Janine Gutierrez shares most important lesson from mom Lotlot de Leon

With her award-winning performance on “Babae at Baril,” it’s pretty clear that Janine Gutierrez takes after her screen legend mom Lotlot de Leon.

During a quick interview over Zoom on Friday, the Kapuso actress shared how thankful she was to grow up with a mother who constantly encouraged her to improve herself and her craft.

“My mom has always been very honest with me,” Janine told GMA News Online.

“Noong nagsisimula pa lang ako tapos ang pangit ng mga ginagawa ko, sinasabi niya talaga, and that really helped me to have that kind of support that was honest,” she added.

“’Yung hindi ka bobolahin na ‘oh, you’re such a natural,’ ganiyan. So it also taught me to always try to improve on myself.”

Janine is grateful to Lotlot for reminding her that show business is not all about fame, money, and glamour.

“’Yung mommy ko kasi she’s so professional, so respectful, palagi niyang turo ’yung mga veteran, (pag) kakausapin mo, always be respectful and professional,” Janine said.

“That’s been a pillar din of my work ethic, as in I learned so much from the veterans that I worked with like Miss Gloria Romero, Tita Chanda [Romero], Miss Coney Reyes, ang dami kong natututunan from the people who have been here for the longest time,” she added.

As Janine sees it, the best indicator of success is longevity.

“It’s not really superstardom, or sobrang yaman, or dami mong commercials,” Janine said.

“I think it’s really about longevity, and doing work that is valuable for you, and the people around you, so ganoon ’yung mommy ko na artista, so I just try to emulate her in that,” she added.

Janine won Best Actress at the 2019 QCinema International Film Festival for her role in the psycho-thriller “Babae at Baril” written and directed by Rae Red.

The female-led Filipino film has been selected as the opening film of the 2020 New York Asian Film Festival. – RC, GMA News