JENNYLYN Mercado blossoms as she ages. It’s almost unbelievable, that the hot mama was once an awkward teen during her struggling days in GMA 7’s talent search, “StarStruck.” Being a happier woman now has made Jen a better actress.
For the first time, she is paired off with John Lloyd Cruz in Star Cinema’s “Just the 3 of Us” (opens in May). It is an unlikely love story between polar opposites, Uno (Lloydie) and CJ (Jen)—two strangers, and how one night changes their lives forever. Unforeseen circumstances collide and force them to live under the same roof.
Sometimes, the best things are those we don’t plan. Ready or not, life and love have a way of surprising us.
Here’s my one-on-one with Jen:
What was it like working with Lloydie?
It’s a dream come true. I’ve always been his fan. I still can’t believe I finally worked with him.
What makes Lloydie different from your other leading men?
He has a certain kind of charm. It’s inexplicable.
How will your movie make us look at love and relationships differently?
It shows that love and relationships don’t have a specific equation to follow. It can happen unexpectedly.
Do you believe in serendipity?
Yes. I believe in serendipity and things happening for a specific reason. Just like when I was still a newbie in the biz, I was just an “extra” in Lloydie’s teleserye. Now, I’m already his leading lady.
JENNYLYN Mercado
In what way can you relate to your character, CJ?
The way she loves deeply and how she chooses to see the best in people.
If CJ and Uno were real people, what unsolicited advice would you give them?
That sometimes things that we are not ready for are what we exactly need.
Aside from your family, who are the three persons you can’t live without?
A friend whom I can run to when I need someone who can listen to me and give me advice.
A friend who can make me laugh.
A friend who serves as my mirror by showing me things I must see as they are—nothing more and nothing less.
Losing friends
With the election fever at its peak, some celebs took to social media to express their concern about how politics has gotten in the way of friendship.
Ogie Alcasid: Perhaps we disagree about our choices in the election because we are all basically different. We have different opinions, experiences, ways and faith. But despite all these, there is something that unites us. We were all made to be brothers/sisters. Let us support whoever will get the majority of votes. Let’s continue our democracy by expressing when we have to right a wrong.
Most of all, let us follow our Lord’s commandments and that is to love one another, whether ally or enemy.
Michael de Mesa: Losing friends because of personal choices for president and vice president is just stupid!
Jose Javier Reyes: At the end of these elections, I wonder how many friendships will come to an end? How many loyalties will be put to the test and how will proof of such unflinching devotion be manifested amid the foray of mudslinging, name-calling and sanctimonious pronouncements of fanatics?
New author
In a move that surprised even the closest of her friends, former talent manager and actress Jessica Rodriguez is now an author of a self-help book called “Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman: The Polished Woman’s Guide to Love, Romance and Sex” (available at amazon.com).