Jennylyn Mercado and Patrick Garcia: What was said in the past

As the issue involving Jennylyn Mercado and Patrick Garcia resurfaced following Patrick's “tell-all” interview with Ogie Diaz, here’s a timeline of the statements and reactions from those involved over the years.

January 2008: Pep reported that Jennylyn was six weeks pregnant with her child with Patrick on January 3, 2008.

Then 21 years old, Jennylyn was spotted with Patrick getting a checkup at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.

On January 23, Patrick expressed excitement about having a baby with Jennylyn, and said his parents were also looking forward to having an apo.

He told Pep that they're preparing their parents' houses for the baby and even shared his experiences with Jennylyn's pregnancy mood swings.

"May mga mood swings lang siya na minsan inaaway ako nang walang dahilan. It's part of it daw, so I'm being more patient with her mood swings and I'm trying to give her everything she wants sometimes."

When asked if he would be a good father, Patrick said he didn't know.

"Hopefully I'll become a good one but, of course, nobody has ever prepared to become a father, you know. As they got to it, that's when they learn how to become a father," he said.

February 2, 2008: Rumors of a breakup started circulating, fueled by Jennylyn's no-show at the press conference of her movie "Half Blood Samurai," allegedly caused by Patrick.

At the time, tabloids were claiming that Patrick had been ignoring the pregnant Jennylyn.

Patrick denied this in an interview with "Showbiz Talk," saying he tries to see Jennylyn as much as possible.

He suggested that Jennylyn might just be emotional.

"Whatever she's going through, emotionally ano lang... Of course, there are many changes...I just have to deal with the changes and attend to her needs. Kailangan ko yung... kasi when you're pregnant, you know, you have some hormonal changes, mood swings."

He also admitted that he has his own shortcomings.

"There are some things na hindi ko nagagawa for her. You know, I'm just human. I think it's just blown out of proportion sa mga nababasa niya," he said.

Patrick's mother Bing Garcia said that the couple seemed to be undergoing an "adjustment period."

"Ang katotohanan, lagi yatang nag-aaway," she said.

"Wala pa naman masyadong ginagawa si [Patrick]. Probably, dapat maintindihan niya [Jennylyn] sa nangyari na 'to, di ba, 'di naman pwedeng pagmadaliin dahil wala naman sa kamay ni [Patrick] ang lahat," she added.

February 9, 2008: Although Patrick had denied ignoring Jennylyn, the actress maintained otherwise.

In an interview with "Startalk," she lamented that she was underweight.

"Sobrang stressed daw ako," she said.

Then three months pregnant, Jennylyn said that she had no more communication with Patrick.
"Neri-remind ko naman siya palagi... kasi kailangan ko talaga ng kasama lalo na ‘pag magpapa-check up."

"Kahit na hindi mo na lang ako puntahan," she added, addressing Patrick, "kahit tawag na lang or kumustahin man lang."

Jeynnylyn said she didn't know what caused Patrick's coldness towards her.

"Siguro sa kanya ninyo na lang po itanong, sa akin po wala namang problema."

February 19, 2008: In an interview with “Startalk,” an emotional Jennylyn said she needed Patrick’s support, especially during her pregnancy. However, she added that she and her family could raise her son even without Patrick’s support.

“Ngayon yung kailangan ko ‘yung support niya,” Jennylyn said.

“Kaya ko naman po at tsaka kaya naman ng family ko po na palakihin yung bata,” she added. “Kahit siguro wala yung support niya.”

Following Jennylyn’s interview, Patrick expressed his disappointment, saying he could not understand why she agreed to an interview while she was emotional.

“Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya pa kailangan magpa-interview at umiyak sa TV pero for whatever it is, I'm still here for her, hindi ko siya inabandona,” he said.

Meanwhile, Patrick’s mother Bing also expressed surprise over Jennylyn’s interview.

“Siyempre magugulat kami kasi walang warning,” Bing said.

February 21, 2008: In an interview with Pep, Jennylyn confirmed that she and Patrick have broken up and expressed intentions of raising the baby herself.

She said that Patrick has not put in any effort for her and their child since her pregnancy started.

"Sobrang na-disappoint ako. Wala na akong makita sa kanya. Umiiwas siya. Kahit magkasama kami nung Valentine's Day, wala naman kaming napag-uusapan," she said.

The actress also said that at this point, they no longer spoke.

"Bago pa ang sitwasyon na ito, lumayo na siya. Ganoon na siya, malayo na siya. Wala siyang maidadahilan sa akin dahil wala siya. Ni hindi niya nakikita ‘yung malilit na pangangailangan ko," Jennylyn said.

