Jennylyn Mercado

Infobox actor
name = Jennylyn Mercado


image_size = 180px
caption =
birthdate = birth date and age|1987|5|15
location = Las Piñas City, Metro Manila, Philippines
height =
deathdate =
birthname = Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado
othername = Jenny/Jen
occupation = Actress/Singer
website = http://jennylynm.blogspot.com
notable role = Lira/Milagros in Encantadia, Corazon in Bluemoon

Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado also known as Jennylyn Mercado (born May 15, 1987 in Las Piñas City, Metro Manila, Philippines) is a Filipina actress and singer. She was the winner of the first season of "StarStruck", a reality-based talent search show of GMA Network in the Philippines.

Personal Life

In May 4, 1991, when she was nearly four years old, she made headlines as a battered child. The assailant was her stepfather, who burned her skin with cigarette butts and put a flat iron on her back. Her mother, who was then working in Dubai as a domestic helper, immediately came home not to rescue her daughter, but to bail out her partner, who was in detention. Her life story was featured in the TV drama series "Magpakailanman" on October 14, 2004. Jennylyn is now the official spokesperson of the Bata Foundation (Christian Mission Services), a non-governmental organization. Her mother migrated to London and had her own family. Mercado's aunt, Lydia Mercado then became her legal guardian.

When her biological father, Noli Pineda, now 50, came home from Korea, reports came out saying that he was asking for money from his now self-sufficient daughter (an accusation she has strongly denied, insisting that her father wanted her to use his surname Pineda). She and her biological father, who is based in Korea still keep in touch.

Mercado studied at Augustinian Abbey in Las Piñas from Prep to 4th year High School. On the April 3, 2004 episode of "Startalk", a Philippines-based talk show, Jennylyn admitted that she suffers from a heart ailment which prohibits her from becoming too tired, overly excited, or angry.

She is the former girlfriend of co-StarStruck survivor Mark Herras. They started dating on April 29, 2004 and broke up on September 2005. Their loyal supposrters are often called 'Topaks' [Their loyal supporters have an official site, [www.topaks.com] ] . She became pregnant by her ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia, who, reportedly, has distanced himself upon learning the pregnancy. It is said that Jennylyn still has no idea on what to name her baby boy. Some are jokingly suggesting to name the baby after Mark Herras because it was written in an article that Mark is willing to help her in every way he can, even offering himself as being the baby's baptismal godfather. [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=110192 Preggy Jennylyn breaks up with Patrick; says his mom doubts baby's paternity]

On August 16 2008, she gave birth, via Caesarian section (8-9 PM) to an 8.12 pounds baby boy at St. Luke's Hospital, Quezon City. Her child's name is Jazz. [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/18786/Jennylyn-Mercado-gives-birth-to-a-baby-boy-via-Caesarean-section Jennylyn Mercado gives birth to a baby boy via Caesarian section] ] [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2008/08/18/life/jennylyn.gives.birth.to.bouncing.baby.boy.html sunstar.com.ph, Jennylyn gives birth to bouncing baby boy] ] [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/27319/-Showbiz-Central--Jennylyn-gave-birth-via-caesarian-section-at-St-Luke-hospital gmanews.tv/video, Showbiz Central: Jennylyn gave birth via caesarian section at St. Luke hospital - 08/17/2008] ] After the birth, her adopted father, Rogelio "Rogie" Mercado, who was Lydia's husband, died due to complications of diabetes at the age of 69. [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/18828/Jennylyn-Mercados-father-passes-away Jennylyn Mercado's "father" passes away] ]

Career

Jennylyn started out as a recording artist, in 1999, with Alpha Records through the recommendation of her voice coach Susanna Pichay. She was with the singing group G4 of Nonoy Tan. Unfortunately, two of the co-members did not continue on so the group and the planned album was scrapped. But the group was able to record two songs. After G4, she went into modeling and landed an endorsing stint with Bambini cologne and a Ponds television advertisement. She also made it to the elite Circle of 10 modeling search along with fellow Starstruck member, Dion Ignacio winning the Ms. Photogenic title. Prior to joining Starstruck, she has appeared in soap operas "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay" with Lorna Tolentino in (ABS-CBN), "Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw" and "Nagmamahal, Manay Gina", where she appeared three times.

In 2003, Mercado joined the reality show "Starstruck" and together with Mark Herras were proclaimed the winners of the show. Each of them received one million pesos plus exclusive contracts from GMA Network. After winning Starstruck, she has appeared in several films including "So Happy Together" and the teen-flick "Let the Love Begin". In television, she has appeared in the fantasy soap opera "Encantadia", "I Luv NY", Now and Forever, entitled "" and Super Twins.

She released her first album Living the Dream containing original compositions by composer Vehnee Saturno and a carrier single titled "Kahit Sandali". In May 2006, Mercado released her second album, "Letting Go" which included the single "Sa Aking Panaginip" by Vehnee Saturno. Her first major concert was held on May 15, 2006 at the Music Museum in Greenhills.

Filmography

Television

ingles

Commercial

* 1997 Garuda Indonesia - Tradisi Version
* 2004 Cream Silk - Weding Version

References

Trivia

*Angel Locsin and Valerie Concepcion have the same manager as Jennylyn

External links

* [http://www.fhm.com.ph/fhm-babes/profile/98/jennylyn-mercado Jennylyn Mercado FHM profile] at [http://www.fhm.com.ph/ FHM]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/16962/Jennylyn-Mercado-talks-about-pregnancy-woes www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest, Jennylyn Mercado talks about pregnancy woes - 01/19/2008]
*imdb name|1717582
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/17093/Jacky-Woo-surprised-by-Jennylyn-Mercado's-pregnancy gmanews.tv/video, Jacky Woo surprised by Jennylyn Mercado's pregnancy 01/23/2008] (in Filipino)