Jennylyn Mercado is still the ultimate survivor
Who doubts Jennylyn Mercado's star power?
I admit, I was one of them. I even thought she couldn't win the Yahoo! OMG! Awards in 2011 against Anne Curtis in the Hottest Actress category because no one else but Anne was hot that year. Jen had fewer projects, far less prominent exposure on TV and movies, and less commercial endorsements than Anne did. But fans voted in droves and, to my surprise, had Jen win that award handily, beating not only Anne but also Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera, who were also franchise female talents that year.
But judging from the journey she went through and a stable career she now enjoys, Jen went through some of the worst situations a female celebrity can endure. Today, almost 10 years in, she has notched many a triumph, from numerous TV shows and film projects. So now, I think I know why Yahoo! users voted for her. In fact, more than that, I am now a believer.
Career-shattering controversies
And that's not just me. The entire GMA Network Entertainment Group never lost their faith in its true homegrown star, even supporting her throughout one personal ordeal after another.
These include career-shattering controversies, such as getting pregnant at the height of her popularity and much-publicized tussles with fellow showbiz personalities.
And, who could forget the heartbreaks she went through, including that painful episode with Patrick Garcia, father of her son AJ, and the traumatic, violent mess with Dennis Trillo? Add to that the lingering legal battle against a trusted aide, Mel Pulmano, and an ugly word war with mother Jinkee. How can one endure such trials and still go to work as if nothing happened?
Well, talk about of strength of character for a girl her age, driven with nothing else in mind but improving her craft and succeeding in her chosen profession. This seems rooted in her struggles before she joined showbiz, presumably fueling her ambition to attain a better life for herself and her son.
Good decisions after bad ones
Stars rise and fall on the whims of fans, fads, scandals, awards, luck and the ineffable "x factor." It's what stars do with those slings and arrows—and windows of opportunity—that shape their destiny.
Nearly 10 years after winning the first "StarStruck" talent competition, Jennylyn seems to have made all the right decisions after a number of wrong ones. Today, she is the busiest artist and the most visible TV personality under the GMA stable, with three weekly programs ("Protégé," "Party Pilipinas" and "H.O.T. TV") and two daily shows ("Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa" and "Inside Protégé").
GMA is even lining her up for an ambitious project, the epic saga "Indio," in which she will star alongside Sen. Bong Revilla.
Looking at all her peers from the past decade, we can proclaim that Jennylyn is, without a doubt, the one, true ultimate survivor.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed. Yahoo! Philippines OMG! welcomes opinions—and the occasional wisecracks—that enrich and highlight new angles on its stories. Below-the-belt rants may be a fact of online life, but that doesn't mean you should turn into a troll. You can speak your mind without bashing anyone. Keep it clean, folks.