February 23, 2008: Amid rumors and doubts about the father of Jennylyn’s baby, Patrick’s sister, Chesca Garcia, said she was certain that her brother was the dad.

"Kung ako nga hindi ako nagdududa, e si Patrick pa kaya,” she said in a taped interview with “Startalk.”

Chesca also defended Patrick against those who were criticizing him for saying “no comment” when asked whether he was Jazz’s father.

"Kahit mag-backtrack kayo ng mga interviews ni Pat, hangga't hindi sinasabi ni Pat na 'that is not my baby' you have no right, no right to say that he said that,” she said.

"Now, bahala ka na how you want to understand it and even if you backtrack with my interview, my Mom's interview, my Mom never said it's not his," she added.

February 24, 2008: Reacting to interviews given by members of the Garcia family, Jennylyn said that she was hurt after learning that Patrick’s mother was also questioning whether Jazz was her grandson.

“Sobrang na hurt ako, kasi akala ko nung una, e, si Pat lang ang hindi naniniwala, pati pala 'yung mom niya,” she said on PEP. “Para sa akin, e, bigyan n’yo naman ako ng dignity.”

Jennylyn also reacted to the educational and insurance plan offered by the Garcia family for Jazz.

“I want to say thank you to Tita Bing,” she said. “Kasi nagbigay siya ng educational plan para sa baby.”

“But, parang, kung hindi sila sigurado kung kay Patrick ito, e, bakit kayo magbibigay?” she added.

May 2, 2008: When asked about her reaction to Patrick and Jennylyn’s split, Chesca said she had nothing good to say about the actress.

“I guess, better to see things now before it’s too late,” she told Pep.

“Can we not talk about her? Kasi wala naman akong masasabing maganda tungkol sa kanya. My brother has never spoken badly about her on TV, not even to defend himself, text pa?” she added.

June 15, 2008: Bing insisted it was Jennylyn who was avoiding Patrick and not the other way around.

"Siya pa ba ang iiwas, e, siya na nga ang iniwasan? Wala naman siyang dapat iwasan, di ba?" she said in an interview with “Showbiz Central.”

She added that her family was willing to give assistance to Jennylyn, so long as she publicly admitted it.

"We're still generous to our offer, as long as... The condition is she will tell the public that she needs the help na noon ay tinanggihan niya. Na kailangan na niya, hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na ibigay sa kanya ang tulong. "Kung kailangan mo ako, sabihin mo sa akin. Open naman kami. Knock and the door will be open, ask and it shall be yours."

June 16, 2008: Amid all the intrigue, Patrick left the country for the US.

He first made a stop in Macau with sister Chesca for a vacation.

"The particular reason also is, the intrigue here is too much," he told "The Buzz."

"They don't want me to be closer to them, you know, that's why I'm leaving kasi...'Di ba depressing kung makita ninyo ako at magagalit siya at sasama lang yung araw niya? Might as well," he added.

August 2008: Jennylyn gave birth to son Alex Jazz via caesarian section on August 16, 2008 at St. Luke's Quezon City.

On August 24, Bing told “Showbiz Central” that she has neither seen her grandson nor greeted Jennylyn.

"Wala kaming communication ever since nag-change siya ng contact numbers. Actually, this is my first na pagbati," she said.

She added that Patrick might not be aware of the news.

"Wala kasi siya dito eh kasi ‘yung huling usap naming wala pa naman ganitong nangyayari," she said.

"Ayokong pangunahan 'yung mga plano nila kasi maraming pa silang dapat pag usapan. Silang dalawa ang magkakaintindihan. Tska si Patrick he's already an adult. So I'm giving him all the liberty na planuhin 'yung life niya. Basta nandito lang kami in support of them," she added.

She later said that they would visit only if welcomed.

“Gusto na lang namin may invitation.”

October 29, 2008: In an interview with Pep, Jennylyn said she would not allow Patrick to see their son, Jazz, saying, “Ayoko po, hindi ko ipakikita sa kanya si AJ.”

“’That guy?’ Hindi ba, tawag nila sa akin noon ‘that girl’? Hindi po magbabago ang sagot ko. Hindi ko po ipakikita sa kanya ang baby ko. Akin lang po si AJ, at dala niya ang surname na Mercado,” she added.

November 2, 2008: In an interview with “Showbiz Central,” Bing defended her son Patrick from backlash due to his absence in Jennylyn and Jazz's life.

She said that he was just in Laguna, wakeboarding with friends.

