Jo Berry
UNSTOPPABLE
Jo Berry’s stature has never stopped her from chasing her dreams and living a life filled with love and gratitude.
Text by: Jansen Ramos
Photos courtesy of: Little Princess
Mahal, Mura, Dagul, Ungga…
These names may come up when talking about Josephine “Jo” Berry, as they are all persons of short stature who tried their luck in showbiz as actors.
They were comedians who were comfortable with themselves entertaining their audience and even oftentimes using their short stature as a punchline itself.
But Jo takes pride in not being typecast into roles for little persons.
She has portrayed serious roles on TV such as in Onanay, The Gift, and now Little Princess, stories that draw inspiration among viewers.
For Jo, being in showbiz or being an actor was never her dream but breaking the stigma about little people has always been her goal whenever she takes on projects for TV.
“Sobrang pinanghahawakan ko din na maraming tao 'yung ma-i-inspire every time na may role na naibibigay sa 'kin ang GMA and very thankful din ako kasi hindi lahat nabibigyan ng chance, especially, little people.
“Most of the time ang mga roles nila ay nakakatawa. There’s nothing wrong with nakakatawa role kasi nakapagpatawa ka but, at the same time, 'yung mga roles na binibigay sa 'kin ng GMA, lagi siyang big deal kasi nga hindi siya nakakatawa lang.
“Nakikita mo 'yung nirerespeto 'yung role, nakikita mo na nirerespeto 'yung character na ginagampanan mo 'tapos ang daming na-i-inspire.
“Since Onanay, The Gift, hanggang ngayon kay Princess, lagi siyang strong woman, strong little person. Sabi ko, 'yun talaga ang dahilan kung bakit sobrang blessed ako na laging gano’n 'yung mga role na nakukuha ko,” Jo told GMANetwork.com.
Born with dwarfism, which she inherited from her father Perry Berry, Sr., Josephine Bibit Berry is the youngest of four siblings. In the family, she and her eldest sibling Perry Berry, Jr. acquired the genetic condition.
Ever since she was a kid, Jo has known and understood that they were “different.” She sees nothing wrong with that.
She candidly says, “Alam mo never akong dumating sa point na kailangan ko siyang tanggapin kasi, ever since na bata ako, mulat na ko na 'yon e. Parang 'di kailangang harapin 'yung mirror to pep talk myself na, ‘O ganito tayo, ganyan.’
“So nakikita ko na may kapareho ako. 'Di ko nakikita 'yung difference kasi 'yung average height ng iba kong kapatid, 'yung Mama ko average height. 'Di sila magkasintangkad ng Papa ko. So 'di ako dumating sa point na kailangang i-explain sa 'kin kaya siguro gano’n din ako ka-confident.”
Jo never felt that her condition was a hindrance either. In fact, she embraced every inch of herself.
“I have my own insecurities but being a little person was never an issue ever since I was a kid kasi hindi siya in-explain, pinakita s’ya sa 'kin ni Papa na we’re different, we’re unique pero there’s nothing wrong with that…
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of or to feel sad about it kasi it just so happened na molded kami differently than a lot of people, parang gano’n yung explanation sa akin ng tatay ko na hindi naman dumating sa point na kakausapin ka nang masinsinan at kailangan i-explain na gano’n.”
Jo Berry's parents taught her the qualities to figure things out on her own. Eventually, she learned to make better sense of her situation and the world around her.
“Hinayaan kaming i-figure out 'yung mga bagay. For example, hindi ka ibe-baby masyado na hindi mo na maiintindihan on your own. Hindi siya simple, mahirap s’ya kasi lagi kang mag-a-adjust lalo na no’ng nag-aaral na 'ko.
“Nakikita ko 'yung mga classmates ko ang simple-simple lang umakyat ng hagdan pero ako extra effort. Na-realize ko, oo nga, e kasi siyempre molded ka na kakaiba, hindi the same sa average height kaya kailangan may adjustment ka. At the same time, kung mataas 'yung upuan, makakaupo ka pa din. Just so happens na sila makakaupo sila directly na hindi kailangan ng stool na mas mababa. Kung kukuha 'ko ng upuan, makakaupo pa rin ako, the same ng nagagawa nila.
“So sabi ko, very thankful ako na I have them growing up kasi naintindihan ko agad, 'di ko na kailangang itanong, and 'yan na agad 'yung answer.”
Acting career highlights
Prior to show business, Jo, just like everybody else, had a stable job. She worked as a call center agent for a BPO company.
For the little go-getter, she auditioned for an episode of Magpakailanman in 2016 without any acting experience at all. She took the risk for the sake of experience. Little did she know that it would be the start of something big.
Jo recounts, “First-ever audition ko Magpakailanman. 'Tapos ang goal ko lang no’n is ma-try mag-audition kasi inaasar lang ako ng Kuya ko na panganay na may nakita siya sa Facebook page ng little people, 'yung Papa ko kasi 'yung president no’ng time na 'yon ng Little People Association of the Philippines.
