Jean Garcia Busy With 'Once Again' On TV, 'The Escort' On Film, But Still Has Time To Put Up Own Resto-Bar, Jean's Manila

JEAN GARCIA is currently busy both on the small and the big screen. On GMA-7, she plays Janine Gutierrez’ adoptive mother in “Once Again”. So how is it working with Janine? “She’s a very good actress, mabait pang bata,” she says. “Dugong artista talaga. Abangan nyo dahil malapit na niyang matuklasang ampon ko lang siya at magsisimula na kaming mag-away ni Sheryl Cruz, na siyang tunay niyang ina. Tuwang-tuwa kami sa show kasi laging mataas ang rating namin.”

For Regal, she’s now shooting the sex-drama, “The Escort”, where she plays the battered wife of Rommel Padilla. She’d later have a sizzling affair with Derek Ramsay as her illicit lover.

“Would you believe may love scene ako with Derek?” she says. “Nude scene ito, ha. Kinunan sa swimming pool. Noong una, urong-sulong ako kung tatanggapin ko ang role ko kasi may sexy love scene nga. Sabi ko, di ko kaya, kasi even before, hindi naman ako gumagawa ng ganyang love scenes. But our director, Enzo Williams, explained to me yung treatment na gagawin niya, so I was convinced. And in all fairness to Derek Ramsay, he’s such a gentleman and so protective of me.”

Although she’s busy with acting jobs, Jean has put up her own business, a resto-bar called Jean’s Manila, located on #16 Roces Ave. If you’re coming from Quezon Ave., it’s on the right side near the corner of Mother Ignacia Ave., just before Amoranto Stadium. There’s a 25-seater cafe on the ground floor open from 11 AM to 1 AM. On the second floor is a restaurant-bar open from 6 PM to 5 AM. It had its grand opening last Saturday night and Mother Lily Monteverde was the special guest. Also on hand were Rita Avila and hubby Dir. FM Reyes, Alex Vincent Medina, Roselle Monteverde, Jean’s manager Manny Valera and Chanda Romero. So why did she venture into the food business “Kasi, ever since, hilig ko talaga magluto,” she says. “We feature dito sa Jean’s Manila my tried and tested recipes na minana ko pa sa lola ka at sa mommy ko. Mga lutong bahay from Pampanga, kunsaan galing ang family namin. Ibang klase ang treatment namin sa bopis, sisig, kare-kare, pinakbet, kaldereta and other dishes.”

We tried them and they’re all very good, even their pizza. All at very reasonable prices. So how is her granddaughter? “Sobrang cute ng apo ko and my daughter Jennica is such a hands on mom. Siya talaga ang nag-aalaga and she uses lampin, not disposable napkins. Siya mismo ang naglalaba. She made the decision to put her acting career on a backseat to focus on her baby. Saka na lang daw siya babalik sa pag-arte.”

So how about her lovelife? Does she have a boyfriend? “Naku, matagal nang wala. Career muna ang focus ko, lalo na ngayon busy pa ko sa Jean’s Manila. Ang dream ko, magkaroon din ng Jean’s Cebu, Jean’s Davao and malay mo, even Jean’s in some cities abroad.”