Jennylyn Mercado reveals she's a battered child

MANILA, Philippines - Jennylyn Mercado admitted in a recent television interview that she's suffered severe physical abuse from her stepfather when she was a child.

“'Yong likod ko pinaplantsa tapos pinapaso ako ng cigarette. Tapos kapag pinaso na niya ako ng cigarette, 'di ba lolobo siya, pipisain niya 'yon. Gusto talaga niya nang nakakasakit, gano'n,” Jennylyn revealed in her interview on the December 3 episode of GMA-7's "Powerhouse."

She added: “Dumating na sa point na sa sobrang kakabugbog sa akin hindi na ako makabangon sa bed, 'yong tipong black and blue na talaga, Tapos makikita nila iba na 'yong itsura ko kasi maga, 'yong nakalabas ng gano'n 'yong mata ko tapos ang laki ng ulo ko, kasi siguro sa sobrang kakabugbog sa akin.”

She said her aunt, Lydia Mercado, took her away from their home and raised her. She is now Jennylyn's legal mother.

With Lydia's support, the Kapuso actress was able to recover and even enter showbiz. Jennylyn is now at the peak of her career and a single mom to Alex Jazz.

As a celebrity, the actress wanted to influence people who are suffering from what she had suffered. She adviced victims of abuse not to lose hope in life.

“'Wag sila mawawalan ng pag-asa kasi hindi naman habang buhay gano'n ang pagdadaanan nila,” she said.

She added that it is always good to belong to a "positive group" and be around people who could give them the proper care that they deserve.

"Pagmamahal and pagdadasal. Kasi kung wala si God hindi ko na rin alam ang mangyayari sa akin,” she said.

Today is the last day of the worldwide celebration of Violence Against Women and Children awareness campaign, which started last November 25.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women website, the campaign has three objectives: to increase support and commitment of duty holders particularly government agencies, at the national and local level, in eliminating violence against women and children; to sustain and improve policies, laws and mechanisms addressing VAW; and to forge partnerships among stakeholders in addressing VAW.