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| jennylyn in her solo presscon for her contract renewal with GMA-7 |
JENNYLYN MERCADO just renewed her contract with the Kapuso Network but she won’t reveal any of its terms. “It’s confidential,” she says. “Sa amin na lang yun ng GMA. Basta forever na po akong Kapuso.”
To please her, GMA showed a video chronicling her journey in showbiz since she won in the very first Starstruck 16 years ago until she won best actress awards for both films and TV. Her former and current co-stars also greeted and congratulated her, including her original ka-love team Mark Herras, Gabby Concepcion, Solenn Heussaff, Shaira Diaz and even GMA boss Felipe Gozon. Jen cried tears of joy as she watched the video.
“I’m very grateful to GMA for all their support all these years,” she says. “They treated me like their own child. There was a time na nawala ako, nabuntis at nanganak, akala ko hindi na ako makakabalik pa at end na ng career ko. Pero tinanggap pa rin nila ako nang buong-buo, tinulungan akong makabalik at muling humarap sa mga tao. Hindi nawala ang pagmamahal nila sa akin. I’m overwhelmed and feel so loved.”
So is her being the leading lady in the local adaptation of “Descendants of the Sun” part of her new contract? “Hindi po. As of now, nakatutok pa rin ako sa ‘Love You Two’ kasi hanggang sa September pa kami. And I’m still co-hosting Starstruck 7 na hanggang September din. Also, I’ve just started shooting a new movie, an action-comedy with Coco Martin and Ai AI de las Alas.”
Is this the movie intended as an entry in the Metro-Manila Filmfest? “Ay hindi po ako sure kung makakasali nga sa filmfest. Basta as of now, nakaka-six shooting days na kami.”
And she’s also busy with her own youtube channel with Dennis Trillo where they do cover versions of various songs. “Yes, thanks to all those who watch it and like our songs, lalo na yung version namin ng ‘After All’ and ‘Finally Found Someone’. Abangan nyo kasi marami pa kaming songs na naka-line up, 80s and 90s classic kasi mas magaganda talaga ang songs noong araw.”
So do we hear wedding bells ringing for them soon? “Naku, hindi pa po. Marami pa akong gustong gawin, e. Yung cookies na binebenta ko online, gusto ko nang gawing store or bakeshop. Tapos yung salon ko, balak kong magkaroon ng branch. Marami pa rin akong gustong matutuhan at marami pa akong gustong ibang makatrabaho, like Dingdong Dantes nga na hindi ko pa nakapareha sa kahit isang soap.”
What advice can she give to the current contestants in Starstruck 7? “Just love their craft, do their best, do not stop from learning, surround themselves with good friends and good people, at sana, laging pantay-pantay ang tingin nila sa lahat ng makakasama nila sa showbiz.”
