Page 24 - LM Confidential Issue February 2015

Entertainment
Jennylyn vows to step up acting
Winning Beast Actress award adds pressure
ANGRY
Actress Jennylyn Mercado feels pressure living up to expectations after winning the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Actress plum for her performance in the romantic-comedy “English Only, Please.”
Jennylyn said she is looking forward to doing roles where she would be able to showcase her versatility.
“Kumbaga kasi kailangan matapatan mo ’yung performance mo at kailangan mas galingan mo pa,” she said. The 27-year-old admitted that it won’t be easy. “Kailangan kong isispin kung ano pa ang gagawin ko at kung ano pa
ang mapapakita kong bago sa kanila (fans),” she said.
In her search for more challenging roles, Jennylyn is clear about one thing: she is determined not to bring work home, noting how she doesn’t want to look “stressed” in front of
her son, Alex Jazz.
She related how dramatic roles affect her even off cam.
“Gusto kong bitawan ang trabaho ko bago umalis sa set kasi ang bigat sa pakiramdam eh. Lalo na may anak ako, alanganang i-uwi ko pa ’di ba?”
Second Chances
As first salvo for 2015, Jennylyn is appearing on GMA-7’s newest primetime drama series “Second Chances.”
According to a release, “Second Chances” is a story about opportunities and how they change people’s lives.
This early, Jennylyn is already being romantically linked to co-star Raymart Santiago. Dismissing the notion, Jennylyn notes, ”Siguro magkaibigan lang kami ni Raymart.”
She admitted, however, that she is comfortable with Claudine Barretto’s ex-husband having worked with him several times in the past.
Marian’s Successor
After “English Only, Please”, is now a bonafide best actress and box office hit maker. With Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera now married, there are even those who predict that Jennylyn might be her successor as GMA’s top female star. We know of several producers who want to get her services for a new movie, but we’re told she’s already committed to do a follow up project with Derek Ramsay once again.
Pressure
“You can’t please everyone,” she said at the press conference for her new TV series on GMA 7, “Second Chances.”
“Sanayan lang ’yan (you get used to it),” said the 27-year- old star, adding that the recognition pushes her to strive harder and do better. “Yes, there’s a little bit of pressure.”
In her 10-year career, Jennylyn starred mostly in heavy
dramas. She found it interesting that she didn’t get an acting trophy until she dabbled in comedy.
“Comedy is tough—it’s all about delivery and great timing.”
Giggling, she said, “Maybe I should be doing more of this! I wasn’t expecting to win. I was already satisfied that we worked well and came up with a good product.”
No breather
Jennylyn isn’t getting much of a breather at the start of 2015, and it goes without saying that she doesn’t have much time for romance. That’s why, she said, she is surprised when
she hears rumors that she’s been spotted on a date with this or that guy.
“Honestly, it’s not possible for me to squeeze a love life into my schedule—I’m focused on work at the moment,” she said, adding that she does get miffed by the persistent rumors.
There has been talk that she was spotted with Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson in Boracay; and that she has been frequenting her ex-boyfriend Dennis Trillo’s condo unit.
“I get frustrated because they’re not true. I just try to laugh and shrug those issues off,” Jennylyn said.
Members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces load into vehicles Monday, Jan.26, 2015, bodies of 43 Philip- pine police commandos who were killed Sunday in a fierce battle with Muslim guer- rillas after launching an assault in which they may have killed one of southeast Asia’s most-wanted terrorists, officials said.
And if my father died for our country, and we did not change anything, isn’t it that my father’s sacrifice was in vain,” Aquino said.
The lengthy part of Aquino’s speech dedicated to his own grief for his late father did not sit well with members of the Special Action Force who paid their last respects for the slain colleagues.
One SAF member remarked: “We are not interested with what happened to your father.”
Another described the President’s speech as “out of this world.”
Even before Aquino delivered his speech, palpable anger could already be felt among the families of the slain commandos and even among the active SAF troopers who went to Camp Bagong Diwa.
