In 2021, Kapuso star Jennylyn Mercado had to pause the filming of her primetime series “Love. Die. Repeat.” due to her pregnancy, her first child with actor-husband Dennis Trillo. It was a challenging decision for the A-list actress, but prioritizing her health and the safety of her baby was paramount at that time.
Fast forward to 2024, Jennylyn is making a stellar comeback by returning to the set of “Love. Die. Repeat.,” now airing on GMA Telebabad, opposite Xian Lim.
“Para kaming nasa time loop. Pagbalik ko, iyon pa rin suot ko! Siyempre dumaan ako sa dalawang taon na naging mommy ako ulit, nagpahinga ako. Pagbalik ko, paano ko gagawin na ganoon pa rin hitsura ko? Dapat ‘yung acting ko, ‘yung hindi ako mukhang kinakabahan,” Jennylyn said in the recently held press conference for the series.
Acting for almost two decades now, Jennylyn admitted that her two-year hiatus from showbiz proved to be a challenging one, especially in terms of acting.
“Parang hindi na ako marunong pagbalik ko. Parang ganoon iyong feeling na ‘Kayo na ang bahala sa akin.’ Grabe talaga iyong nerbiyos ko pagkabalik ko. Napaka-challenging para sa akin kasi hindi ko rin alam paano ko ito nagawa,” she revealed.
In A Time Loop
“Love. Die. Repeat” brings a unique story about two lovers, Angela (Jennylyn) and Bernard (Xian), who were separated by death and how a time loop can possibly put them back together.
In the series, Angela lost her husband, Bernard, in a car accident. Soon, she realizes she is stuck in a time loop and is forced to relive the worst day of her life—the day her husband died.
Jennylyn, known as “The Ultimate Star,” acknowledged that portraying the role of Angela is particularly challenging due to the depth of emotions she must convey.
“Siyempre kailangan namin pagandahin kasi siyempre kapag sinabi mong time loop, paulit-ulit mong gagawin iyong eksena pero iba-iba iyong levels ng emotion, iba-iba iyong atake, iba-iba iyong mararamdaman mo,” she said.
On Life and Family
In the press conference, Jennylyn explained that she can somehow relate to the role of Angela in the series because it explores the themes of love for family and the fleeting nature of life.
“Iyong pagmamahalan ng pamilya, iyong palagi kang sumusunod sa mga magulang mo. Pangalawa, iyong pagmamahal mo sa asawa mo na kahit buhay pa iyong kapalit gagawin mo,” she shared about the lessons in the series.
With these lessons in mind, Jennylyn is constantly prioritizing taking care of her family and spending time with them every chance she can get. Her Instagram is filled with photos of herself, husband Dennis, and their children Calix, Jazz, and Dylan frolicking in different places and going on adventures together.
“Mommy ako, nag-aalaga ng bata, nag-aalaga ng family, and then workout pakonti-konti,” Jennylyn said about her personal life.
Last December, they spent a few days in Japan. Jennylyn and Dennis were also spotted working out together, riding bikes and motorcycles, and enjoying quality time with their kids.
“Buong family nagpunta sa Japan, kasama iyong mga kids. Simple lang. Tapos NY sa bahay lang kami, hindi nga kami nag-fireworks eh nanood lang kami sa labas ng bahay,” she said on how they spent Christmas and New Year. - Words by Len Armea, Photos courtesy of GMA
Read the full article in the February 2024 issue of the Filipino-Japanese Journal, out now in Japan.
