Jessy Mendiola (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)Being one of the talents of Star Circle Batch 15 in 2007, it took years before ‘Sabel’ star Jessy Mendiola got her major break in acting. But, her patience and determination made her to where she is now. From the success of her first major TV drama ‘Sabel,’ Jessy will now co-star with Gerald Anderson in ‘Budoy’ as his female lead partner.
Jessy was launched in Star Circle Batch 15 together with other artists such as Megan Young, Carlo Guevarra and Alfonso Martinez. She was given minor roles at first in various TV programs until she got the major role in ‘Sabel,’ where her career really took off. And now, Jessy is doing one show after the other, which she did not expect when she first started out.
From a nobody to a lead star
Before Jessy got her break, she admits that there was a time when she almost gave up on her career. “Before that (Sabel), I was on the verge of giving up. Parang ayaw ko nang mag-artista kasi parang feeling ko, hindi ako napapansin. Tapos ang daming nalu-launch, tapos ako na lang ang hindi,” Jessy told Yahoo! OMG! Philippines in a sit-down interview after her stint in ASAP Rocks last Sunday, June 26.
Jessy was surprised when she finally got a notice about her major break. “So, it was very, I don’t know, magical? Kasi hindi ko akalain na ibibigay sa akin ito. Timing and with the right people around you. So, masaya lang na from a nobody, nabigyan na ako ng chance na magpakita ng talent ko,” Jessy said.
Jessy is elated to be given a nice opportunity as she admits that it is hard to get a good break, especially with the big number of artists who also want to have a breakthrough. “Kasi parang from a nobody, let’s be honest here, kase hindi naman ako reality search winner, or I don’t have famous parents. But, they gave me that chance to show what I really want to do,” Jessy said.
She thought at first that she will not be given a chance because there are also many other artists waiting to be launched. “Pero nung tumagal nang tumagal, siguro may nangyari, I don’t know. Napansin na lang ako,” Jessy added. Having too many artists could be a disadvantage at first, but Jessy believes that everyone could be given a chance as long as they wait and work for it.
“Parang I gave hope to others na you don’t have to be shy kase towards what you have kasi the time will come na talagang mapapansin ka, kahit maraming artista dyan. So, iyon yung nagpatibay sa akin na ituloy-tuloy ko lang at napansin naman ako,” Jessy said. Before Jessy bagged the lead role in ‘Sabel,’ she guested in various shows like ‘Gimik 2010,’ ‘Kung Tayo’s Magkakalayo’ and ‘Wansapanataym.’
While waiting patiently for her major break, Jessy continued on doing workshops in Star Magic to hone her skills, not only in acting, but in other areas as well. “Dapat you have multiple talents like singing, hosting, dancing. So, they encourage you to enhance other talents other than acting. Yun yung maganda sa Star Magic, hindi nila minamadali yung artista na sumikat, but they really build you up,” Jessy said.
Last Sunday, Jessy along with other Star Magic artists such as Piolo Pascual, Coco Martin, Bea Alonzo and Diether Ocampo celebrated Star Magic’s 19th anniversary on ‘ASAP Rocks’ by staging a mini-fashion show, wearing special edition shirts; and premiered Star Magic’s new music video entitled “Ikaw ang Magic ng Buhay Ko” directed by Paul Soriano. The song is written by Yeng Constantino.
Gerald’s new onscreen partner
After doing ‘Sabel,’ Jessy regularly hosts ‘ASAP Rocks’ every Sunday, doing various endorsements and is now preparing for the new TV drama ‘Budoy’ together with Gerald Anderson. And what does she feel working with one of the famous young actors today? “I’m gonna be the lead female (partner) of Gerald Anderson. Yeah, levelling na! We’re gonna have our look test. Sobrang wow, with Gerald Anderson,” Jessy excitedly said. She has worked with Gerald before and she finds him very good in acting.
Jessy shared that her role in “Budoy” is different from what she portrayed in “Sabel.” “Dito, not naman bad, pero strict and stiff and very intellectual. It’s an advocacy-serye. It’s not about just love, na sobrang love teams lang. It’s about family and kung paano dapat i-treat ng mga tao yung mga mentally-challenged,” Jessy shared.
GMA has been spring-cleaning its program line-up. The Kapuso Network has cancelled H.O.T TV and Party Pilipinas in the Sunday afternoon block in just three weeks, and a source told Yahoo! Philippines youth-oriented "Teen Gen" is scheduled for cancellation by end of June.
