Jennylyn is her own woman now

Three weeks before her actual birthday on May 15, Jennylyn Mercado had an advanced birthday celebration at the E-Bar of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel last April 25. The 22-year-old Jennylyn, who is GMA 7’s StarStruck Ultimate Survivor winner, knew she would be busy in the coming days — particularly for her birthday concert and the launch of her coffee-table book. Hence, she decided to have a small, quiet party away from the glare of the klieg lights and paparazzi.

Last year, when Jennylyn marked her birthday, it turned out to be a baby shower for her. This time, however, Jennylyn was joined by her new bundle of joy, eight-month-old Alex Jazz or “AJ” for short. The baby became a crowd drawer in the party, which Jennylyn didn’t really mind at all.

Of course, most everyone knows that AJ is Jennylyn’s love child with Patrick Garcia, who has never seen his son and has been estranged from Jennylyn ever since she got pregnant.

In her intimate birthday party, Jennylyn was joined by her family members and close friends in the business, including Nyoy Volante, Ynez Veneracion and TV director Mark Reyes. Noted cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo also dropped by to greet her latest celebrity endorser. Yes, Jennylyn is the newest addition to Belo’s powerhouse stable of endorsers.

After giving birth, Jennylyn returned to the acting grind on GMA 7’s afternoon soap series, Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?, which reunites her with former loveteam and erstwhile real-life sweetheart, Mark Herras. The two stars were given more adult roles in their latest TV assignment together and the favorable ratings only prove their partnership still enjoys solid support from their fans.

Jennylyn gets often asked if working again with Mark could rekindle an old flame, but she swears Mark has remained a very good friend since they broke up. “I value more our relationship now and I guess we are better off this way,” Jennylyn maintains.

After she stopped seeing Patrick, Jennylyn has remained loveless. Although she started going out with non-showbiz guys, there is no one that she is exclusively dating at the moment.

“It will probably take time for me and Patrick to become friends again,” Jennylyn asserts. “Right now, I hope the people around us don’t force the issue. In God’s time, I’m sure we will be talking to each other again and I will also allow him to see AJ.”

On May 14, Jennylyn will mount the Music Museum stage for I Am Woman, a birthday show that will mark her return to the concert stage. Joining her as guests are Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Christian Bautista, Richard Poon and Gemma and Jasmine Fitzgerald. Doing the front act is upcoming singer Nico Antonio. Director is Calvin Neria.

I Am Woman will be Jennylyn’s “time to shine” as a singer and performer. She will sing and dance onstage, in a repertoire that unleashes her deepest feelings about life, love and being a woman, from standards to pop, dance and OPM hits.

Jennylyn is serious in her concert endeavor that she is even taking voice lessons with Monet Silvestre, formerly of The Tux, who is now the vocal coach of Pinoy Dream Academy scholars.

“I’m really excited to do this show,” Jennylyn says. “I haven’t done a concert in a long while. This is a challenge for me. I hope I’ll be able to pull it off successfully.”

Aside from her birthday concert, Jennylyn is also busy promoting her coffee-table book, Reborn, which she will launch this month. The book will publish never-before-seen photos of Jennylyn giving birth to her son and posing nude during pregnancy, reminiscent of the controversial pose done by Demi Moore.