Understanding Jennylyn Mercado

Biases and prejudices are part of human nature.

Weeks before the Starstruck finals were held at the Araneta Coliseum last Feb. 1, I already had my choices in mind based not necessarily on looks and talent of the contestants, but on my personal dealings with the survivors. (My choices didn’t really have any bearing on the final selection since I wasn’t part of that Starstruck council anyway. But if I were part of the council, then that would have been a different story because I would have had to exercise objectivity.)

In the male division, my personal choice was really Mark Herras – no, not necessarily because he danced better than Rainier Castillo, who – truthfully – makes a Mikhail Baryshnikov out of Mar Roxas in that Mr. Suave campaign ad on television. I actually preferred Mark to win because two weeks before the finals, Lolit Solis was assigned by GMA 7 to be his manager and since I am Lolit’s self-appointed anak-anakan, I have to like the people she likes.

And Mark really proved to be a deserving winner. He is light on his feet and moves extremely well on the dance floor. And now that he is in Love to Love, he is also showing potential as an actor.

But Rainier isn’t really doing badly. After the Starstruck finals, I am beginning to realize why this boy who isn’t really all that tall and extraordinarily good-looking has legions of fans. Aside from that disarming smile forever pasted on his lips, his bumbling, seemingly helpless and little boy lost-persona can really charm the skirts of most girls with maternal instincts.

But among the male avengers, the one I am very fond of now is Christian Esteban – not only because we are both transplanted Baguio residents, but also because the boy has great PR. The few times we see each other, we are like long lost friends who talk about – but what else? – Baguio City, of course. Well, that’s our bonding.

In the female category, my personal preference was Yasmien Kurdi because I am impressed with her good looks and acting skills. Also, she would always go out of her way to say hello to me whenever we see each other in the studios of GMA 7. With Sheena Halili, I always try to be nice because I still feel guilty after having made her cry last December when Starstruck invited me to grill the survivors in a test of endurance during an on-cam interview.

Jennylyn Mercado? She sings well, is very pretty, but doesn’t seem to relate well to people. Even the Starstruck staff members call her "ang babaeng may sariling mundo."

Two weeks ago, I was assigned by Startalk to have a one-on-one interview with Mark Herras in Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The Starstruck avengers were also there and one by one, they all went up to me to say hello. Now, I don’t demand people to pay me a courtesy call. But in this world, I believe the younger person should always go up to the older one to pay his or her respects. I do this all the time – to Bella Flores, Flora Gasser, Tiya Pusit and heck, even Madame Auring.

At one point, Jennylyn passed right in front of me and went her way like I wasn’t there. So it’s true what they said about her. She’s lost in her own world. But she’s a marked woman from now on as far as I am concerned.

Then last week, I got another assignment (as if I had the right to say no). But I was going to be tough on her.

Surprisingly, however, the minute Jennylyn sat in front of me, she charmed me like a snake charmer would charm a serpent. The questions were difficult, but she answered each of them truthfully and breezed through the entire interview.

Did she really work as a GRO before joining Starstruck? No. But she did sing in a lounge – in Malate. Sure, there were attempts from dirty old men to invite her over to their table and probably elsewhere, but her Mommy Lydia was always with her. Yes, she says with pride, she finished that stint untainted – thanks to her mom’s vigilance. To this day, Mommy Lydia continues to watch over her like a hawk and I told Jennylyn to be thankful because her mother will always be there to direct her on the right path.

Later, I also found out she has heart problems – an ailment that had bothered her since she was a kid. Now, I realized why she tries to be oblivious to the world. With a heart ailment, I guess she really has to protect herself from hurts, disappointments – bad news and bad write-ups from the press… all of which she’ll get now that she is in show business.

And now I also understand why she isn’t that sociable. Unlike others in her Starstruck batch who would swim, play and do outdoor activities during out-of-town shoots, she would rather sleep and rest since she needs it because of her heart problem.

Even in dealing with people, I suppose she sometimes has to build a wall around her as defense against predators or anyone out to hurt her.

And now, all my biases and prejudices against Jennylyn are gone. She’s not so bad after all. And you know what? I’m even beginning to like her.