Jennylyn Mercado Biography

 

Jennylyn Mercado was born on October 14, 1987, in the Philippines. Estranged from both of her biological parents by the time she was 4, Mercado was raised by her aunt, Lydia Mercado, who legally adopted her. Mercado grew up in Paranaque, a city in the Metro Manila region of the Philippines. During her senior high school year at the Augustinian Abbey in nearby Las Pinas, Jennylyn had already found the Filipino spotlight, working on the reality-based TV show StarStruck, a role that proved to be her gateway to acting and singing celebrity.

Basic Info
Name: Jennylyn Mercado
Nickname: Jen
Birthday: May 15, 1987
Birth Place: Paranaque
Showbiz Anniversary: February 1, 2004
Personal
Claim to fame:
She's the first Female SUrvivor of GMA's artista search, StarStruck.

Unforgettable moment:
She says of her Extra Challenge experience, "A lot! Passing the rope bridge (that's 180 feet), bonding with the snakes, super dami!"
Favorites
Jennylyn's hit list:
1. She's into table tennis.
2. Jen knows how to play the guitar.
3. She loves Julia Roberts.
4. She's into R&B and pop.
5. Her mom's her role model.

Her most treasured item is her perfume collection.
Star Trivia:
Jen's afraid of heights!
Q & A
On the spot:

Why did you enter showbusiness?
"To have experience, exposure, and to help my family."

What do you consider as the turning point in your career?
"When I joined Starstruck."

If you weren't in showbiz, what kind of career would you have?
"I'd still be in school [but] still singing."

What is your biggest frustration/regret?
"To be a dancer, hehehe!!!"

What do most people don't know about you?
"Masungit, tahimik."

What are you most proud of?
"My voice and how I carry myself."

What do you value most?
"My family and the people close to my heart."

What do you want to achieve?
"I want to have a concert and stay in this business."

What is your advice to aspiring artists?
"Strive hard, persevere, always ask for the guidance of the Lord, plus be nice to all and LOVE your work."

Success of Jenn

 

Jennylyn Mercado looks beautiful in the few photo shoots she has done, but it is a rather wholesome caliber of gorgeousness. She has a winning smile, pristine pearly whites and a sleek body that spells girlfriend, not trouble. In short, she isn’t the voluptuous type, and she would likely make a better girlfriend than she would a one-night stand. 

After StarStruck provided her with a launching pad, Jennylyn Mercado has been buzzing toward American prominence by starring in a myriad of TV and film projects in the Philippines. Most of her roles are as a fair maiden or a love interest in saccharine stories of love and betrayal. This is also her singing style, but she is ready-made to turn into a pop star in North America, where she could easily become the poster girl for teenage boys and girls who go gaga for heartfelt lyrics of love lost.

Despite the syrupy trend to her artistic work, one of Jennylyn’s more interesting roles was in La Vendetta (2007), a thriller for which she also performed the theme song. In the film, Jennylyn plays Almira Cardinale, a woman torn between an allegiance to her two sisters and her true desire for an impoverished lover. 

Why is She famous?

 

Back in 2003, as a teenage high school student, Jennylyn Mercado busted onto the Filipino pop culture scene in StarStruck, a reality-based talent search. As the lone female “survivor,” Mercado instantly became a household name in her native land. Since then, she has worked in film and TV, but her beauty and voice will prove to be her ticket to North American celebrity. She has been recording music since 1999, but in 2006, she performed her first major concert, signed multiple lucrative endorsement deals (including deals with Pepsi and Pantene), and recorded the breakthrough album Letting Go.

"Eternity is one of the best films I’ve made so far. It’s a beautiful love story that shows how the present can affect the past, as shown in the surprise twist in its ending.”  - Jennylyn Mercado, on her movie Eternity.

