Jennylyn Mercado tipped to win acting awards for "Rosario"

Jillian Ward, the child wonder who used to brighten viewers’ afternoons via “Trudis Liit”, takes the primetime with a bang, as she stars in GMA Network’s Christmas offering “Jillian: Namamasko Po!”. Under the direction of Mark Reyes, the series starts airing on Monday, Nov. 29, after “Survivor Philippines”.

Direk Mark has nothing but praises for the adorable Jillian. “I am going to get into trouble by saying this. She’s a far better actress than some actresses I’ve worked with in the past. And they are like 20 years older than she is. I am sorry, I have to say that.” Do we hear anybody say ouch?

“Very instinctive ang bata. Magaling. Sabihin mo lang, Jillian ganito ang gagawin mo. Okay, action! She’ll do it exactly the way you want it. For her age, she understands the instructions carefully for her age and that’s amazing. Alam niya ang susunod na linya ng co-actor niya,” Direk Mark related at the press launch of GMA’s Christmaserye on Wednesday at GMA’s Studio 5.

“Even at 12 midnight when all the kids are supposed to be sleepy and inactive, she’s like a lithium battery. Buhay na buhay at sayaw nang sayaw. She’s full of energy. But we pack her up at 12 midnight although other actors finish at around 3 a.m.,” added Direk Mark.

And whenever Jillian enters the scene, it becomes dramatic, but with Michael V as Santa, the scene turns a bit comedic.

Direk Mark also heaped praises for the other stars of the series, Claudine Barretto and Wendell Ramos.

“You should not miss the pilot week because the scenes are very dramatic. Inaaway ako ng staff sa set kasi naiiyak sila habang nanonood ng taping. Nakakaiyak talaga although there are many magical moments in the series.”

Other GMA stars playing guest roles in the Christmaserye are Marian Rivera, Carla Abellana, and if he could have his wish, Direk Mark wants Dingdong Dantes to make a guest appearance as well.

The story tells about the magical doll Jillian, who is the assistant of Santa Claus (played by Michael V). She accidentally falls into the hands of a sick young girl named Dolly (Daniela Amable), daughter of a couple Lynette (Claudine Barretto) and Nelson (Wendell Ramos). Later on, Dolly will discover that Jillian is a unique doll that can talk, dance, sing and do a lot of things. Jillian becomes Daniela’s playmate and sister of sorts. One night before going to bed, the sick child asks Jillian to promise to take care of her parents. Without any question, Jillian agrees. The following day, Dolly passes away and soon her parents gradually grow apart.

Remembering her promise to Dolly, the magical doll returns to Santa and wishes to become human so she could take care of the couple. But Santa reveals that the only way for her wish to be granted is to learn all the human values.

Will Jillian be able to prove she deserves to be a little girl? Will she appreciate the joys and pains that all human beings feel?

 Also in the cast are Chynna Ortaleza, Mosang, and Kiko Rustia.  “Jillian: Namamasko Po!” starts airing on Monday, Nov. 29, after Survivor Celebrity Edition.

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This early, many are predicting that Jennylyn Mercado will win the best actress award at the forthcoming 36th Metro Manila Film Festival for her work in “Rosario”, the filmfest entry of Cinemabuhay Inc.

The impressive trailer of “Rosario” seems to serve as proof of the different kind of acting dished out by Jennylyn in this film directed by Albert Martinez. The period film, set in the 1920s, casts Jennylyn as a woman ahead of her time, one who defied tradition and convention for the sake of love.

“Rosario” is arguably Jen’s biggest role to date and come the awards night, she is believed to go home with the best actress trophy, especially since “Rosario” is the only drama movie entered in this year’s festival.

However, Jen doesn’t want to raise her hopes too high but she certainly gave her all in her portrayal of an adulteress during the 1920s. It’s a big challenge for Jen to play an offbeat role in this movie that is based on the life story of the grandmother of top businessman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Jen said that if ever her acting would draw praise (and possibly win an award), she’d like to give credit to her director Albert and her co-stars Sid Lucero, Yul Servo, Dennis Trillo, Isabel Oli and Phillip Salvador.

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“Pinoy Big Brother” Teen Season 2 winner Ejay Falcon considers his 21st birthday (he was born Nov. 21) as his most memorable yet. In our interview with him held at the Kalye Timog Restaurant last Tuesday, Ejay said that he was able to fulfill two of his fondest dreams – to get the chance to work with Comedy King Dolphy in the movie “Father Jejemom”, also an entry to this year’s MMFF, and with his idol, action superstar Robin Padilla, who directed him in an still untitled movie that was shot in “In Indian”. Ejay just got back from a 15-day stay in India where they shot the film on location.

Ejay said he was very thankful for the golden opportunity to work with two showbiz icons. So how was it working with Tito Dolphy? “Ang husay-husay po niya. Kahit po medyo may edad na siya, ang galing-galing pa rin niya. Hindi nawawala ang galing niya. Ang mga moves po niya ay nakakatawa talaga,” he related.

“Tuwang-tuwa po ako kasi sa dinami-rami po ng mga artista sa Star Magic, ako po ang nabigyan ng chance to work with Tito Dolphy and with Maja Salvador who is a very good actress din po,” said the young gentleman who hails from Mindoro. This is the first time he’s working with Maja in a film. They appeared together recently in an episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya”.

“Isa po si Maja sa mga mahuhusay na young actresses. Magaling po siya,” added Ejay.

He said he was really nervous the first time he did a scene with the Comedy King. “Kinausap po kami ni Direk Frank (Gary, Jr.) na dapat po lahat ng eksena namin with Tito Dolphy ay take one kasi ayaw po namin na mapagod kaya dapat every scene with him is take one. Kaya before we do a scene, we rehearse it well and give it our best during the take,” Ejay said. He even said that the Comedy King also gave him pointers on how to do comedy scenes effectively.