“So may nag-send na talent coordinator na naghahanap sila ng ganitong age na little person na babae so isa sa criteria do’n is pleasing personality. So inasar ako ng Kuya ko. Sabi niya, ‘Puwede ka sana dito kaso wala kang pleasing personality’ so since mayabang ako, sabi ko kay Papa, ay ‘Pa, mag-o-audition ako.’ Naaalala ko wala akong sleep no’n, galing ako sa work. Sabi ko, gusto ko mag-audition para magawa ko man lang siya isang beses sa buhay ko.”
Much to her family’s surprise, Jo earned the lead female role of Lorna in the episode titled “My Little Wife: The Teddy and Lorna Francisco Love Story,” directed by L.A. Madridejos, which was aired on May 7, 2016.
The story was about Lorna and her husband of average height, Teddy (played by Hiro Peralta/Jay Manalo), and how Teddy fought for the one he loved amid the criticisms they faced along the way because of Lorna’s condition.
Jo says, “‘Di ako galing sa teatro, never ako nakapag-extra tapos binigay sa 'kin 'yung role. Talagang honored ako na binigay nila sa 'kin. Bago ako, wala akong experience so tumaya sila agad. Sabi ko, ibibigay ko na lang 'yung best ko. Makikinig ako sa lahat ng ituturo nila. Gagawin ko na lang kahit 'di ko pa alam kung pa’no.”
For Jo, her stint in Magpakailanman was an experience which she never thought would happen again in her life. But little did she know that producers from the GMA Entertainment Group were already eyeing her for a much bigger project—a full-length series.
This time, Jo had to choose between her career as a call center agent and the offer for a lead role in a full-length series.
It did not take long for Jo to make a decision. The opportunity to share the screen with Superstar Nora Aunor, seasoned actress Cherie Gil, and promising Kapuso talents Mikee Quintos and Kate Valdez in the 2018-19 primetime series Onanay was a once in a lifetime offer that she couldn’t pass up.
Jo shares, “Nag-Magpakailanman ako, nasa BPO company pa 'ko so nagpaalam lang ako for two days no’ng taping 'tapos no’n tinuloy ko 'yung day job ko. 'Tapos 'yung Onanay naman, same week no’ng minessage ako ng mga boss ng GMA, 'yun nga, in-offer na nila 'yung Onanay. Same week no’n pipirma din ako ng bagong kontrata sa panibagong company so ang pinirmahan ko 'yung kontrata sa Onanay. Hindi pa 'ko totally wala sa BPO that time pero 'di ko tinuloy kasi inuna ko 'yung Onanay. Iniisip ko no’n, hindi naman lahat na-o-offer-an nang gano’n. No’ng sinabi pa nila sa 'kin 'yung story, sabi ko, kailangan talaga mapanood ng mga tao 'to, very unique so 'yun 'yung pinili ko.”
Fortune seemed to be on Jo’s side. After Onanay, another primetime series fell into her lap. This time, she would star as the mother figure of Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards in the 2019 series The Gift. The same year, she also did her introductory role in the comedy movie Kiko en Lala.
“Iniisip ko kung talagang tatagal ba ‘yung acting career ko kasi, siyempre, wala namang permanente. Isa 'yung showbiz sa mabilis mag-gano’n. So hindi ko sure kung gugustuhin pa rin ba 'ko ng mga tao pero hangga’t andito naman, i-e-enjoy ko s’ya.
“Pero hindi ako nag-expect ng mga kasunod kasi nga natatakot ako na umasa masyado kasi I still need to earn for a living, 'di ba? So sabi ko, bibigyan ko siya ng timeline, then binigyan nila 'ko ng The Gift agad. Ang unang pinirmahan naming kontrata was three months so akala ko after three months, tapos na. Hindi na siya magiging parte ng buhay ko. O sige, mare-recognize ako saglit ganyan pero makakalimutan din siya ng mga tao, gano’n. 'Di ko siya iniisip na mas magtatagal pa siya.”
“The little person with the biggest dreams”
Fast forward to 2022, Jo is back on TV as she headlines the new GMA afternoon drama Little Princess where she plays Princess, dubbed as the “the little person with the biggest dreams.”
Little Princess heralds the value of upholding self-worth, as exemplified by Princess, a young differently-abled lady, and her rags-to-riches ascent to corporate leadership.
“Beyond grateful ako kasi sa dami ng artista ng GMA, isa ako sa mga binigyan nila agad, hindi pa nakakabalik ang lahat sa normal, iilan pa lang no’n ‘yung may mga series na nagla-lock in tapos nangangapa pa kung paano nila itatawid.
