Jennylyn & Dennis in perfect harmony

Cliché but true: Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo play beautiful music together literally and figuratively. On Saturday, Feb. 15, they will show their “conjugal” musicality at their first big concert together, CoLove Live, at the New Frontier Theater.

Offstage, they are now in perfect harmony after surviving a failed first time togetherness. They were young then…impulsive and easy to, well, “burst”…and they are more mature now, more cool, calm and collected.

In this Conversation, Jennylyn and Dennis recall the other ”firsts” and “lasts” in their lives.

First time/last time they worked on a project (movie) together and how was it?

Dennis: First time was on the mini-series Now and Forever Presents Dangal. Okay naman working with Jen for the first time. Very professional. Mas na-build namin doon ang foundation ng friendship namin since we were always together.

Jennylyn: Our last project together was My Faithful Husband directed by Joyce Bernal. Our working relationship was more smooth kasi mas nakilala na namin ang isa’t isa. Always fun working with Dennis because he’s a very good actor.

First time/last time they celebrated Valentine’s together

Dennis: First was back in 2011 and the last was siempre ‘yung last year. (Addressing Jennylyn) What did we do na nga last year?

Jennylyn: Nag-Batangas tayo sa The Farm. ‘Yung nadulas ako sa pool ‘yung pababa! (Laughs)

Dennis: With us, as long as we are together, everything is okay. It doesn’t have to be magarbo or what.

First time/last time they said “I love you” to each other

Dennis: First time ganoon din noong 2011. Last time was kanina lang sa text message.

First time/last time they kissed

Jennylyn: First kiss was sa show namin sa taping. Part of the scene ‘yon. Last time naman was kanina lang din.

First time/last time they had a fight (and how they made up)

Jennylyn: Ang tagal na. Medyo matagal na, actually.

Dennis: That’s what we are trying to avoid. We are doing our best to understand each other.

Jennylyn: We have less fights because we are more mature now. Di na kami bata. Besides, there is so much stress around, dapat love na lang pairalin lagi talaga.

First time/last time they traveled together (where and when and how was it)

Jennylyn: First time was to Hong Kong. It was our first travel out of the country. Masaya! We really enjoyed the experience since we could move freely, na walang masyadong nakakakilala sa amin.

Dennis: Last time naman was when we watched U2 sa Singapore. Solid din ‘yun kasi paborito naming pareho ‘yung U2.

First time/last time they cried together

Dennis: Di naman masyado nagkakasabay umiyak pero madalas siguro pag nag-away kami ganun.

Jennylyn: Di rin kami sobrang iyakin, e.

First time/last time they laughed hard together

Dennis: Last time was kagabi lang. Lagi kasi kaming tumatawa ni Jen ’pag magkasama kami.

Jennylyn: Nag-games kami last night. We were playing Switch and then we started laughing and laughing. Ganun lang talaga kami, ewan ko ba.

Dennis: Si Jen kasi madali matawa talaga.

First time/last time they comforted each other

Dennis: We don’t remember the first time but it was not really serious. But the last time was medyo grabe. Medyo lang naman. That was a few days ago. Stressed kasi si Jen doon sa mga biglang kailangan doon sa Litterbucks. It’s a cat café that we are opening soon somewhere on Maginhawa St. (Quezon City).

Jennylyn: Kasi we are very hands-on in our business venture. Sometimes, the demands nakakasabay sa pagod sa taping and you don’t have enough time to attend to them. It’s Dennis who maintains the balance and who calms me down, reminding me not to be affected by negative energy at gawan na lang ng paraan.

First time/last time they exchanged meaningful gifts

Dennis: Last time was during our anniversary last January. Usually, we give each other ‘yung bagay na mas nagagamit. Mas practical ba.

Jennylyn: Oo para mas lagi naming hawak. Kasi ’pag ‘yung ibibigay mo di naman niya nagagamit, e di sayang itatago lang.

First/last movie they watched together

Jennylyn: Oh my, we don’t remember the first movie that we watched together. The last was ‘yung may bata… ano ba title nun?

Dennis: Freaks. Sci-fi movie siya, noon pang 2018.

Jennylyn: Ayun! Usually, sa bahay lang kami nanood via streaming, ganyan.

First time/last time they were apart for quite a while (maybe due to separate work)

Dennis: Last time was when Jen shot a movie in New York, ‘yung The Prenup.

Jennylyn: Five days din ‘yun.

Dennis: Medyo matagal na sa amin ‘yun na magkahiwalay.

First time/last time they attended Mass together (and what they prayed for)

Jennylyn: Admittedly, we cannot always attend Mass together but we are really prayerful. We put God at the center of our relationship. Laging strong ang faith namin sa Kanya.

Dennis: We see to it that we don’t forget to thank God for all the blessings sa amin.

Jennylyn: We always pray for good health at sana kayanin namin ‘yung mga challenges na darating sa buhay namin.

First time/last time they promised to stick to each other through thick and thin.

Dennis: I think every day pinapangako namin sa isa’t isa ‘yan be it by saying, ‘I Love You,’ or through our actions. It’s sort of an assurance we give to each other kasi importante sa relationship ‘yun.

Jennylyn: As long as you are in the relationship, it’s a commitment to be there for the person you love no matter what. Basta mahal mo ‘yung isang tao, siya at siya ang pipiliin mo, masaya man o mahirap ang pagdaanan ninyong dalawa.

 (Note: CoLove Live happens on Saturday, Feb. 15,  7 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater. It is produced by Jennylyn and Dennis with Becky Aguila Artist Management, GMA 7, Quantum Films, Real Green and Merry Sun. Special guests include Alden Richards, Carlo Aquino, Alex Gonzaga, Nyoy Volante, Janno Gibbs, Juan Karlos Band, Kim Molina, Jerald Napoles, Jay Durias, Nar Cabico, Nico Antonio, and Juan Miguel Severo. Ticket prices are P5,000 for SVIP; P3,500 for VIP; P2,500 for Orchestra; P1,200 for Upper Balcony; and P800 for General Admission. Call Ticketnet at 8911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph.)

(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)