Jennylyn no plans to let Patrick see baby

Here at last are the first photos of Jennylyn Mercado’s son AJ (Alex Jazz) which she has kept from the public since she gave birth eight months ago, setting off speculations that she’s afraid the baby would look like anybody but its biological father, Patrick Garcia.

You see the photos first only in Funfare, so take a good look at them. Compare the baby’s photos with that of Patrick. AJ does look every bit like Patrick, doesn’t he?

Unfortunately, like Funfare readers, Daddy Patrick is seeing his son for the very first time only from this page.

“No,” Jennylyn is firm, “I have no plans of letting him see AJ. After what he did to me, why should I?”

If you recall, when Jennylyn was heavy with AJ, Patrick was asked in a TV show how he would react if the baby’s father turned out to be somebody else and Patrick, who is a few years older than Jennylyn but several years less mature, gave this mindless reply: “Kung hindi akin (‘yung baby), I would still treat it as my own.” Or words to that effect. He could have simply said, “I am the baby’s father and I take responsibility for (the baby) and Jennylyn.” Oh well, but wouldn’t it be expecting too much from the guy old enough to sire a child but not mature enough to act in a responsible manner?

“You replay that show at ganoon talaga ang sinabi niya. Mahirap bang sabihing, ‘No, hindi totoo ‘yan? Sa akin ang batang ‘yan; ako ang ama ng batang ‘yan.’ Ganyan ang tamang sagot.”

Asked why she decided to show her baby’s photos only now, trusting only The STAR for it, Jennylyn said, “Kasi di ba nag-tsi-change ang itsura ng baby as he grows older? At least now, talagang fixed na ang features niya.”

The baby’s full name is Alex Jazz Mercado, minus Garcia.

“I saw to it...,” stressed Jennylyn.

Jennylyn only laughed at the rumor that it was actually Sen. Bong Revilla who is the baby’s “real” father, a rumor that Bong (and his wife Lani Mercado) simply shrugged off; and that Bong even gave her a house and lot.

“Why should I waste time on that rumor? Sa akin, kung hindi totoo ‘yung tsismis, why should I let myself be affected by it?” 

Asked further if Patrick is giving her and/or AJ any support, financial or otherwise, Jennylyn smiled wanly and then frowned.

“Wala. As in wala talaga. Not that I’m expecting him to. Kaya kong buhayan mag-isa ko ang anak ko.” Take note: “Ang anak ko”, not “Ang anak namin.”

Jennylyn said that AJ is now on “bottle-feeding” after Jennylyn breastfed him for almost three months. Back at work, Jennylyn is busy with the GMA mid-afternoon soap Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?, her birthday concert I Am Woman (at the Music Museum) and the launching of coffee-table book Reborn middle of this month.

How has AJ changed her life?

“Talagang na-iba ang buhay ko,” Jennylyn admitted. “Pati sleeping schedule ko naiba. When he’s asleep, asleep din ako; kapag gising siya, gising din ako. Sabay kami parati. When he was inside my tummy, I would make him listen to mellow music. Now, he can’t sleep kapag hindi ko siya kinakantahan. My mom (Lydia, her adoptive mother) is there to help me take care of AJ.” 

Luckily, AJ is not a cry baby, unlike Jennylyn.

“Medyo bratty na siya,” said Jennylyn. “When he wants something and he doesn’t get it, magwawala na ‘yon..iiyak na ‘yon. That’s the only time he cries.”

Jennylyn was a battered child. She admitted not having seen her biological parents for years.

“Whatever I am now,” she said, “I owe it to my Mommy Lydia and Daddy Romy (who died last year due to complications of diabetes).”

Is she bringing up AJ the way she was brought up by her adoptive parents (said to be close relatives of Jennylyn’s real parents)?

“I will make sure that AJ will have a happy childhood, a better life.”

What if, just if, AJ starts asking for and about his father when he grows up?

“I’m sure that time will come. Then, maybe...maybe...just maybe...”

Rumors have been linking Jennylyn to a few guys (one of them a veejay). Is she ready to fall in love again...and again, knock on wood, fall flat on her face?

Jennylyn laughed.

“Ayoko muna. Tama na muna ‘yung minsan.”

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