pregnant at the age of 20 is no joke. She's longing for love and care. It's normal to be emotional during and after pregnancy. Patrick should take care of Jen. He should be patient. Both should be responsible would-be parents for the sake of their baby."
On February 20, 2008, amidst rumors, Jennylyn confirmed that indeed she and Patrick broke up. "Magbuhat nang magbuntis ako, wala naman siyang ginagawang effort para sa akin at sa magiging anak niya."
"Ilang beses kong sinabi na huwag niya akong iwan. Sobrang na-disappoint ako. Wala na akong makita sa kanya. Umiiwas siya. Kahit magkasama kami nung Valentine's Day, wala naman kaming napag-uusapan.
"Kung kailan ko siya kailangan, saka siya nawala. Hindi ko kailangan ang financial support. Ang kailangan ko ay love, care, at emotional support. Dapat siya na ang lumapit. Ilang beses na akong lumapit."
"Hindi kasi kami nag-uusap. Bago pa ang situwasyon na ito, lumayo na siya. Ganoon na siya, malayo na siya. Wala siyang maidadahilan sa akin dahil wala siya. Ni hindi niya nakikita yung malilit na pangangailangan ko," Jennylyn related.
When Patrick granted an interview, it was to express surprise about his and Jennylyn's rift. "Hindi ko alam...Kumbaga, pati ako nagtataka rin. I really don't know. May mga reklamo siya. Maybe it's part of pregnancy, yung iba ang emosyon mo. In fact, nalaman ko na lang din na break na kami noong nanonood ako sa TV. Yung, ‘Ay, break na pala kami?"
"Hindi pa kami nag-uusap because pinalitan niya ang number niya... That's why hindi ko siya matawagan. Gusto ko siyang puntahan sa bahay, pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging pagtanggap sa akin doon. I don't know...baka hindi ako welcome."
"For me, I'll just keep quiet na lang. Kasi the more I defend myself, the more the problem gets longer. The more things will throw back at me. I just wanted it to stop. And I don't want to give more pressure to Jen kasi she's pregnant. Sana, sana maayos na ito."
In a February PEP interview with Jennylyn, the actress conveyed her disappointment with Patrick's interview wherein he implied his doubt of being the real father of Jennylyn's baby.
"Wala siyang...ayokong sabihin. If you're man enough naman na puwede mo namang sabihin kung sigurado ka, ‘Sa akin ‘yan.' Pero kung hindi ka sigurado, sasabihin mo ‘no comment' o puwede mong sabihin na hindi mo alam. Pero kung alam niya naman na siya ang tatay at alam ko naman sa sarili ko kung sino ang tatay nito...ako, sigurado ako, e!
"Gusto ko na maging masaya alang-alang sa magiging baby ko. Ayoko nang umiyak. Gusto ko nang magtrabaho. Gusto kong mag-move on."
Moving on. It must be noted that Jennylyn Mercado is a survivor many times over. As early as four years of age, she figured on the front pages of tabloids due to her being maltreated by her stepfather. She was covered with bruises. She survived.
On the evening of August 16, 2008, Jennylyn gave birth, via caesarian section, to an 8.12-lbs boy she named Alex Jazz. It was not an easy labor for the young and single mom.
"Actually, hindi lang 24 hours," she said of her labor pains. "Umabot ng 30 hours yung labor ko. Halo-halong sakit. Buong katawan ko, masakit. ‘Tapos gutom ako, 24 hours na nga akong hindi kumakain. Hindi puwedeng uminom kasi ganun, e, hindi ka puwedeng kumain. Hindi ka puwedeng uminom ng liquid, kasi meron kang IV [intravenous therapy]."
On the heels of her happiness that her son had been delivered safely, on August 19, three days after her son was born, Jennylyn's adoptive father Rogelio Mercado, died of diabetes complications.
"Sobrang hirap!" she said of her feelings. "Sobrang emotional ko nung time na yun. Happy at the same time, malungkot. Kasi pagkadating na pagkadating ko rito sa bahay, parang hinintay lang niya [Mang Roger] ang apo niya. Kinagabihan, nagpahatid na rin siya sa hospital."
But, a survivor through and through, Jennylyn had still shown a happy front when alas, she faced media two months after giving birth and going through the ordeal of losing a parent. She's on a comeback trail and she looks marvelous, too.
"Maglalabas kami ng coffeetable book," Jennylyn reported, citing the book which tackles pregnancy that included her photos while she was pregnant. "Doon nila makikita ang baby ko. Puwede silang bumili sa mga bookstores, magazine stand. Makikita roon simula nang mabuntis ako, manganak ako, and my baby. Makikita nila ang buong experience ko."