While Aquino paid his respects to the fallen troopers one by one, some family members refused to accept the plaque and medal of honor that the commander-in-chief was handing out.
Outside the Moral and Spiritual Formation Center where the caskets were laid, some SAF members who were watching the ceremony in a makeshift tent left when they saw that the President was about to speak.
A SAF official in plainclothes who was initially barred from entering the center vented his anger at a member of the Presidential Security Group, shouting: “Those who were killed were my men, too. I will kick you if you don’t let me in.”
Erica Pabalinas, wife of slain Sr. Inspector Ryan Pabalinas of the 55th Special Action Company, could not mask her grief and anger as she delivered a message on behalf of the families of the fallen SAF troopers.
“All I ask now is justice, not only for my husband, but for all those who were killed...For the grieving wives like me: let us be strong for our children because behind every brave SAF trooper is a strong wife. Behind every brave SAF trooper is a strong wife,” Erica said in tears.
“To our President, we seek you help for justice, please help us,” she said.
In his speech, the President did not mention even once the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who killed the SAF commandos.
Instead, Aquino vowed that the government will come up with a better plan to get Basit Usman, a Jema’ah Islamiya bomb expert who escaped Sunday’s clash.
“You can count on your government that we will get the second target. You know me - I always keep my word. Arresting Basit Usman is now number one in our list. I assure you, we will get Basit Usman,” the President said.
He said the government will do everything to prevent a repeat of the botched operation. “Let us also
ANGRY continued on page 26
continued from page 1
Vina Morales: ‘I’m ready to have a relationship’
After being part of
the series Maria Mer-
cedes, Vina Morales
is happy to be part of
the new Kapamilya
soap Nasaan Ka Nang
Kailangan Kita along
with Denise Laurel,
Jane Oineza, Jerome
Ponce, Loisa Andalio
and Joshua Garcia. The
39-year-old actress
admitted she is thankful
to start the year with another promising project with her role as Ceciila Macaraig.
This year, Vina said that she promised herself not just to focus on her profes- sional life but her personal one as well. In fact, Vina even went as far as to admit that 2015 is the year to love again for her. “I think at that time I wasn’t ready to have
a relationship. I guess now is the time
for me. I’m ready to have a relationship. Mapaghuhuli na ako (laughs). Emotionally
I’m ready na. Nang- yayari sa tao yun na maski siguro even if two years from now hindi
pa rin ako ready, wala eh, kung closed pa rin yung pag-iisip ko, yung nararamdaman ko. It’s just the right timing
na parang gusto ko rin naman may makilala,” she shared.
Vina admitted that after she separated from ex-partner Cedric
Lee (with whom she has a daughter Ceanna), she has yet to meet someone special. “I was kind of dating for a while but not really like a relationship. Last ko was six years ago pa,” she explained.
Vina said she does not have any clear cut list on what qualities she looks for in a man. “Ayoko na ngang maghanap na kailangan ganito, ganyan kasi you know the spark will just start. Kasi ayoko ng
maglista kasi I’ve been through a lot and mahirap ata magsalita ng ganun. I’ve gone through a lot. I’m also a single mom but I’m sure that it’s going to be coming from God. Yun talaga pini-pray ko at the right time,” she said.
The Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita actress revealed that even her five-year- old daughter Ceana is supportive of her efforts to find a partner. “Yun na nga, nag-pe-pray na nga for a baby brother
and a baby sister, ‘Dyosko Lord’ sabi ko naman (laughs). Kasi when we pray before we go to bed talagang we pray it out loud. So kung ano yung i-pe-pray ko naririnig niya and yun yung pine-pray niya, ‘Lord Papa Jesus I want to have a baby sister and a baby brother.’ Gusto ko tuloy malaglag sa higaan. Sabi ko, ‘Anak, Mommy has to find a husband first.’ Parang mas magaan sa sarili ko dahil okay lang sa kanya,” she admitted.
24
L. M. Confidential
FEBRUARY 2015
LMC