Jennylyn Mercado has a different glow about her these days, a glow that radiates from beneath her apparent beauty. The actress-singer signed a contract with record label PolyEast Records on Wednesday afternoon, February 15, at the Universal Tower along Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. Jennylyn is pleased and agog to start working on her album under the said recording company. She is supposed to produce one album this year. "Kasi yung past album na ginawa ko, puro lahat ballad... almost lahat pare-pareho ng genre. "So dito, parang mas challenging and mas exciting kasi iba yung concept 'tapos iba yung attack nila," relays Jennelyn, whose previous three-year contract with Viva Records ended in 2011. Jennylyn places her faith in this new affiliate of hers, trusting that her singing career will see the same fate as RnB princess Kyla, a successful talent of PolyEast. "Yung mga people under this recording company, like sila Kyla... napapaganda talaga nila. "So, ang dami nilang mga talent, mga artist na talagang very successful like Zia [Quizon]... sobrang fan na niya ako!" While her album is still being conceptualized, Jennylyn mentions that she will sing upbeat singles. "Gusto talaga nila ngayon na different Jennylyn. Gusto nila kumanta ako ng fast [songs]." She adds that at least one revival will appear in her album.
JIU-JITSU AND UNDERWATER VENTURES. On top of all her expected projects this year— coming out with an album, working on a teleserye, and shooting movies for GMA Films and Regal Films— Jennylyn is determined to become better at Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu. Under the tutelage of mixed martial artist Alvin Aguilar, the actress-singer attends two sessions a week. Jennylyn relays that her training, apart from its fitness benefits, has taught her the value of self-defense. "Sa 'kin that's very important lalo na sa mga kababaihan ngayon. Sa generation ngayon, ang dami-daming mga nangyayari. "Sa mga news, hindi mo... bawat panood ko ng news, may pinapatay, may nire-rape. "So, mas maganda na rin siguro sa mga kababaihan na matuto ng konting-konti or basic lang na self-defense for women. That's very important," tells Jennylyn. The singer-actress also says she is also open to helping out in advocacies that advance women empowerment should it entrust her to teach the fundamentals of self-defense. It is no wonder that Jennylyn maintains her stunning physique. The 24-year-old also engages in diving almost every week since last year. It was real-life boyfriend Luis Manzano who got her hooked to scuba diving. On Tuesday, Valentine's day, Jennylyn and Luis in fact celebrated underwater somewhere in Batangas City. "Nag-dive lang kami. Kasi ayaw namin yung traffic, e! "Monday pa lang [February 13], umalis na kami papuntang Batangas para hindi namin maabutan yung traffic. "So, pagdating ng Tuesday, nandun na kami. Kasi ayaw na namin maabutan... Di ba 'pag Valentine's Day napaka-traffic, punong-puno yung lahat ng restaurants? "So, talagang wala kaming pag-asa dito sa Manila. Pumunta kami ng Batangas." Asked when all this started, Jennylyn smiles and replies, "Kasi nagbe-basic underwater photography ako. "Medyo mahirap yun kasi siyempre yung buoyancy mo, hindi katulad sa land na steady ka lang." She further recounts the back story of how Luis introduced her to the newfound hobby. "Gift niya ito sa akin! Before Christmas, pinag-lessons niya ako. "Nagpunta kami ng Eskaya [Resort], 'tapos pinilit niya akong mag-discovery diving, e, ayoko! Hindi ako nakikinig, yung ganun. "Sabi niya, 'Sige, dadalhin ka na lang namin kahit 'wag ka na sumipa diyan!' Hinihila-hila lang nila ako. "'Tapos pagdating namin ng Manila, [sabi ni Luis,] 'O, may lessons ka!' "Hanggang sa nagkaro'n ako ng license, 'tapos naging certified diver ako. Dun na nag-start." Scuba diving caused Jennylyn to revel at the beauty of the deep. She tells of her newfound appreciation for the environment. "Ay, grabe po! Pinag-aaralan ko na rin yung mga sea creatures. "Kasi hindi mo siya puwedeng basta-basta, 'Wait, puwede ko ba itong hawakan? Baka mamaya may venom ito!' Ganun. "Kailangan mo rin pag-aralan yung mga creatures kasi 'pag nadaanan mo or natusok ka, baka magkar'on ka ng infection. "Meron kaming dive master. Yung dive master namin, zoologist. "So, pinagbabasa niya ako ng mga books, 'Ito marami niyan dito' ganyan-ganyan."
KEEPING PRIORITIES IN CHECK. At the start of 2012, Jennylyn is on top of her game. How does she manage to be a mother to son Alex Jazz, despite the time-consuming demands of her career? The three-year-old toddler is Jennylyn's child with former boyfriend Patrick Garcia. "Si Jazz... yung mga ganitong klase ng work, sinasama ko na lang." At the contract signing, Jazz, who turns four come August, was with Mommy Jennylyn. "Except yung mga taping days kasi 24 hours yun, magulo yung set. Ayoko siya isama sa mga ganun. "Pero yung mga ganito, puwede. "Kahit papaano siyempre, gusto ko rin magkaro'n ng time para sa kanya. "Sa [Jiu-Jitsu] training ko, sinasama ko 'yan. Meron lang 'yang knee pads, elbow pads, saka helmet para anytime na kahit tumambling-tumbling siya dun, 'di siya madidisgrasya." Jennylyn adds that one of her trainers in class happens to be former boyfriend Patrick's brother. The actress neither flinches nor seems bothered by the mention of her ex-lover. If anything, Jennylyn has learned to keep calm and composed under all circumstances, even the most crucial ones. At the moment, however, everything seems to be in place in her life. What lesson has the toughest life experiences taught her? "Para sa akin siguro... kasi sobra ako magmahal [dati], e. "Hindi naman sa ngayon hindi ako nagmamahal masyado. Hindi naman ganun, parang ano lang, parang kailangan laging may limitation. "Kasi lahat... kumbaga parang lahat binibigay ko, e. Parang walang natitira sa akin, sa family ko, sa trabaho ko. "Napapabayaan ko lahat. So ngayon... pantay-pantay. Alam ko na yung mga priorities ko." She goes on to enumerate them: "Number one yung family. Number two yung career. Number three, of course, yung sarili ko." Jennylyn emphasizes that she comes in third in her life: "Number three, opo. O, di ba? Number three lang ako. "Number four, lovelife. "Kumbaga, alam ko na yung mga priorities ko ngayon. 'Dati kasi hindi ako magte-taping kasi nag-away kami. Ngayon, hindi na." Prodded to confirm if she sees this current relationship with Luis to last this time, she quips, "Let's see... Basta ngayon alam ko na yung priorities ko." --
Abby Mendoza, PEP 
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