PAULINE MENDOZA
The Girl Who Made It Happen
As she reminisces about the joyful highs and challenging lows of her young life, Pauline teaches us a vital lesson about patience and the value of waiting for your own “perfect timing.”
Text by: Aedrianne D. Acar
Photos courtesy of GMA Artist Center and Pauline Mendoza Instagram
When you talk to an actress like Pauline Mendoza, you sometimes forget that you are in the presence of someone remarkable.
Her looks—sweet, mild-mannered, innocent—simply belie her wisdom and immense talent as a dramatic actress.
We interview Pauline through Zoom one afternoon, at the time the country has been placed once again in a strict quarantine period due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in key cities.
These days, Pauline has been busy with her studies. For those of you who don’t know, this pretty lass is a 1st year Interior Design student at the College of Saint Benilde.
One thing that you would immediately notice about her is her quiet simplicity—not a trace of condescension with the way she introduces herself and her manner of speaking.
Even if the interview is done virtually, her warmth and eagerness to connect to her listener is palpable.
We almost forget that this is the same girl who earned praises from promising director Jules Kantanyag and whom versatile TV-movie actor John Estrada describe as someone who has all “qualities of a superstar.”
Born to Victor Esquieres and Jennifer Esquieres on October 5, 1999, Pauline, like many of her colleagues in show business, had an early start in the industry.
Pursuing this career wasn’t someone else’s dream that was forced upon her.
Pauline suddenly made a surprising move. She realized that getting an education was her topmost priority.
What was the reason for her sudden change of heart at the time the promise of showbiz success was beckoning?
“So, nag-stop lang ako na mag-commercial, na mag-decide na pumasok sa showbiz, kasi gusto ko muna mag-finish ako ng high school.
“So, nung medyo patapos na ako ng high school dun ako nag-decide na bakit hindi ko i-try ’yung passion ko [for acting]? Luckily, nagulat na lang ako nakuha ako ng GMA-7. Ayun nag-sign ako ng contract with them.”
Becoming a Kapuso
Looking back at the day she set foot in Kamuning at the headquarters of the Philippines’ leading and biggest broadcast network GMA-7, brings a smile to Pauline’s face.
Armed with her determination and zeal to restart her showbiz journey, she auditioned in GMA Artist Center in 2015.
Pauline needed to stand out from the other aspiring talents, who like her had one goal in mind—to become the next big thing.
“Actually noong unang audition ko, parang dalawa lang ‘yung nandoon sa loob nung audition room, so parang kalma lang, tapos pinatawag nila ulit for like the second time, tapos nakita ko sobrang dami namin.”
Little did she know that during her callback she would come face-to-face with star maker and mentor, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara. “May panel na kami, nandoon na pala ‘yung mga boss nandiyan sina Miss Gigi [Santiago-Lara]. Tapos masaya naman, actually it’s a good experience.”
Pauline Mendoza brims with pride as she talks about how she made her dream happen. She didn’t have a famous surname, nor did she rely on a strong backer who could pull some strings for her. She is a living testament that with hard work and patience and perseverance, anything is possible.
“Kung ano ‘yung na-reach ko ngayon, ‘yung buong six years ko from the first time na tumapak ako sa GMA na-experience ko talaga lahat.
“I’m proud to say talaga na pinaghirapan ko talaga.
“And then with my craft, siyempre lagi ako gina-guide ng manager ko si Boss Vic [del Rosario], my handler Kuya Ge [Gerald Chiang] and, of course, GMA-7, hindi naman nila ako pinabayaan.” She also made use of all the opportunities given to her by her home network to polish her skills in the past years.
For Pauline, acting is a never-ending process of improving.
“Lagi kaming naga-a-acting workshop sa buong six years ko, I never stop educating myself when it comes to my craft, kasi gusto ko talaga mayroon ako natutunan at kahit ngayon na mayroon ako knowledge about acting, gusto ko pa siya dagdagan.
“Gusto ko pa siya lumawak pa, kasi kahit marami na ako na-experience for the past five or six years, parang feel ko kulang pa e.
