Jennylyn Mercado | |
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.jpg) Mercado in 2021 | |
| Born | Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado (1987-05-15)May 15, 1987 (age 38) Parañaque,Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocal |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado-Ho (born May 15, 1987) is a Filipino actress and singer. She is known for playing dramatic roles in film and television. She rose to prominence after winning the reality talent competitionStarStruck in 2003. Mercado garnered acclaim at a young age for her acting performances on television and film. She starred in multiple commercially successful films, includingEnglish Only, Please (2014),The Prenup (2015),Walang Forever (2015), andJust the 3 of Us (2016).[1][2][3][4] WithGMA Records andViva Records, Mercado has released three albums, which have several popular singles such as "Sa Aking Panaginip", "Moments of Love" in collaboration withJanno Gibbs, "Basta't Nandito Ka", and "Kahit Sandali". In 2017, Mercado top billed the Philippine remake ofMy Love from the Star.[5][6]
Mercado's success inPhilippine cinema has made her one of the top actresses in the country and established her status as the "Asia's Ultimate Star".[7][8][9][10]
Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado was born on May 15, 1987, inParañaque,Metro Manila. She spent her senior year of high school at the Augustinian Abbey School inLas Piñas. As a child, Mercado suffered physical abuse from her estranged stepfather, Noli Pineda. Her biological mother, Jinkee Pineda returned fromDubai merely to bail her stepfather out. Henceforth, Mercado was raised by her late aunt, Lydia Mercado, whom she fondly called “Mommy Lydia” who died in 2016 and whom she considers as her adoptive mother.[11]
Mercado started as a recording artist with Alpha Records in 1999 through the recommendation of her voice coach, Susanna Pichay. Mercado was in Nonoy Tan's singing group, G4. The group recorded two songs but never released an album due to two of the four members dropping out. After G4, Mercado went into commercial modeling, landing a stint with Bambini cologne and aPond's TV advertisement. She was also part of the Elite Circle of "10 Modeling Search", where she competed withStarStruck co-finalist, Dion Ignacio.
In 2002, Mercado made her debut acting appearance playing a minor role inABS-CBN's TV seriesKay Tagal Kang Hinintay, which was top-billed byBea Alonzo andJohn Lloyd Cruz.[12]
In 2003, Mercado joined the reality showStarStruck. She andMark Herras won, receiving 1,000,000pesos and exclusive contracts from the GMA Network. After winningStarStruck, Mercado and Herras were launched as a love team inForever in My Heart, and months earlier they were in the last batch of the teen seriesClick.[13] She later starred in numerous TV series, includingEncantadia,I Luv NY,Dangal,Super Twins,Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?,SRO Cinemaserye: Suspetsa,Ikaw Sana, andGumapang Ka Sa Lusak. She also acted in films such asSo Happy Together (2004) and teen-flickLet the Love Begin (2005).
Mercado released her first albumLiving the Dream, which contained original compositions by Vehnee Saturno, and a carrier single titled "Kahit Sandali". In May 2006, Mercado released her second albumLetting Go, which included the single "Sa Aking Panaginip" by Vehnee Saturno. Mercado's first major concert was held at the Music Museum in Greenhills on May 15, 2006. In May 2009, she held a sold-out birthday concert titled "I Am Woman" at the Music Museum.[14][15] In January 2010, underViva Records, she released her third album,Love Is... Jennylyn Mercado.
Mercado starred in Filipino period pieceRosario (2010).[16] Her acting career was handled by Becky Aguila andViva Entertainment, where she joined herStarstruck co-alumnusCristine Reyes. Mercado's singing career was managed by Viva Records.[17] In 2011, her contract with Viva ended and was not renewed, though she joined Cristine Reyes. In 2012, Mercado signed withPolyEast Records to reinvent herself as singer.[18] She also signed an acting contract withRegal Entertainment in the same year.[19]
Mercado branched out into television hosting, hosting reality seriesProtégé: The Battle for the Big Break[20] with co-hostsOgie Alcasid andDingdong Dantes. She was also in the GMA-7 Sunday talk show,Showbiz Central.[21]
In 2013, Mercado acted in the romanceThe Bride and the Lover (2013).[22] Her contract with Polyeast Records ended that year. In 2014, she played the role of a woman with a split personality throughRhodora X. According to Mercado, this was the most challenging role she has ever played. In late 2014, she released her fifth album through GMA Records.[23][24]
At the end of 2014, Mercado starred inEnglish Only, Please, a role that was originally offered to singer-actressAngeline Quinto.[25] In the film, Mercado played the role of Tere Madlansacay, a Filipino tutor. Critics deemed it a "sleeper hit", and it was chosen as one of the eight official movies for the 2014Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).[26][27] In early 2015, Mercado received the MMFF Best Actress Award for the recently concluded film festival.[28]
In 2015, Mercado was first in theFHM "Philippines' 100 Sexiest Women" list afterMarian Rivera vacated the title.[29] Before Mercado traveled to New York for the filmPreNup with actorSam Milby, she was surprised and given a plaque by publisher Aeus Reyes, Allan Altera, andGMA News reporter Nelson Canlas. On July 11, Mercado participated in the two-partFHM 100 Sexiest party at theSMX Convention Center in theSM Mall of Asia.[30]
Mercado played the lead role of Melanie "Mel" Fernandez-Dela Paz in theGMA seriesMy Faithful Husband, which aired on August 10, 2015. Despite its success, the series was not extended due to scheduling conflicts with Mercado, who at the time was acting in two films,The Prenup andWalangForever. The series earned the lead actors multiple acting awards and nominations.[31][32] After the commercial success ofWalangForever, Mercado earned her second consecutive MMFF Best Actress award in 2015.[33]
