A Magazine Profile

From PINOY Presents “StarStruck Invasion”

Special Collector’s Edition (July 2004)

Real Name: Jennylyn Mercado

Nick name: Jenny

Star Sign: Taurus

Birthdate: May 15, 1987, 17 yrs old

Birthplace: Parañaque

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Height: 5’4”

Weight: 107 lbs

Shoe Size: 8

Shirt Size: Small

Ambition: Singer

Which StarStruck mate do you hang-out with? Mark and Yasmien

Who was the last person you phoned in? My father.

What’s your fave perfume to wear? Lacoste

What item/s do you buy most regularly? Candy and Gum

When did you decide you were going to be famous? Recently lang.

What song makes you turn the radio up? Ballad

How long does it take for you to get ready to go out? 2 hours

What makes you uncomfortable? If my clothes don’t fit well.

Do you disguise yourself when you go out in public? What do you usually wear? No. Casual lang.

What would people be surprised to know about you? I’m kalog kasi…

What sacrifices have you had to make for your career? My studies.

If you weren’t a performer, what would be your dream job? Host or VJ.

What were your impressions of the other (StarStruck) members when you first met them? Some are suplada.

What do you do with your money? Are you smart about it? Of course sa bank lang.

How did your friends react when you became a star? They are so proud of me.

What qualities do you think each of you brings to the group? Being simple and true.

Tell Us

About your crush: He’s my insiration

…your dream role: Retarded roles

…career so far: I’m into acting and recording

…the most influential person/s in your life? Why? My parents.

…your dream guy: Intelligent, nice, humble, sincere, sweet, neat, loving and understanding

…your best childhood memory: Playing around

…your shows and up-coming project/s: SOP Gigsters, Click, Love 2 Love, SOP, Playhouse and my debut album under GMA Records

A Magazine Profile

From YES! Collector’s Item (February 2004)

“Your Ultimate Guide to the StarStruck Kids”

Full name: Jennylyn Mercado, 16

Birthday: May 15, 1987; Taurus

School: Augustinian Abbey School

Motto: What you are is God’s gift to you and what you become is your gift to God

Closest “StarStruck” friend/s: Sheena. Super bait.

Hardships in the “StarStruck” competition that you’ve managed to get over: Give up my studies, kasi puyat lagi.

Most embarrassing “StarStruck” moment: During a pictorial, lumabas ‘yung strap ng bra ko. Shucks!

Why do you want to be a star? To help my family. 

Jennylyn may not have looked overwhelmed when her name was announced as the female ultimate survivor, but that was only because she was too dumbfounded to react.

Asked – a few days later – to choose which part of her life she wanted to relive, she choses February 1, 2004. “It’s the day I won ‘StarStruck,’” Jenny smiles. “I didn’t expect to win, but I did.”

Sunday is her favorite day: “It’s our family day. We all go to church together.”

Now a GMA-7 contract artist, our future diva lists the following as the ideal qualities in a man: sincere, intelligent, loving, sweet, smart, neat, understanding, open-minded.

The guitar-and-drums player includes drawing and writing poems among her many skills.

Trivia Fiesta

-If you want to please Jennylyn, give her lots of candy and bubble gum.

-Mother Theresa is the person Jennylyn admires the most.

-Jennylyn’s sweet scent is courtesy of her D&G and Clinique Happy perfumes.

A Magazine Profile

Name: Jennylyn Mercado

Nickname: Jenny / Jen

Birthday: May 15, 1987

Age: 17

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

School: Augustinian Abbey School

Show: SOP, JOYRIDE, FOREVER IN MY HEART

Single or taken?

Single

Describe yourself in one word:

Simple

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Look at the mirror

What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed?

Brush my teeth

Something about you that you’re proud of:

My voice!

Something about you that you would want to change:

Being moody

Your biggest inspiration:

My family

Your life goal is:

To be a diva!

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A singer

What’s your ringtone?

First Love (Utada Hikaru)

What’s your (cellphone) logo?

Myself

FAVES

Food: Kahit ano!

Ice cream flavor: Vanilla

Color: White

Pet: Dog

Song: In My Life!

TV show: MTV

Cartoon: Looney Toons

Actor: Aga!

Actress: Julia Roberts

Band/Artist: Nyoy Vollante with the Manos

Gimmick Place: House!

Resto: Japanese resto

Website: My website!

PICK ONE

Dogs or Cats? Dogs

Morning, Noon or Night? Noon 

Morena, Meztiza or Chinita? Morena 

Baguio or Boracay? Boracay

Rainy or Sunny? Rainy

Brewed coffee or a Frap? Frap

Drama or Comedy? Comedy

LOVE AND THE MUSHY STUFF

Define love in one word:

Unconditional

Have you ever been in love?

Not yet

Are you in love right now?

No

Describe the perfect date (place/activity) for you.

Beach

Describe the perfect guy/girl for you in one word.

Smart

Do you believe in soul mates?

Yes

Do you believe in marriage?

Yes

Do you think love is always enough?

Nope. 

Is flirting considered cheating?

Yes. 

Who is your biggest crush?

Richard Gutierrez

What’s the best gift you ever received?

Dog!

Our Princess

Dreams Come True for Jennylyn

The Ultimate Survivor of Starstruck Batch 1 has a lot to be thankful for. She is now one of the hottest stars in Philippine television and the other half of the most bankable love teams in the country today. Meet Jennylyn Mercado.

She is young, simply lovely and possesses one of the sweetest voices among the young icons in showbiz. With a successful album under her belt, she can now boast of being a true recording artist, a wish that she had always dreamed of. When asked what she prefers acting or singing, Jen answers, “singing, definitely singing.” In fact, she is now preparing for a second album. Weekly, she is able to highlight her musical prowess in the teen variety program SOP Gigsters.