The true-blue Kapuso star will soon be seen on TV via a two-part Dear Friend special with Mark Herras and on the big screen in One Night Only.
A year after confirming her loyalty to GMA-7, Jennylyn is on her way to reclaiming her spot in the entertainment scene.
Philippine Entertainment Portal
Views/ Looking Back
Jaja Rodriguez
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
02:13 PM
Two months after giving birth, actress Jennylyn Mercado is looking pretty hot. And it's absolutely perfect for her comeback, which her network, GMA-7, is facilitating for her benefit. Juicing it up to the max, too.
The network is all-out in its support for the actress who had been sidelined because of pregnancy. By the looks of it, Jennylyn's loyalty to her network is paying off.
Exactly a year ago, in an October 29 interview, Jennylyn Mercado had expressed her loyalty to the Kapuso network: "Siyempre po, ito ang network ko...Kumbaga, dito ka lumaki, dito ka nakilala, dito mo na maipapakita yung loyalty mo, ang utang na loob mo, at kung paano ka talaga magtrabaho."
That comment, Jennylyn stressing her true alliance, may be considered a catalyst of sorts for the young actress. From a considerably mellow career, the intrigue of a possible network shift brought her to front and center of talks. Never was she able to leave the intrigue spotlight since.
Previous to her interview, Kapuso's prized talent, Angel Locsin (who shared a manager with Jennylyn, Becky Aguila) had left GMA-7 and jumped to the rival station.
"Nagpapasalamat nga ako at okay na ang lahat," related Jennylyn then, continuing to talk about her new project for the Kapuso Network, La Vendetta. "Bale ito ang pinakamabigat na role na maituturing ko. Challenging kasi ito dahil ngayon lang ako naging mother. Medyo mature ang role ko rito at heavy drama talaga dito."
As months progressed, news about Jennylyn alternated from speculations on how steadfast she would stay a GMA-7 talent, would she be lured to join Angel in the rival network, to hints on Jennylyn's alleged change of manager as she was supposedly unhappy with Ms Aguila.
"Sa akin naman na direktang nakikipag-usap ang GMA-7 at hindi na kay Tita Becky. Para walang problema at hindi ako naiipit, sa akin or kay Mama [Lydia Mercado] na lang sila nakikipag-usap. Tulad ngayon, maayos ang nangyayari sa career ko at hindi na ako floating tulad dati," revealed Jennylyn in November 2007. She was then in the thick of promoting a movie with Bong Revilla, Resiklo.
On December 2007, amidst clamor for Jennylyn to again partner with erstwhile real and reel sweetheart, Mark Herras (he won the Male Starstruck Ultimate Survivor title), an insider from GMA-7's Artist Center confirmed the network's desire to maintain Jennylyn's services. "Hindi naman siya pinababayaan. Hinahanapan siya ng project na babagay sa kanya. Kung hindi man nila tinanggap ng manager niya ang Joaquin Burdado, tuloy pa rin ang taping niya ng La Vendetta."
"Bago matapos ang La Vendetta sa January 2008, magsisimula na siyang mag-taping ng Maging Akin Ka Lamang. Nag-story conference na sila with Direk Gil Tejada na siya ring direktor ni Jennylyn sa La Vendetta. After the New Year, magsisimula na silang mag-taping. First team-up nila ito ni Patrick Garcia sa GMA-7."
Jennylyn confirmed her loyalty: "After all the trials and everything, ngayon masasabi kong happy ako kasi, kumbaga, hindi naman ako napabayaan ngayon kasi meron naman mga shows—like La Vendetta and may ginagawa akong album."
But in the face of a slowly stilling issue on contracts, trouble erupted anew for Jennylyn. It was no longer on her speculated network move. It was more on her speculated baby bump.
Patrick Garcia and pregnancy. To say that it was a rough relationship would be downplaying it a bit. From the start, Jennylyn Mercado's romance with Patrick Garcia was welcomed with a mix of muted enthusiasm and downright resistance. Her fans were mostly rooting for Mark Herras.
In her November 29 pictorial with FHM, talks rioted over the fact that Patrick was not present during Jennylyn's sexy shoot. "Very supportive si Patrick," defended Jennylyn. She averted the rumors that her boyfriend was a no-show because he was not in favor of her going sexy.
"Siyempre, girlfriend mo, ayaw mo ding mabastos," she said. "Gusto niya ‘yong irerespeto pa rin ako ng mga tao."
