ennylyn Mercado is on a mission. And the signs are obvious: frenzied fans, commercial endorsements, mall tours, weekly TV shows, fabricated tabloid rumors and blind items, a much-publicized romance with heartthrob Mark Herras , a well-produced maiden album, and most important of all, a mysterious smile on her face. This smile all the more gives us a reason to stare Jen in the eyes, get to know the girl within and find out what-her insides look like. We've seen her bare her dusky beauty and sheer lung power and whether she's singing or acting, that smile cannot be denied. This smile took me all the way to her condo in Quezon City. There I found out what her mission is.

NATURAL TALENT

IF she's talked about today, don't just blame it on the smile. This 17-year-old definitely can do better than that. Natural talent is always and will always be her bread and butter. It's what pays the bills and her rent.

Needless to say, the aftershock of her Starstruck victory led to her overnight fame. It's been 10 months now and the tremors are still felt. Dancing to it is the three Yasmien Kurdi , but it is Jennylyn who is peppered with controversy. Her spunk and spice have got to do something with it because girls are jealous, boys are challenged, overprotective, friends are envious and fans are arguing, leaving her misunderstood while the rest of us are intrigued by the fuss and the rage she creates. Whichever way this might affect her blossoming career is one to find out in showbiz news to come. In the meantime, no force can make her stop and no gravity can pull her down.

“Kung anong meron ako, kuntento na ako,” she ends. “Natupad na lahat ng dreams ko, and now my wish is for me to become more successful at sana magtagal ako sa business na ito.”

Considering that, it has also been knows to us that Jennylyn never really dreamed the high-fly showbiz life most people wanted. She said she joined the popular, reality-based talent search on GMA-7 only because her manager was prodding her to join.

“At first, I said yes to joining the competition just so I would appears her (Becky Aguila),” says Jen who has been actively performing in lounges and school programs as a senior at the Augustinian Abbey even before she joined the reality-based competition. “I didn't like what I was doing (in the talent search) and I refused to mingle with the other contestants,” she says.

And then Jennylyn was placed, at one point, in the bottom three of the search. “I didn't like how it made me feel,” she recalls. ‘That's when I decided to really do my best.”

LIVING HER DREAM

MOTIVATED by her love of music, she worked hard to outlast six other hopefuls and, along the way, struck a deal with GMA Records and probably found love (we never know for sure). This was her story, and everybody knew that story ever since she bagged the “Ultimate Survivor” title at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Starstruck has helped me in many ways. For one, it has helped me become more self-confident, especially in the kind of clothes I wear. It has also improved my dancing skills. Douglas Nierras ba naman ang teacher,” she reckons.

Jennylyn, who is currently in three regular Kapuso shows: Joyride, SOP Gigsters, and Forever In My Heart, is currently the image model of BCNY, Bambini Cologne and Lotion and Star Choco Nut.

“Singing is what I've dreamed of doing since I was 13. Five years form now, I see myself as a singer rather than an actress,” said the fast-rising teen star who just wanted to sing and make a serious career out of it. It just so happened that winning a competition was destiny's way of opening the gates of opportunity for a record deal.

Her mission continues with Living The Dream. In a time when 10-track debut albums don't make much sense, Jennylyn has been lucky enough to score original compositions by master composer Vehnee Saturno and enlist Janno Gibbs for a duet cover of the classic ballad If I'm Not In Love With You. The album's carrier single titled Kahit Sandali, another Saturno original , enjoyed major airplay and became one of the most requested songs at the time of its release.

During the press launch of her album at the Hard Rock Café in Glorietta, she expressed her admiration for Regine Velasquez, her co-star in Forever In My Heart. She said the Songbird inspired her the most.

“She's my idol because we kind of have the same humble beginnings. She started from the bottom as everyone knows and because of her hard work and perseverance, she's become very successful. She's really up there – mataas na siya at kagalang-galang.”

THE PRICE OF FAME

EVERYTHING comes with a price, especially fame. Jennylyn realized that when she had to put her studies on hold to make way for her newfound career. But now that she is able to do what she really wants and is also able to help her family because of show business, she says she-intends to eventually take up Mass Communication or Conservatory of Music as soon as her schedule permits.

Behind the TV screen, Jennylyn, who says her therapy to a broken heart is food and friends, knows the one thing she needs to protect at all cost – her heart. In matters of love, she knows when to shut up. If she were to come close to spilling out details about her lovelife, she'll instead give the boys a glimpse of what's she's like in a relationship.

“Pipilitin kong maging comfortable ka sa akin. Minsan, magpapapilit ako. ‘Pag hindi ako pinapansin, magta-tumbling ako diyan,” she says.

In a conversation with Jennylyn, one would hardly discern any emotional weakness in her. She is tough in that department and, don't bet on it, boys (hello Mark!) dare not make a mistake. She is not one crybaby.

“Ang hirap-hirap kong paiyakin. Lalo na ‘pag nagte-taping. Kailangan pa nila akong sigaw-sigawan para umiyak. Pero nu'ng bata ako, sobra akong iyakin,” she explains.

One thing brought her to tears, though. Stage fright. One time, she gave in.

‘Umiyak ako nu'ng launch ko sa Hard Rock,” she recalls. “Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako umiyak. Alas-diyes, nandu'n ako, nag-o-audio test ako, biglang tumulo ‘yung luha ko. Parang gusto ko na lang umiyak nang umiyak kasi sobrang nakakakaba kasi may 150 persons na invited ‘tapos kakanta ako ng mga kanta na original talaga. Okay lang sana kung may emcee. Walang host, ako lang. ako na lahat-lahat, walang lineup, walang script, walang rehearsal. Hindi nila ipinakita sa akin ‘yung mga sequence ng kanta. Ewan ko ba kung paano ko natapos ng walang kahit ano.”

During the interview, Jennylyn didn't give in to tears. She didn't give in to half of my questions. She didn't give into a persuasion. Instead, she gave into silence. She gave in to honesty. She didn't forget her mission: to stay true to herself no matter what.
(Articles lifted from S Magazine)- -