“Gusto ko tuluy-tuloy ‘yung proseso.”
Front and center
As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. After six years in showbiz, Pauline Mendoza landed her biggest project in 2021, the lead role in the afternoon soap Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat.
Portraying the sweet heiress Iris Salvador, is her second drama project after playing support in the high-rating primetime series Kambal Karibal, which aired three years ago. In that fantasy primetime series, she shared screentime with the show’s strong female lead: Bianca Umali and Kyline Alcantara.
In Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat, it seemed as though the weight of the show rested on Pauline’s shoulders. While it seemed daunting at first, Pauline later on proved that she could handle the pressure with ease.
“Hindi ko naman ita-tanggi pa na na-pressure ako, mayroong konting pressure.”
While the lead role had its perks and privileges, it also came with extra responsibilities.
“Pero not totally pressure, kasi siyempre noong medyo supporting roles pa ako, mero’n central person na sasalo sa lahat ng interviews, kailangan sila talaga ’yung mag-ga-guide sa mga co-actors nila. Sila ’yung mag-ga-guide sa mga productions nila.
“Well, ’yun din naman ginagawa ko noong supporting pa ako, I’m there din naman to guide everyone.
“Pero the difference now kasi is ’yun nga na nabigyan ako ng sobrang gandang break, which is Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat.
“So parang doon ko na-feel na naka-depende pala sa akin, kailangan kung ano ’yung na-experience ko before na supporting ako, ngayon mas iba pala na siya, to the highest level na pala siya.”
But more than the pressure, Pauline sees the experience and lessons that her role would give her.
“So, it’s a good experience for me also. Marami ako natutunan. Kailangan talaga palabati ka, kailangan talaga mas inuuna mo ‘yung mga tao na nasa paligid mo.
“Kailangan concerned ka, kailangan conscious ka sa bawat galaw mo. Hindi naman ako masyado na-pressure to this project, kasi sobrang naging comfortable kami sa isa’t-isa ng co-actors ko. She also gives credit to the production team behind her soap for alleviating the pressure off her back.
“Especially our production, sobrang maalaga sila. Nandoon sila para sa akin to guide me, sobrang bait, sobrang professional naming lahat, so ang dali nilang katrabaho.”
But the journey to stardom has not been all rainbows and sunshine for this promising drama actress. There were dark cloudy days that she had to overcome.
Rejection is also something that Pauline knows all too well. “Madami rin ako pinagdaanan na rejections sa showbiz life ko, lalo na 'yan sa mga projects.”
The actress then reveals the biggest rejection that she has experienced in her more than half a decade in the entertainment industry.
Baring her vulnerable side, she remembers the heartbreak of losing a big commercial campaign that she thought was already in the bag.
“So, I was expecting na, ‘Shucks ako na ’to. My gosh.’
“Pinaghahanda na nila ako, so ako nire-ready ko na rin ’yung sarili ko. But then, ’yung the day na shooting na bigla sila nag-cancel sa akin.”
With a hint of pain in her voice, she says, “Ang nakuha na pala is ’yung isang nakalaban ko.”
But instead of dwelling in the negative, this stunning lady would rather focus on the silver lining.
“Oo sobrang sakit siya, pero ’yun nga hindi ko siya pinagsisihan, so sabi ko baka mero’n pa na mas magandang project sa akin in the future or soon, which is nangyari ngayon.”
Motivating herself that bigger things were coming her way, she told herself to believe in “God’s perfect timing.”
“Kahit hindi ako ’yung natanggap it’s okay, marami pang next time, marami pang projects. In God’s time talaga na kailangan mo mag-wait lang talaga for your perfect time, which is ‘yun ‘yung kinapitan ko na naniwala talaga ako dun.
“So happy ako na this time di ba, nabigyan ako malaking-malaking project ng GMA.
“Worth the wait talaga siya.”
Need to toughen up
There’s another side to the glitz and glamour of show business that aspiring talents often forget. Yes, the opportunities are endless for those who successfully break into the industry. Small wonder thousands are drawn into it.
But a word of caution—it’s a tough place to be in and one needs to be ready to take a punch or two.