"[But] hindi niya gagawin ‘yon, yung pipigilan niya ako, ‘yong sa mga damit. Trabaho naman ‘yon, e, and alam naman niyang meron akong limitations for myself. Alam ko kung ano 'yong mga dapat kong gawin, siyempre, para irespeto din naman ng mga tao na makakakita noong magazine."
Aside from talks about his unfavorable reaction to her FHM shoot, rumor had it that the two were constantly fighting, one reason being Patrick's addiction to an online casino. In a write-up, Jennylyn was even said to have made a tantrum in public.
"Sorry, pero ang cheap talaga ng issue na ‘yon.. Puwede naman kaming mag-away sa loob ng bahay. Pero sa labas? That's sad!"
In a surprising twist, in January of 2008, a TV report showed the couple at the sala of a judge in an apparent attempt to tie the knot. "Jennylyn is six weeks pregnant and that's why I'm here, I would want to set things right sana to get married and panagutan siya. But, of course, the judge said marriage is... It is very easy to get married but to get married to reasons dapat," Patrick confessed.
"Takot muna yung nangibabaw. Kaba, takot, nerbyos, lahat na. Tapos, after nun, kasi kasama ko naman si Pat, e...," Jennylyn narrated her emotions.
With the judge discouraging a marriage based on the wrong reasons, there was no wedding for Jennylyn and Patrick. In the meantime, their announcement had the impact of a cyclone.
Entertainment media were in frenzy as how to best cover Jennylyn's pregnancy. It was top news at the time—what with Jennylyn being in the prime of her young career and Patrick Garcia being one of the few young stars who had more or less created a name for himself.
The couple, at the outset, accepted the glare of the media in stride. Jennylyn's only concern at that point was her craving for "Sandwich, ganun. Spaghetti parati, pasta parati."
"Kung anu-ano na ang gusto kong kainin. Minsan gusto ko matamis. Minsan gusto ko ng maasim. Paiba-iba kaya ang hirap! Mahirap pala ang buntis!"
"Bigla na lang kasi nag-iiba ang feeling ko," she added about her pregnancy. "Kaya para akong laging nasusuka. Mabuti na lang kanina, natapos na yung kinunan na scene kasi sumama ulit pakiramdam ko. Pero mabilis naman ako maka-recover. Uupo lang ako at okey na."
As for the gender of her baby: "As in lahat nang mga bumati sa akin na mga mommy na sinasabi na boy daw ang magiging baby ko...Nagtataka nga ako, paano nila nalalaman? Sinasabi nila na nag-iba raw ang hitsura ko. Kitang-kita raw nila na lalake ang magiging anak ko.
"Si Mama [Lydia Mercado] nga sinabi sa akin na ang pangit-pangit ko na raw. Siguro raw lalake ang magiging anak ko kasi parang umiitim ako. Naku, sayang naman ang pag-endorse ko ng MET kung iitim ako!"
"Ayoko naman na may masabi sila sa trabaho ko. Ayokong maging problema ako. Ito namang La Vendetta, commitment ko naman ito sa GMA-7. Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa GMA-7 kasi nagparamdam sila ng suporta sa akin at kay Patrick [Garcia]. Mabuti na lang at nakunan na ang mga last scenes ko kaya mapapanood pa nila ako sa huling week ng La Vendetta."
Jennylyn was supposed to be in Maging Akin Ka Lamang with Patrick Garcia, in fact she had shot some scenes already, but due to her unexpected pregnancy, the project was passed on to Nadine Samonte.
Bravely marching on, Jennylyn continued with her other commitments, including a February show. "Noong December 2007 pa kasi naplano ang show na ito at nagkataon nga na may magandang nangyari sa akin sa pagpasok ng 2008. Kaya kasama iyon sa ipagpapasalamat ko sa ika-5th anniversary ko sa showbiz. Manood sila kasi baka ito na ang last time na mapanood nila ako sa stage na kumakanta."
"Importante naman kasi yung health ko and yung baby. So family muna, kami munang tatlo."
Jennylyn, the single mom. There was a noticeable trouble in Jennylyn's ‘paradise' when the actress became inconsistent in her work.
In her presscon with Asian star, Jacky Woo for their movie, Half-Blood Samurai, Jennylyn was even a no-show. Her manager, Becky Aguila defended her ward.
"What Jen needs right now is compassion and understanding. Mahirap ang kalagayan niya. Being pregnant at the age of 20 is no joke. She's longing for love and care. It's normal to be emotional during and after pregnancy. Patrick should take care of Jen. He should be patient. Both should be responsible would-be parents for the sake of their baby."