Jen has worked with big names such as Kris Aquino and Eric Quizon in the big screen in “So Happy Together.” Another hit film was with Richard Gutierrez, and Angel Locsin in “Let the Love Begin.” As a true testament to her rising stardom, she has also starred alongside real-love Mark Herras, in the blockbuster success, “Say That You Love Me”.

Aside from a successful musical and movie career, Jen is a GMA talent that has graced several television shows, making her a household name. But among her numerous TV projects, it is probably her princess fairy character in Encantadia that has truly made her star shine even brighter.

Profile

Name: Jennylyn Mercado

Nickname: Jenny

Birthday: May 15, 1987

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Height: 5'4

Weight: 105 lbs

Religion: Catholic

School: The Augustinian Academy

Crush: Aga Muhlach

Dreamboy: Sincere, loving and honest

Actor: Aga Muhlach

Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow

Singer: Kyla

Happiest moment: When she made it to the final 4 of Starstruck

Saddest moment: None so far

Embarrassing moment: While on Frontpage, she opened her jacket and her bra showed. She didn't know her mother stuck it into her jacket's inner pocket. She wanted to disappear at that very moment

Wikipedia Entry

Jennylyn Mercado (born May 15, 1987) is a Filipina actress and singer. She became famous after winning in the first season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show of GMA Network in the Philippines.

Personal Background

Childhood

Jennylyn's mother worked in Dubai and left Jennylyn to the care of her stepfather. But Jennylyn became a victim of child abuse as she was often beaten by her stepfather. This abuse was even reported in some Philippine tabloids and broadsheets in May 4, 1991. Her stepfather was imprisoned, but her mother later bailed him out.

Her mother migrated to London and had her own family. Because of this, Jennylyn's aunt, Lydia Mercado, legally adopted her. This part of her life was dramatized in Magpakailanman, a drama show on GMA Network.

Because of her experience as an abused child, she is trying to start a foundation that helps victims of child abuse.

Relationships

She became the girlfriend of co-StarStruck survivor Mark Herras but their relationship has become on and off.

They are now officially on a break. Mark Herras is now courting a newcomer, Marian Rivera, while she is being wooed by numerous guys.

Acting and Singing Career

The Beginning

After winning in StarStruck, she has been cast in various TV shows, appeared in movies and ventured into singing. One of her notable roles is Milagros/Lira in the fantasy soap opera Encantadia.

Ranked #9 (2004) and #10 (2005) in FHM Philippines 100 Sexiest Women in the World.

Known as the Starstruck Diva and the new Drama Princess by respected directors in the Philippines.

Television Shows

Love to Love Season 9: Miss Match (2005) 

Encantadia (2005) 

Love to Love Season 7: Love ko Urok (2005) 

SOP Gigsters (2005-present) 

Joyride (2004) 

Forever in my Heart (2004) 

Click Barkada Hunt (2004) 

Click (2004) 

SOP (2004-present) 

Love to Love Season 3: Duet for love (2004) 

Stage 1: LIVE! (2004) 

Stage 1: The StarStruck Playhouse (2004) 

StarStruck (2003) 

Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin (2003) 

Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay (2003) 

Filmography

Blue Moon (2006) 

Lovestruck (2005) 

Say That You Love Me (2005) 

Let the Love Begin (2005) 

So..Happy Together (2004) 

Discography

Living the Dream (2004) - 1x gold 

Notable Awards

2005 Metro Manila Film Festival - Philippines People's Choice for Best Actress 

2004 Star Awards for Televison Female Star of the Night 

2004 Breakthrough Artist at SOP Music Awards and CandyMag Awards. 

Voted as the Most Popular Female Young Star and Most Popular Loveteam (with Mark Herras) at the 2004 YesMag Reader's Choice Awards. 

2004 Guillermo awardee for Most Popular Loveteam of RP Movies 

2005 Awit Awards winner for Best Performance by a Duet, for the song, "If I'm Not In Love" with Janno Gibbs from her first certified hit album, Living the Dream.

Profile

Jennylyn Mercado Bio


I. BIO

A. Basic Info


Name: Jennylyn Mercado

Nickname: Jenny

Birthday: May 15, 1987

Birthplace: Parañaque

Showbiz anniversary: February 1, 2004

Hobbies: Playing the guitar, singing

Sport: Tennis


B. Favorites


Actors/Actresses- Local: Mark Herras-Foreign: Julia Roberts

Movie: Happy Together

TV Show: Joyride, Forever in My Heart

Singers: Regine, Me!

Song: Kahit Sandali

Music: Pop, Ballad


C. Personal


Adjectives that best describe you: Simple, friendly, quiet

Fashion: Casual

Pet: Dog

Pet Peeves: Plastic, liar

Fears: Ipis, heights

Most treasured item/s: All the things given by my mhamine

Goals: To finish my studies, to have a concert

Role Model: My parents


II. Q & A


Why did you enter showbusiness? For experience, exposure; to help my family

What do you consider as the turning point in your career? When I won in “Starstruck.”

If you weren’t in showbiz, what kind of career would you have? I’ll still be in school; have a singing career

What is your biggest frustration/regret? To be a dancer

What do most people don’t know about you? I’m kulet!

What is your most unforgettable moment/experience? Extra Challenge: passing the rope bridge (180 feet), bonding with the snakes

What are you most proud of? My voice and how I carry my life

What do you value most? My family and the people close to my heart

What do you want to achieve? I want to have a concert and stay in this business

What is your advice to aspiring artists? Strive hard. Persevere. Always ask for the Lord’s guidance. Be nice to all. Be humble. Love your work.