It was clear the moment Pauline Mendoza entered GMA-7 that she was ready to be in the line of fire, a position that made her a target of callous and cruel remarks from people she barely knew. It’s a sad reality that Pauline has long learned to accept.
She noted, “Pagtapak ko pa lang sa GMA nire-ready ko na ’yung sarili ko sa ganyan sa bashers. “As much as possible, kasi I try to stay away from them.
“Kasi gusto ko buong buhay ko positive lang tayo. Pero ’yun nga hindi mo naman maiiwasan na ma-bash ka, na may masabi sila.”
Interestingly, Pauline has found something positive amid all the negativity being thrown at her by internet trolls.
Pauline shares, “But you know sometimes sa mga basher mo, diyan mo na din mare-realize na kung ano ’yung realidad, e.
“Hindi naman to the point na may matutunan ka, but you get to realize also na, ‘Oo nga noh. Baka nga ganito?’ “'Sige ganyan na lang gagawin ko next time,’”
“Pero ’yung mga below the belt talaga na sobrang lala na bashing, as in walang kuwenta, hindi ko talaga siya pinapansin as much as possible.”
Pauline also surrounded herself with people who genuinely look after her well-being and remind her to pay these naysayers no mind.
“Nandiyan naman ’yung family ko, ’yung manager ko si Boss Vic, si Kuya Ge ’yung handler ko na sinasabi, ‘Easy ka lang, hinga ka muna bago ka magsalita.’
“Sabi nga nung handler ko, ‘Iisipin mo muna kung ano ’yung lalabas sa bibig mo.'
“Huwag ka muna magpapadala sa emosyon mo.”
Still, Pauline Mendoza is only human and she couldn’t help answer back at her haters, who sometimes take it a step further by dragging her family into the fray.
“Ayoko kasi na nadadamay ’yung family ko, okey lang na parang i-bash na nila ako. Ako lang, myself lang ganyan.
“But, when they go below the belt na about my family, especially my mom. Hindi ko naman sila sasagutin nang pabalang, gusto ko lang i-clear up sa kanya na [mali ’yung ginagawa mo]. Sana hindi ka na nandadamay ng family. Kasi, wala naman silang kinalaman.’
”With the way she speaks her mind, one can easily tell that this girl is wise beyond her years. We can't help asking her if being in the entertainment industry forces someone to mature quickly.
With a smile on her face she replies, “Hindi forever na nandiyan ’yung manager mo, ’yung handler mo, ’yung family mo, ’yung friends mo to guide you talaga.
“It’s yourself pa rin. You need to help yourself on how to be you, kailangan mo maging better person.
“Walang ibang tutulong sa’yo kundi ang sarili mo, so kailangan mo tumayo sa sarili mong paa.
“Hindi puwede spoon fed [lahat] sa ’yo. Slowly, but surely natutunan ko na parang na kaya ko i-handle lahat.”
As our conversation with Pauline Mendoza winds down, we are curious to know how she sees fame now and what it does to a person who doesn’t know how to wield it.
Collecting her thoughts before answering, she says that fame, no matter how delicious it tastes, should never get into one’s head. It’s the piece of advice from her Daddy Victor that she will carry in her heart for a long time.
“Blessing na mahal ka ng tao, na na-appreciate ng tao ’yung trabaho mo na talagang nagiging proud ‘yung mga tao or sinasabi sa’yo, ‘Ang galing mong artista,’ ‘Ang galing mo sa craft mo.’ Natutuwa na ako dun.
“Hindi ko iniisip na bida na ako ngayon.
“Never ko siya naisip, hindi ko siya niyabang. Kasi lagi ako sinasabihan ng dad ko, ‘Kung ano man ma-reach mo ngayon as an actress, Hindi mo kailangan maging mayabang.’
“'Kasi lahat kayo artista, lahat kayo nagta-trabaho. Lahat kayo iisa ang passion. Kailangan mo matuwa na may taong nagmamahal sa’yo at may mga taong sumusuporta sa’yo at naniniwala sa’yo.'
“That’s the important thing. ’Yun ’yung takeaway ko sa dad ko.”
