Jennica Garcia now has ‘higher standards’ in relationships

Jennica Garcia (left) and Christian Bables after Mother’s Day dinner

It’s harder to fall in love now that I’ve already learned how to be happy on my own,” declared actress Jennica Garcia, who said that she’s ready to date again but now has higher standards when it comes to romantic relationships.

Jennica broke up with her husband, Alwin Uytingco, in 2021. They have two daughters, Athena Mori, 7, and Alessi, 4.

“Things could be different with other women, but this is my experience. In the first year that you’re single, you still feel broken and would not even consider dating. In your second year, you feel excited to go out because you’re already healed. I’m nearing my third year and I just realized that I now have higher standards. This is because I’ve learned an important lesson: I now have work and, therefore, have money, so I’m able to afford good food, and this makes me happy,” said Jennica, laughing.

‘Never stopped praying’

“Seriously, though, I never stopped praying to Him about this. I guess this is why, even after the breakup, he never made me feel alone. I have work and my daughters are well-provided for. As a woman, I’ve become so strong that I now prefer to be with a man who can match that strength,” said Jennica, amidst persistent rumors that she’s now dating “Dirty Linen” costar Christian Bables. In fact, Jennica even went to dinner with Christian and his mom on Mother’s Day.

When asked how this unique bond with Christian was formed on the “Dirty Linen” set, Jennica said: “To be honest, I have Kuya Epi (Quizon, her costar) to thank for. I’m not the type who would randomly strike up a conversation with someone. On the set, I’d stay in a corner and listen to music on my headset. I’m also comfortable eating on my own. Kuya Epi and Tatay Joel (Torre) would pull me to their table and make me hang out with them. This was how I became close to my coactors, including Christian.”

She continued: “I guess if you force two introverts to hang out, it works. I understand that the network is playing up the romantic angle between our characters, but we’re just friends in real life. He’s like a brother to me. That dinner on Mother’s Day was a meetup that was long overdue. He has been asking me to see him, but I couldn’t make time because my schedule has been really tight. I explained to him that when you have kids, you’d want to spend your free time with them, partly because you feel guilty for being away most of the time. My kids and I miss each other.”

Overwhelmed

But Christian was persistent, Jennica said. He asked for her schedule on that particular Sunday and adjusted his own. “That’s how we ended up having dinner with his mom. I was already very comfortable talking to Christian’s mom prior to meeting her physically because he would often FaceTime with her and his brothers on the set,” she explained.

Jennica, however, said she was overwhelmed with the positive reaction of people to her character Lala’s relationship with Christian’s Max. “Yes, I’ve been reading their reactions on Twitter, and I get emotional sometimes. I honestly don’t know where the love is coming from. If you think about it, there are a lot of new actors out there. I, on the other hand, have two kids and am separated from their father. I also don’t know what I did right to deserve the support of these people,” Jennica told Inquirer Entertainment during a recent media gathering.

Jennica said that they have long finished taping for the television series “Dirty Linen,” and she is now busy with another ABS-CBN-produced series, titled “Fractured,” with Francine Garcia and Seth Fedelin. She is also cohosting “Ur Da Boss,” a new interactive game show on PIE Channel, with Melai Cantiveros.

“Work can get overwhelming, what with all the taping schedules for the two shows, TV appearances and media gatherings. Plus the field trips of my children and the activities they do in school where my presence is needed,” said the 33-year-old, who also admitted that this could be her “second shot” at show business after being away for seven years.

“I don’t think many people know that it was also during my mom’s ‘second shot’ that she made it really big with ‘Pangako Sa’yo,’” said Jennica of her mom, Jean Garcia. “I pray to have the same fate as Mama’s, because when I returned to show biz after my seven-year hiatus, I was the same age as her when she made her comeback.”

This was why, when Jennica had trouble adjusting to her new job as a TV host, she looked to her mom’s life experiences for pointers. “Mama told me she also took on a hosting job when she was younger, back in the ’90s. So I looked for her videos on YouTube to see how she did it,” she explained. “Because I started out as an actor, I became dependent on my character to build my confidence and on how I present myself. It’s nice when I hear Melai say people will be able to see her true self on the show. I wish I could say the same for myself, but my true self will never be a good TV host. I imagine it being a role that I have to play. So far, I’m able to make it work.”

“Ur Da Boss” premiered on May 1 on the PIE Channel, which can be viewed on cable TV and IPTV systems nationwide, as well as on YouTube, on the GCash and GlobeOne apps (under the GLife section).