"Kasi, di ba, the last time na merong sinabi, tinuldukan na ni Jen na ayaw na niyang makita si Patrick. Ayaw na niyang makausap. She doesn't want to do anything with him. So, I guess, that's a serious statement. E, si Patrick naman is a serious person. Kung ano ang sabihin mo sa kanya, kahit ano, rerespetuhin niya," Bing said.

November 30, 2008: Patrick said he would return to showbiz once Jennylyn allowed him to see their son, Jazz, while choosing to wait rather than pursue legal action.

“Kelan ako babalik? Siguro kapag nakita ko na ‘yung anak ko,” he said. “Sana payagan akong makita ‘yung anak ko. ‘Yun lang.”

May 11, 2009: Bing seemingly implied that she was not completely certain that Jazz was Patrick's biological child.

She also described Jennylyn as an “enigma” in an interview with “Showbiz Central.”

"She is a mystery. I don't know what's getting into her head. You don't know what's going to come out of her mouth,” she said.

“Ako, confirmed ’yung apo kay Chesca. Kasi, ’di ba, there’s a saying na sino man ’yung mapangasawa ng anak mong babae, apo mo pa rin ’yon. Pag anak mo lalaki, of course, you can never tell. Only the mother can tell,” she added.

June 2010: In a change of heart, Jennylyn said she had no problem if Patrick wanted to see their son.

"Pwede naman po... Wala namang problema kung gusto niyang makita si AJ," she said in an interview on June 15.

On June 19, Patrick finally met Jazz during the birthday party of Chesca's daughter Kendra. Their son was almost two years old at the time.

In his recent interview with Ogie, Patrick said that he did not speak to Jennylyn at that time.
“Para san pa?” he said.

August 2012: In an interview with “Startalk,” Jennylyn said that she was fine being a single mother and was not demanding that Patrick visit them.

“Sanay naman kami na kami-kami lang eh, okay lang,” she said. “Kung dadalaw, okay, thank you, kung hindi, okay lang din.”

Meanwhile, in the same segment, Patrick claimed that he was still visiting his son, Jazz, and remained in contact with Jennylyn’s mother.

“Syempre dumadalaw pa rin ako, at nakakakausap ko pa rin ‘yung mom ni Jen,” he said. “Alam ko naman kayang ayusin ’yung personalan, harap-harapan.”

February 4, 2014: Jennylyn addressed questions about Patrick's child support for their son, while saying that she and Patrick were both at a good place.

“Hayaan na lang natin. Kasi mahirap ‘yung magpi-pressure pa," she said.

“Okay na 'yung ganun, basta masaya sila. Okay na rin kami," she added.

March 23, 2015: During Patrick and Nikka Martinez’s wedding, Jazz walked down the aisle together with his father. Jennylyn was also invited but she didn’t attend the wedding.

On Instagram, Nikka thanked Jennylyn for allowing Jazz to attend the wedding.

October 9, 2015: In an interview with Kris Aquino on “Kris TV,” Jennylyn said it was her decision to let Jazz attend the wedding.

“Kinausap ako ng wife niya, nagpaalam sila kung puwedeng kunin na ring bearer si Jazz. Sabi ko, sige, tapos pinasukatan ko na ng suit,” Jennylyn said.

The actress also said that she chose not to attend the wedding so as not to ruin the couple’s special moment.

“Ayoko naman [pumunta] kasi moment nila ‘yun,” she said.

In the interview, Jennylyn said that Nikka is a nice person.

August 3, 2017: Patrick and Jennylyn reunite with their respective partners, Nikka Martinez and Dennis Trillo.

Nikka shared photos of the reunion on Instagram, including a group photo of the four of them, along with Jazz and her children with Patrick.

September 30, 2026: After 18 years, Patrick has broken his silence and denied that she left Jennylyn during her pregnancy.

“To the bashers who hate me so much, they say that I left Jen. No, that’s not true. I did not leave Jen,” Patrick said in Filipino.

He acknowledged that he was not present during Jennylyn’s pregnancy “not because I didn’t want to be there, but because she didn’t want me to be there.”

Patrick also admitted that his last financial support for Jazz was back in 2017.

“I don’t see him, how will I give it?” Patrick said, adding that he has money saved for Jazz.

“I’ve been messaging since 2018 on Viber but I get no reply from the mother,” he added.

Following Patrick’s interview, Jennylyn’s talent agency, Aguila Entertainment, said that the actress will not comment nor grant any interviews regarding the resurfaced issue. —JCB, GMA News