Jennica Garcia would have worked abroad if not for her stint in “Dirty Linen”
Actress Jennica Garcia is thankful that she is able to return to acting and television through her projects in ABS-CBN, GMA-7, and PIE Channel.
Not only were these projects able to resurrect her career, they also helped her have stable income coming from her separation with estranged husband Alwyn Uytingco.
In 2021, the daughter of Jean Garcia decided to return to acting after seven years via GMA-7’s “Las Hermanas.”
She tells FreebieMNL, “Noong bumalik ako, sinabi ko na, ‘Handa na po akong mag-artista ulit, meron po ba akong pwedeng makuhang trabaho?’
“Ganun din naman po ang GMA, e, nagbigay naman po agad ng ‘Las Hermanas.’ Parang noong month na sinabi ko, the month after that, meron na po ako agad role.”
FreebieMNL spoke to Jennica after the Q&A of PIE Channel’s anniversary press conference on May 19 at Pandan Asian Cafe, Quezon City.
Jennica went to the lock-in taping for a few months for “Las Hermanas,” which was good for 12 weeks of airing.
But then, after “Las Hermanas,” Jennica did not immediately get a follow-up project, which resulted in six to eight months of waiting.
Jennica almost left the Philippines
With her children under her care, Jennica wouldn’t be able to fend for their needs without work. Hence, a decision had to be made.
She reveals, “Nag-aayos na po ako actually noon ng papers ko na lilipad po ako ng America para mag-caregiver na po noong time na yun. ‘Tapos nagkakaproblema po doon sa agency noong time na yun.
“’Tapos tiningnan ko rin po yung isa kong option na wala po akong agency na lilipad. Kasi may friend po ako doon na caregiver, si Michelle, and yung relatives din po kasi ni Mama sa L.A., family of doctors and nurses po yan sila.
“So, nagtatanong po ako, baka po may opening doon for a caregiver para po hindi na po ako dadaan ng agency ‘tapos doon na po manggagaling yung work visa ko.”
Dirty Linen
Jennica was ready to be separated from her kids to work when a blessing landed on her lap: an offer from Deo Endrinal, the head of Dreamscape Entertainment, a content-providing unit under ABS-CBN.
She recalls, “Siyempre, doon po ako sa option kung saan hindi po ako mahihiwalay sa mga anak ko.”
She was given a meaty role in the drama series “Dirty Linen,” playing one of its major characters with Janine Gutierrez, Zanjoe Marudo, and Christian Bables.
Not only did she get the role and a new job, she has also been receiving praises for her portrayal of Lala in the series. This was something that Jennica did not expect.
She shyly says, “Hindi ko po talaga ine-expect. Sobra po akong overwhelmed sa love sa akin ng ating mga Kapamilya.
“Kasi po kapag iniisip ko po, una po, hiwalay po ako sa asawa ‘tapos dalawa po yung anak ko, ‘tapos hindi naman po ako bagets. Kumbaga, mag-34 na po ako ngayong taon.
“Hindi ko po alam kung ano po yung nagawa ko o ginawa ko to get their love and support, kaya po ako sobrang overwhelmed.”
There was even a time when she would cry tears of joy to her mom because of the love she has been getting on social media.
“Parang yung huling iyak ko kay mommy, yung nag-trend po ako sa Twitter. First time ko po kasi mag-trend sa Twitter ‘tapos yung Twitter ko po noon, ginawa ko lang ng December, 7,000 lang po yung followers noon.
“Kaya hindi ko alam paano nakapag-trend yung ganun, paano ako nag-trend kung wala naman akong following.”
It was Christian Bables, her co-star in “Dirty Linen” who also happens to become her good friend, who shared the good news of Jennica’s acting trending on Twitter.
She shares, “Nagulat po ako kasi itinawag po sa akin ni Christian yun, e, nagmura pa si Christian. Pagtawag niya, sabi niya, ‘Top trending ka sa Twitter, number one spot ka.’ ‘Tapos hindi ko maintindihan!
“Nagpaturo po ako sa kanya kung paano yung Twitter. Pagtingin ko po sa search engine, doon ko po nakita na ‘Jennica Garcia is serving,’ mga ganun po yung terms ng mga tao. ‘Tapos ako, ‘Anong ibig sabihin nun?’ Charing!