Jennylyn Mercado: ‘Hindi ako palengkera’

 
MANILA, Philippines—Young actress Jennylyn Mercado would rather not apologize to her “Super Twins” co-star Alessandra de Rossi, who said was necessary to end their public tussle.
The conflict arose when Jennylyn was linked to young actor Jeremy Marquez at the time when he and Alessandra were still an item.
‘Wala ako dapat ihingi ng tawad. Tapos na yon. So para sa akin, kung ayaw, huwag. Basta sa akin, irerespeto nila ako, irerespeto ko sila. Itrato nila ako ng maayos, i-tetreat ko rin sila ng maayos. Kasi ako naman, tahimik lang ako eh,” Jennylyn said in an interview with GMA-7’s Startalk on Saturday.
Jennylyn said she was not happy being on the receiving end of brickbats from Alessandra’s camp, particularly the feisty young actress who had continued voicing out her resentment towards the original Starstruck female grand champion even as they work in one television program.
“Hindi naman ako palengkera. Di naman ako nakikipag-away. Ayokong bumaba sa ganoong level,” Jennylyn said referring to Alessandra.
When asked for comment, Alessandra said: “Hintayin nyo na lang ang susunod kong proyekto. Malapit na.”

Jennylyn Mercado on Dennis Trillo: "Parang bigla kaming nag-click."

 

Dinalaw ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at ilang entertainment press ang taping ng Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak ng GMA-7, sa Alpadi Compound sa Antipolo City kahapon, April 23. Sina Dennis Trillo, Jennylyn Mercado at StarStruck V Second Prince Rocco Nacino ang involved sa taping noong araw na 'yon.

Pinanood muna namin ang rehearsal nina Dennis at Jennylyn bago mag-take, at kapansin-pansin ang sweetness nila sa isa't isa. Extra handsome si Dennis, beauty naman si Jennylyn, halatang in love sila sa isa't isa. After the take, nagpaunlak ng interview na magkatabi  ang dalawa, para na rin sabay nilang sagutin ang mga tanong.

Kung nasa Facebook sila, ano ang kanilang status ngayon?

Dennis:  "Wala akong Facebook, anu-ano ba ang status na pagpipilian doon?  Meron bang 'Dating?'"

Jennylyn: "Hindi ako active sa Facebook ko, pero iyon, 'Dating' ang status ko."

WHAT ABOUT ANDREI? That morning, may nasulat na nag-away daw silang dalawa. Posible ba na ang pinag-awayan nila ay ang mga nasulat na naglasing daw ang sinasabing boyfriend ni Jennylyn of two years na si Andrei Felix, pero pinakiusapan daw ni Jennylyn si Andrei na huwag ipaalam na may relasyon sila.  Naglasing daw ba si Andrei dahil hindi niya alam na nagkakamabutihan na pala sina Dennis at Jennylyn?

Jennylyn: "Wala pong reason para kami mag-away ni Dennis.  Friend ko lang po talaga si Andrei at alam din po iyon ni Dennis."

Dennis: "Hindi po totoo na nag-away kami ni Jen, wala kaming dapat pag-awayan.  Kilala ko po si Andrei, minsan na kaming nagkasama sa isang show."

Dalawang beses na silang nagkasama sa show, ang  "Dangal" episode ng afternoon drama series na Now And Forever noong 2006 at ang telefantasiyang Super Twins noong 2007. Bakit ngayon lang nila napansin ang isa't isa?

Dennis: "Siguro po dahil mayroon kaming karelasyon noon."

Jennylyn: "Iyon din po ang sagot ko."

Biniro ni Dennis si Jen kung bakit daw ginagaya nito ang sagot niya, at hinampas naman siya nang mahina ni Jen.

WHEN DID IT START? Ipinaalala namin sa dalawa na sa Super Twins unang na-in love sa isa't isa sina Dennis at Cristine Reyes.  Si Jennylyn naman ay nali-link noon kay Patrick Garcia, kaya parehong napangiti ang dalawa.

Paano nila na-discover na may attraction sila sa isa't isa?

Jennylyn:  "Noon naman lagi kaming nagkikita sa SOP, pero 'hi, hello' lamang kami."

Dennis: "Although nagkasama na nga kami sa shows noon, at kilala ko na siya, hindi ko rin alam kung kailan ba talaga nagsimula."

Last week of January 2010, nag-start silang mag-taping ng Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak. Dahil mag-sweetheart sila sa istorya at lagi silang magkayakap at naghahalikan sa eksena, doon kaya nagkaroon ng kulay ang pagtatambal nila?

