'Ultimate Star' Jennylyn Mercado remains a solid Kapuso!
The 'Ultimate Star' inked a brand new contract with GMA Network on Tuesday, January 21, solidifying her loyalty to the Kapuso network and extending more than two decades of partnership with the media giant.
Jennylyn expressed her utmost gratitude to her mother network as she continues to be one of GMA's most reputable artists since officially joining the fray in 2004.
“I am here. I am back. I am home. Kapuso pa rin, at taos-puso po tayong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga tumulong sa akin, sa GMA sa patuloy na pagmamahal at pagtanggap sa akin.” said Mercado.
In attendance during the event were GMA President and Chief Executive Officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, and Aguila Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Katrina Aguila.
KAPUSO FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES
Known for her acting versatility and an incredible rise to fame laced with acting awards left, right, and center, the two-time Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Actress began her Kapuso journey when she won the inaugural season of reality talent search “Starstruck” in 2003.
"At that time GMA wanted to start to discover and build stars," shared GMA Network CEO Gilberto Duavit, "and in her earlier years, Jen thought of becoming a star. So our paths crossed in what was the very first 'Starstruck,' where she won as the first [female] 'Ultimate Survivor."
"Kaya sa lahat ng interpretasyon o depinisyon, [siya] ang tunay na 'OG.' Thank you very much Jen," the network chief said.
Jennylyn has since starred in some of the most successful afternoon prime and primetime offerings by GMA, including “Encantadia” (2005), “I Luv NY” (2006), “Super Twins” (2006), and “Love You Two” (2019).
She took a breather from entertainment business in 2021 following her marriage to fellow Kapuso star and Drama King Dennis Trillo. Giving birth to their daughter, Dylan Jayde, in 2022 only solidified the decision to take a break from showbiz.
The 37-year-old star made her highly awaited return to primetime in 2024 when she top billed the romance-fantasy drama “Love. Die. Repeat” where she played Angela, a wife who loses her husband (Xian Lim) to a car crash only to be stuck in a time loop that relives the day of his death.
“I cannot help but feel nostalgic kasi yung growth mo, not only in your career but also your personal life, na-witness namin... dito ka na nakabuo ng pamilya– sa isang Kapuso rin–and we are just happy that you're still with us," shared Entertainment Group SVP Lilybeth Rasonable.
BUSY 2025, PROJECTS AHEAD
In GMA’s teaser video of its upcoming offerings for 2025, it has been announced that Jennelyn will pair up with her real life partner Dennis Trillo in a buddy-cop series entitled “Sanggang Dikit.”
The couple is also set to star in the 2025 film “Everything About My Wife,” a GMA Pictures-produced romantic-comedy where she plays Imo, a wife who nags at her husband Dom (Trillo), and finds herself in a whirlwind of marital quarrels after marriage.
"You've become so accomplished. You're also a partner already. Si Jen and si Dennis, partner na namin sa 'Green Bones' and an upcoming film ('Everything About My Wife')," said Duavit, pertaining to the Kapuso couple's own production company Brightburn Entertainment, which recently co-produced the award-winning MMFF entry "Green Bones" with GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs.