Jennica (right) with mom Jean Garcia
Jean Garcia admitted feeling resentful of Alwyn Uytingco initially after his split with her daughter Jennica, saying that she was then still hopeful that they would be able to resolve their differences in order for their relationship to work out.
Speaking at the press conference for her new teleserye “Maging Sino Ka Man,” Garcia said she was bitter at first upon learning of the former couple’s decision to separate, noting her role as Jennica’s mother, but she eventually chose to respect their decision.
“Siguro noong una. Kasi parang gusto nilang i-work out… Siyempre, normal naman yun sa mother-in-law na, diba? Siyempre, babae ‘yung sa akin. Pero ngayon, wala na. Nawala na yung tampo. Nawala na yung galit,” she said when asked if she ever had hard feelings against Uytingco.
(At first, I was upset with Alwyn because I wanted them to work out their differences. Of course, it’s normal as a mother-in-law and as a mother of a daughter. But now, I’m not mad anymore. The anger is gone.)
“Ang maganda lang talaga, ginawan naman nila ng paraan, diba, na mag-work ‘yung relationship. Triny naman nila ulit. Pero it just so happened na siguro they’re not destined for each other,” she added.
(The good thing is that they tried their best to make their relationship work. They tried again. But it just so happened that perhaps, they’re not really destined for each other.)
Last August, Jennica confirmed that her annulment with Uytingco is ongoing, given that they had been separated for some years now.
The estranged partners wed in February 2014, and first split in May 2021. Despite the actor’s pronouncements that he was trying to win back the “Dirty Linen” star in October of the same year, their efforts did not pan out.
Given the situation, Garcia said she hoped that her daughter will stay strong as a single mother to her and Uytingco’s two children.
“Ang payo ko lang kay Jennica is maging strong siya, na yung faith niya sa Panginoon na kahit heartbroken siya, huwag mawawala,” she said.
(My advice for Jennica is to be strong and that her faith in the Lord will not waver even if she’s heartbroken.)
Despite their split, the seasoned actress is hopeful that Jennica and Alwyn would remain on good terms for the sake of their daughters Athena and Severina.
“They’re not meant for each other, [but] they have children. So ako, gusto ko maging magkaibigan sila. Magkasundo sila para sa mga bata, as parents… Pero yung relationship sa kanila, nakapag-move on na si Jennica nang matagal na. I’m sure nakapag-move on na rin si Alwyn,” she said.
(They’re not meant for each other, but they have children. For me, I want them to be friends. I want them to be on good terms as parents for their children. But in terms of their relationship, Jennica has moved on for quite some time. I’m sure Alwyn has moved on as well.)
Garcia said that she didn’t want to point a finger at either Uytingco or Jennica as both of them may have been at fault at some point that resulted in their failed union. For one, she said that she thought her daughter shouldn’t have married early at 24.
“Kung meron mang mga faults si Alwyn, I’m sure may fault din naman si Jennica. So, both ‘yan pareho. Ayoko namang i-blame yan lahat kay Alwyn nang dahil ako ang nanay ni Jennica. Palagay ko, hindi lang talaga sila para isa’t isa,” she said.
(If ever Alwyn messed up at some point in their relationship, I’m sure Jennica has her fair share of mistakes too. So, it’s the both of them. I don’t want to blame Alwyn for everything just because I’m Jennica’s mom. I just think they’re not meant to be together.) EDV