Jennylyn: "Puwede po.  Parang bigla kaming nag-click. Sabi nila may chemistry din daw kaming dalawa ni Dennis, magkasundo kami sa trabaho."

Dennis: "Noong una, iyong mga eksenang ginagawa naman namin, hindi namin pinepersonal.  Pero habang tumatagal, may mga nakikita na ako sa kanya, may nadi-discover na ako tuwing magkasama kami sa trabaho."

Ano ba ang nagustuhan nila sa isa't isa?

Jennylyn Mercado: Dennis is 'good influence'

 

Finally, after almost three years, Patrick Garcia had a chance to kiss and hug his love son Alex Jazz (AJ) with Jennylyn “Jen” Mercado. The two are having a long-running ELQ (Ex-Lovers’ Quarrel) that has remained unresolved.

The occasion was the birthday party of Kendra, daughter of Patrick’s sister Cheska (now Mrs. Doug Kramer), last Sunday. Jen was there but she and Patrick didn’t go beyond swapping tentative “Hi’s!” Jen is now into a “special relationship” (more than friends but not sweethearts, understand?) with Dennis Trillo who himself is the unwed parent of a two-year-old boy, Calyx, with ex-girlfriend Carlene Aguilar (now happily married to a non-showbiz guy).

“Dennis is a good influence in my life,” admitted Jen at last Thursday’s presscon for Rosario, a 2010 Metro Filmfest entry directed by Albert Martinez in which she co-stars with Dennis, together with Phillip Salvador, Ricky Davao, Yul Servo and Isabel Oli. “It was he who convinced me to let AJ see his father. Happy ako na nagkita na rin ‘yung mag-ama. I’m sure ‘yon na rin ang hinihintay ng family nila, na ‘yon na rin naman ang gusto ng family namin.”

The ex-lovers’ misunderstanding was caused by Patrick’s careless (insensitive) remark in a TV interview in which he gave a vague answer that seemed to imply that he was “doubting” that he was the father of the baby Jen was then heavy with. Hurt, Jen stopped talking to Patrick and refused to let him see their son.

But Jen said that she and Cheska, along with the rest of Patrick’s family, are okay.

“Cheska and I talk on the phone or send each other text messages every day. Palagi niyang kinukumusta si AJ,” adding, “It feels good na wala nang samaan ng loob at wala nang problema.”

Jen’s son and Dennis’ son have become playmates since their first meeting several weeks ago, with the blessing of Carlene.

The kiddie party was not the right time for Jen and Patrick to discusss the nitty-gritty, such as Patrick’s sustento for AJ.

“I guess we will eventually talk at the right time.”

What other pieces of “positive” advice is she getting from Dennis?

“Dennis is a good man. Tahimik lang. Mahaba ang pasensya niya. He has taught me how to be patient.”

“I understand what Jen and Patrick, especially Patrick, are going through dahil pinagdaanan ko rin ‘yon,” said Dennis who had similar issues with Carlene after Calyx was born. “So I gave Jen (pieces of) advice based on my own experience.”

Jen and Dennis were first cast together in Blue Moon, a Regal romance-drama shown at a Metro Filmfest a few years ago. They were committed to other partners then. They became close while doing the GMA soap Gumapang Ka sa Lusak which ended recently.

Although they have been spending private moments together (such as a vacation in Hong Kong last Holy Week), Dennis confirmed what Jen said that they are still getting to know each other.

“We have known each other for only several weeks and yet close na close na kami,” said Dennis who has been linked to a few other actresses including Cristine Reyes and Pauleen Luna.

Asked if Dennis is faithful, Jen laughed, “Don’t ask me, ask him!”

Asked if he is, Dennis blushed a bit, “Oo naman!”

What friendly, if unsolicited, advice would he give Patrick if they met?

“Just to keep the communication line between him and Jen open. At pag-usapan nilang mabuti kung ano man ang dapat nilang pag-usapan, and to always take their kid into consideration.”

Happy with herself, her love life and the world around her, Jen has become more understanding and more “giving.”

Asked when Patrick may see AJ again, Jen said, “It depends on him. He’s now welcome to see or visit AJ anytime he wants to.”