Jennylyn takes her sweet revenge

Jennylyn Mercado is not getting married anytime soon as shown in the main picture. She is just playing a beautiful bride and a vengeful sister in the upcoming GMA 7 soap titled La Vendetta.

As the title of the soap suggests, the GMA 7 Artist talent is making a TV comeback, as she puts it, after a brief hiatus. Her last TV show was the hit fantaserye Super Twins. She is also taking “revenge” to claim the title as the most visible StarStruck female alumna, a title currently held by StarStruck runner-up Yasmien Kurdi of Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig.

La Vendetta is manna from heaven to Jennylyn after her career was reportedly “frozen” because of her manager (Becky Aguila) and fellow talent’s (Angel Locsin) exodus from the Kapuso network. Jennylyn was beaming like a bride when The STAR met her and the rest of the cast of La Vendetta in a recent pictorial at Rene Mejia’s Studio in Quezon City.

“It is my comeback project and the biggest so far after Super Twins,” says Jennylyn of her latest TV outing. “I will do a mature role this time. La Vendetta is heavy drama. At ako’y pipigain dito (it will test my acting mettle).”

But doing drama is not uncharted territory for Jennylyn. She has done Now & Forever’s Dangal, Eternity and Blue Moon. Jennylyn delivered with flying colors in those dramatic outings with Best Supporting Actress nominations in almost all award-giving bodies for Blue Moon. Besides, her life is a well of inspiration — and motivation — to play any role her director asks her to.

What challenges her, however, is the fact that she will be pitted against drama veterans Sunshine Dizon and Jean Garcia, the two other female lead stars of La Vendetta. Also in the cast are Dante Rivero, Caridad Sanchez, Paolo Contis and Mark Herras.

“I worked with them before,” relates Jennylyn. “I did Encantadia with Sunshine; Say That You Love Me with Jean. I’m very excited to work with them again. Sharing the spotlight with these actresses is a challenge.

“I am also pressured because the previous soap, Impostora, La Vendetta is replacing did a good showing in the ratings game. I hope our show will at least equal if not surpass what Impostora has achieved.”

La Vendetta is a story of three sisters (Sunshine, Jean and Jennylyn) with different personalities and secrets. Their individual differences will put sibling rivalry to another level and push one of them to the extreme.

Is Jennylyn’s character the one taking revenge on the soap?

“If ever my character is vengeful, it’s because her sisters did something bad to her,” says Jennylyn. “Am I vengeful? No, it’s not my nature to run after those who have wronged me. Besides, I believe in karma. Si God na ang bahala sa kanila.”

How does she feel now that she is finally under the care of GMA 7?

“I’m relieved. I’m thankful to my family, friends and GMA 7,” says Jennylyn. “(With what happened in my career recently), I can say it paid off that I stayed. It was a test. They (GMA 7) don’t want to invest on someone to whom their efforts will go to waste. They looked for loyalty, something I could and I can give them.”

All’s well that ends well.

Jennylyn is also busy working on her third album of ballads, revivals and covers. She will have another duet track with Janno Gibbs after their hit Moments of Love. The album will be released in December. On Nov. 24, Jennylyn will have a show at Zirkoh. Her fans will also see her in Resiklo and Nars.

Aside from doing TV soaps and movies, Jennylyn finds time for charitable work. She heads the Bata Foundation for battered people aged five to 25. The foundation is supporting the financial and emotional needs of 150 kids.

“I have helped a lot of people (through my work). I have also fulfilled many things for myself,” says Jennylyn. “I’m the breadwinner. My parents are old. It’s payback time. It’s important to share one’s blessings.”