“’Tapos no’ng binigay sa 'kin, isa na naman ako sa mga tinatayaan nila. Nakakatuwa naman, gano’n ako ka-special. So feeling ko no’n extra special ako kasi 'di naman siya biro e, siyempre, business-wise saka 'yung tiwala sa 'yo mula sa writers hanggang sa mga boss, sa buong production, na ikaw 'yung magiging face. Grabe, feeling ko sobrang special ako sa kanila.”
Her role is a departure from her previous characters on TV where she played motherly characters. This time around, she plays the jolly, optimistic Princess in Little Princess—a role that is finally close to her true self.
“Sobrang jolly ng role and, at the same time, naramdaman ko na free ako na maging makulit kasi nga sa previous roles ko, nakita nila kung paano ako maging nanay so dito makikita nila kung paano ako maging anak the whole time. And kung gaano kalaki 'yung pangarap niya para sa sarili niya at saka sa pamilya niya. Napaka-strong ng tama do’n sa character na mararamdaman ko talaga na anak siya. 'Di tulad sa mga previous shows ko na kailangan do’n ako sa kabilang side.”
But as they say, life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Prior to her lock-in taping for the series, Jo was grieving because three of her family members, her dad, grandfather, and eldest sibling, passed away within months of one another.
Her new castmates in Little Princess became her new “family” which helped her cope with the pain of dealing with the successive deaths in the family.
“Ito 'yung first time na lumayo ako sa family ko so dito nararamdaman ko na may family ako so hindi ako masyadong nalulungkot. First time kong lalayo na 'yun 'yung nangyari sa family ko. Grabe, feeling ko ito 'yung binigay sa 'kin na escape, alam ko naman na kailangan kong i-face 'yon. 'Pag mag-isa ako, palagi ko pa rin naman napi-feel 'yung lungkot. Pero 'pag andito ako, sobra 'yung support na nararamdaman ko na hindi ako nalulungkot kahit away ako sa family ko and alam ko pag-uwi ko tatlo 'yung loved ones ko na wala na physically. Parang siguro binigay sa 'kin 'to ni God or pinakiusap din ng Papa ko, ng lolo ko, ng Kuya na maging ganito kagaan lahat na ibigay sa 'kin si Princess kasi para 'di ako masyadong malungkot.
“Feeling ko 'yung mga katrabaho ko 'yung naging escape ko, feeling ko bago ako pumasok dito, nasa malalang nightmare ako na gusto ko nang magising. Hindi nawawala na I’m in pain, I’m sad and alam ko 'di ako okay pero ‘pag kasama ko sila, nale-lessen siya and they make it bearable.”
Beautiful transition
Jo has transitioned from being a regular employee to a successful actor, but she still feels that she has more to give, both in her acting career and her personal life.
“I don’t want to stop here. The same with my personal life kasi I want to achieve more. I’m contented and happy, and grateful sa lahat ng meron ako ngayon but, at the same time, ayoko mag-stop do’n. I want to do more. I want to achieve more for myself. Gusto ko pang ma-explore 'yung acting and my personal life. Gusto ko pang mas maging mabuting anak, makapag-provide kay Mama and for my brother. And for my career, marami pa akong gustong gawin. Oo, contented ako pero I don’t want to stop there. I still want to achieve more, I want to be more pa.”
For Jo, to do more means inspiring more people because, after all, it is the impact that she makes and the lessons that she imparts to her audience that she’s most passionate about.
“‘Yung pagiging lawyer pangarap ko no’ng bata pa ko e, 'yun na talaga 'yung gusto ko e. Pero for now, gusto ko muna unahin kung ano 'yung andito kasi it’s one-time chance e, hindi siya laging mabibigay sa 'yo. Kaya ko rin talaga gusto maging lawyer kasi gusto kong maka-inspire ng mga tao. 'Pag tinanong ako kung ano 'yung pinakapanagarap ko, 'yun 'yung gusto ko na maka-inspire ako ng maraming tao.
“So no’ng bliness ako with this career, sabi ko, binigyan ako ng mas malawak na scope para makapag-inspire ng mga tao. So sabi ko, ito talaga 'yun. Ito talaga 'yung pinag-pray ko no’ng bata ako kasi ngayon mas maraming na-i-inspire na mga tao. Ako naman, ginagawa ko lang 'yung work ko so 'yun talaga 'yung nakapag-motivate sa 'kin na, oo, para dito talaga 'ko. Tama 'yung naging desisyon ko noon. Kasi ngayon kahit 'yung mga tao na nada-down, binabasa ko kasi lahat ng message nila hangga’t kaya ko, feeling nila sobrang lungkot na ng buhay nila, tapos sasabihin nila 'pag napapanood na nila 'ko, na-i-inspire sila na magpatuloy…
“So sabi ko, siguro may ginagawa akong tama. Tama 'yung desisyon ko na andito 'ko ngayon.”
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Kapuso Profiles
Jo Berry: Unstoppable
Published :January 26, 2022 03:25 PM PHTJo Berry's stature has never stopped her from chasing her dreams and living a life filled with love and gratitude.
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