On February 20, 2008, amidst rumors, Jennylyn confirmed that indeed she and Patrick broke up. "Magbuhat nang magbuntis ako, wala naman siyang ginagawang effort para sa akin at sa magiging anak niya."
"Ilang beses kong sinabi na huwag niya akong iwan. Sobrang na-disappoint ako. Wala na akong makita sa kanya. Umiiwas siya. Kahit magkasama kami nung Valentine's Day, wala naman kaming napag-uusapan.
"Kung kailan ko siya kailangan, saka siya nawala. Hindi ko kailangan ang financial support. Ang kailangan ko ay love, care, at emotional support. Dapat siya na ang lumapit. Ilang beses na akong lumapit."
"Hindi kasi kami nag-uusap. Bago pa ang situwasyon na ito, lumayo na siya. Ganoon na siya, malayo na siya. Wala siyang maidadahilan sa akin dahil wala siya. Ni hindi niya nakikita yung malilit na pangangailangan ko," Jennylyn related.
When Patrick granted an interview, it was to express surprise about his and Jennylyn's rift. "Hindi ko alam...Kumbaga, pati ako nagtataka rin. I really don't know. May mga reklamo siya. Maybe it's part of pregnancy, yung iba ang emosyon mo. In fact, nalaman ko na lang din na break na kami noong nanonood ako sa TV. Yung, ‘Ay, break na pala kami?"
"Hindi pa kami nag-uusap because pinalitan niya ang number niya... That's why hindi ko siya matawagan. Gusto ko siyang puntahan sa bahay, pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging pagtanggap sa akin doon. I don't know...baka hindi ako welcome."
"For me, I'll just keep quiet na lang. Kasi the more I defend myself, the more the problem gets longer. The more things will throw back at me. I just wanted it to stop. And I don't want to give more pressure to Jen kasi she's pregnant. Sana, sana maayos na ito."
In a February PEP interview with Jennylyn, the actress conveyed her disappointment with Patrick's interview wherein he implied his doubt of being the real father of Jennylyn's baby.
"Wala siyang...ayokong sabihin. If you're man enough naman na puwede mo namang sabihin kung sigurado ka, ‘Sa akin ‘yan.' Pero kung hindi ka sigurado, sasabihin mo ‘no comment' o puwede mong sabihin na hindi mo alam. Pero kung alam niya naman na siya ang tatay at alam ko naman sa sarili ko kung sino ang tatay nito...ako, sigurado ako, e!
"Gusto ko na maging masaya alang-alang sa magiging baby ko. Ayoko nang umiyak. Gusto ko nang magtrabaho. Gusto kong mag-move on."
Moving on. It must be noted that Jennylyn Mercado is a survivor many times over. As early as four years of age, she figured on the front pages of tabloids due to her being maltreated by her stepfather. She was covered with bruises. She survived.
On the evening of August 16, 2008, Jennylyn gave birth, via caesarian section, to an 8.12-lbs boy she named Alex Jazz. It was not an easy labor for the young and single mom.
"Actually, hindi lang 24 hours," she said of her labor pains. "Umabot ng 30 hours yung labor ko. Halo-halong sakit. Buong katawan ko, masakit. ‘Tapos gutom ako, 24 hours na nga akong hindi kumakain. Hindi puwedeng uminom kasi ganun, e, hindi ka puwedeng kumain. Hindi ka puwedeng uminom ng liquid, kasi meron kang IV [intravenous therapy]."
On the heels of her happiness that her son had been delivered safely, on August 19, three days after her son was born, Jennylyn's adoptive father Rogelio Mercado, died of diabetes complications.
"Sobrang hirap!" she said of her feelings. "Sobrang emotional ko nung time na yun. Happy at the same time, malungkot. Kasi pagkadating na pagkadating ko rito sa bahay, parang hinintay lang niya [Mang Roger] ang apo niya. Kinagabihan, nagpahatid na rin siya sa hospital."
But, a survivor through and through, Jennylyn had still shown a happy front when alas, she faced media two months after giving birth and going through the ordeal of losing a parent. She's on a comeback trail and she looks marvelous, too.
"Maglalabas kami ng coffeetable book," Jennylyn reported, citing the book which tackles pregnancy that included her photos while she was pregnant. "Doon nila makikita ang baby ko. Puwede silang bumili sa mga bookstores, magazine stand. Makikita roon simula nang mabuntis ako, manganak ako, and my baby. Makikita nila ang buong experience ko."
The true-blue Kapuso star will soon be seen on TV via a two-part Dear Friend special with Mark Herras and on the big screen in One Night Only.
A year after confirming her loyalty to GMA-7, Jennylyn is on her way to reclaiming her spot in the entertainment scene.