Through social media, Mercado announced her upcoming project, confirming that she was acting in a new film with actorJohn Lloyd Cruz. The film, titledJust the 3 of Us, was produced byStar Cinema.[34][35] It earned 16 million pesos in its opening day, which was the highest opening day gross of any of Mercado's movies and set a record for the highest opening day gross for a Philippine film. It went on to be one of the highest-grossing Philippine films of 2016.[36][37]
After months of negotiations, Mercado and GMA renewed their contract on July 4, 2016.[38][39] As part of the contract, Mercado hosted GMA's new comedy-singing showSuperstar Duets.[40][41] She was later chosen to play the role of Steffi for the Philippine remake of the South Korean seriesMy Love from the Star.[42][43]
In October 2018, Mercado became the first Filipina brand ambassador for international makeup brand Max Factor.[44]
Mercado's contract with GMA Network expired in September 2024.[45] Several media reports stated thatLove. Die. Repeat., directed by Irene Villamor, would be her last project with GMA, alongside newly signed Kapuso actorXian Alexander Lim,[46][47] though she re-signed with GMA on January 20, 2025.[48]
It was announced that Mercado would star in an action television series titledSanggang Dikit,[49] and in a movie project entitledAnything About Your Wife withDennis Trillo andSam Milby.[50] Mercado and her Aguila management also announced that she was working on a comeback album.[51]
Mercado has spoken often on the matter of women's rights, particularly violence against women. She has been recognized byGABRIELA, a Philippine women's organization, which has made her an honorary member.[52]
Mercado is also an aspiringtriathlete. In her free time, she takes jujitsu and Muay Thai lessons. "They built up my muscles. I looked heavy onscreen," Mercado recounted. "I realized that I needed cardio exercises to slim down." She discovered running and biking, which soon led her to join duathlon competitions in Alabang and Laguna. She is also a diver and wishes to inspire people to be environment friendly.[20]
Mercado is a practitioner of Tabimina Balintawak, a close-range variant ofBalintawak Arnis created Grandmaster Bobby Tabimina, who in turn developed its principles after studying the Balintawak system developed by Grandmaster Venancio Bacon in the 1950s.[53]
In 2014, Mercado launched her first business,Fit and Form, a wellness center but when his business partner opted out, she and Trillo, his husband rebranded and named it after their son, DYLAN Style Lounge, a salon and nail spa business located in Baranggay U.P Campus, Quezon, City.[54] The couple also opened a cat cafe calledLitterbucks in 2020.[55]
She serves as President and co-founder of the production company,Brightburn Production owned by his husband, Dennis Trillo which was founded in 2024.[56]
In 2008, at age 21, Mercado announced that she was pregnant. Her ex-boyfriendPatrick Garcia, who distanced himself upon learning of her pregnancy, was announced as the father of her child. On August 16, 2008, she gave birth to their son, Alex Jazz, viaCaesarian section.[57][58][59]
In 2021, she married her longtime boyfriendDennis Trillo. Their daughter, Dylan Jayde, was born on April 25, 2022.
Mercado and Trillo, her husband owned a rest house made of shipping containers and converted it into a beautiful home for their family which is located in Tanay, Rizal.[60]
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| Title | Album details | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Living the Dream |
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| Letting Go |
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| Love Is... |
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| Never Alone |
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| Ultimate |
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| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Kahit Sandali: The Best of Jennylyn Mercado |
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| GMA Collection Series: Jennylyn Mercado |
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| Title | Album details | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Forever By Your Side |
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| Jennylyn Mercado – Ultimate |
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| JEN |
|
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Kahit Sandali" | Living The Dream |
| 2005 | "Sa Aking Panaginip" | Letting Go |
| "It's Christmas All Over The World" | Kapuso sa Pasko | |
| 2006 | "Moments of Love"(withJanno Gibbs) | Moments of Love OST |
| 2008 | "Kaya Mo Bang Ibalik" | Kahit Sandali |
| 2010 | "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" | Love is... |
| 2012 | "Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa" | Forever By Your Side |
| 2014 | "Basta't Nandito Ka" | Never Alone |
| 2016 | "Hagdan" | Ultimate |
| 2025 | "Ayaw Pa rin Umuwi" | JEN |
| "Hindi Pa Rin Sapat" | JEN |
Mercado has received various awards and nominations throughout her acting career. Her accolades include threeMetro Manila Film Festival Awards, fourBox Office Entertainment Awards, two Edukcircle Awards, oneFAMAS Award, onePMPC Star Awards for Television, one Gawad Tanglaw Award and several nominations fromGawad Urian Award,Luna Awards andPMPC Star Awards for Movies. As television host, she won Best Reality Talent Show Host forStarstruck at EdukCircle Awards and received nominations fromENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards andPMPC Star Awards for Television. In music, Mercado won twoAwit Awards with several nominations fromPMPC Star Awards for Music.
| Preceded by | FHM Cover Girl (June 2013) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FHM Philippines Sexiest Woman of the Year (2015) | Succeeded by |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New | StarStruck 2003 (season 1) | Succeeded by |
