Jennylyn Mercado never runs out of charms. Whatever role Jen portrays, she hits the audience bull’s-eye. In her latest TV series on GMA 7, “My Love from the Star,” the hot mama just keeps getting hotter.
Here’s my chat with Jen:
What’s it like working with newbie Gil Cuerva? He’s very curious; he’s willing to learn. He has so many questions, maybe because of the pressure to excel as a newcomer. He wants to be sure he’s doing everything right.
Tell us the latest about your son, Jazz. He’s turning 9 in September and is now in Grade 2. He’s very sweet and smart.
What’s the toughest and best parts of being a single mom? The toughest part of being a single mom is time management, especially when shooting takes me out of town. I miss some of Jazz’s school programs due to the demands of my job, but he understands that I’m working hard for his future.
The best part is seeing how he has grown into a fine young boy. And the feeling of pride that I raised him single-handedly.
How has your definition of love changed through the years? After everything I’ve been through, I have learned from my mistakes. I look at love now from a mature standpoint.
Will you stay with GMA 7 for keeps? If I wanted to transfer, I could have done so before. But GMA 7 is where I “grew up,” so it’s hard for me to let go of my comfort zone. Besides, I owe the network a lot.
What do you remember most about your struggling days? After giving birth to Jazz, I had doubts if I could still go back to show biz because I gained a lot of weight. Being a single mom, I was worried if the public would still accept me.
What has fame taught you? That I should not let fame define or change me. I must remain humble, and treat everyone equally. Fame has also taught me to be more grateful for all the opportunities coming my way.
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Boy Abunda, dubbed the King of Talk in Philippine TV, received a standing ovation during a talk in Singapore attended by 200 of the most in-demand public speakers in the world. The speaking engagement was on the invitation of Fredrik Haren. Tito Boy shared his thoughts about this with us, “At the onset, I told them that I’m a talk show host… an interviewer… but I use the same tools as they do—my words, my heart and my truth.”
The stories he talks about are often discussed, but there’s always newness to them. That’s because he lets his heart do the talking.