“Hindi ko po talaga ma-put into words kasi hindi ko rin po talaga ine-expect at kung alam ko lang po kung ano yung ginagawa ko exactly, tuluy-tuloy na po natin ‘yan. Pero hindi ko po talaga alam!”
She even thought that at the beginning, the viewers of “Dirty Linen” won’t like her role because of its mean streak.
Jennica says, “Akala ko nga po magagalit yung mga tao kay Lala and sobrang blessing din po talaga from the Lord yung role, kasi po nagkataon na dahil ang dami niyang disguise, I’d like to think that I was able to show what I am capable of doing, what kind of roles I am capable of doing.
“Hopefully, nakapagbigay ito sa mga boss natin ng idea na pwede tayo sa lahat. Pwede tayong Lala, pwede tayong ganyan, pwede tayong… sa dami po ng roles na ginawa ni Lala.”
At the end of it all, Jennica is thankful that she was able to prove the bosses of Dreamscape that she’s worthy of the chance they gave to her.
“Nakakatuwa po sobra kasi talagang ang goal ko po talaga dito sa ‘Dirty Linen,’ hindi ko mapahiya si Sir Deo. Yun po talaga yung goal ko.
“Kasi hindi po maganda yung lumapit ka ‘tapos nanghingi ka ng trabaho, binigyan ka ng trabaho, ‘tapos hindi mo nagawa nang maayos.
“Ang iniisip ko agad dito, ayoko yung ‘Nakapasok lang naman yan dahil pinasok yan ni Sir Deo.’
“Kaya sa isip ko, ang unang-una kong gusto ma-please, ito talaga si Sir Deo. Gusto kong ma-feel ni Sir Deo na, ‘Tama ang desisyon ko.’ I hope it radiates to all the co-workers and the production.”
The reactions she’s been getting have also boosted her self-confidence.
She continues, “So, yung ganito na yung mga Kapamilya natin ang nagre-react, yun talagang sobra pong thank you. Overwhelming, sobra.
“Nakakataba po ng puso at maraming salamat sa kanila kasi nabi-build ko yung confidence ko kasi po parang pakiramdam ko may nagawa po akong tama, yun po yung pakiramdam. Sobrang sarap po sa feeling.”
READ ALSO: How Did Jennica Garcia Face Her Failed Marriage With Alwyn Uytingco?
Same fate as her mom
Jennica can’t help but recall how her mom was in a similar situation back when she was still young.
It was even her mom who pointed out, “Anak, mukhang pareho ang kapalaran nating dalawa.”
Apparently, Jean also had a chapter when she worked in Japan to fend for Jennica’s needs. But an opportunity opened when ABS-CBN offered the role of Claudia Buenavista in the hit series “Pangako Sa ‘Yo.”
Jennica narrates, “In-offer po sa kanya ng ABS-CBN ang ‘Pangako Sa ‘Yo at mula po noon, naging hit po ang ‘Pangako Sa ‘Yo,’ yung role po niya as Madam Claudia Buenavista.
“Simula po noon, dahil nagdire-diretso po yung trabaho niya, hindi na po siya lumipad ulit ng Japan. ‘Tapos ganito rin po ‘yung age niya noon, 32, 33 daw po siya noon. Ako naman po, 33, 34 na po this year. So, sana po, sana nga po pareho.”
READ ALSO: Coco Martin-Julia Montes, “Voltes V Legacy” Cast Lead Guest Stars In “Unbreak My Heart” Screening
PIE Channel comes after Dirty Linen
“Dirty Linen” is still airing but their taping has already ended.
But Jennica is not left without work. She was included again in another upcoming Dreamscape series for iWant TFC, “Fractured.”
Currently, Jennica is also doing guest hosting duties in PIE Channel’s new game show, “Ur Da Boss.”
Admittedly, her plans of working in the States is still in Jennica’s mind, but if the odds are in favor of her stint in PIE Channel, she does not need to go abroad and leave her kids.
She says, “Kaya nga po sana po talaga, tangkilikin po nila yung ‘Ur Da Boss’ para tumagal po ang aming game show.
“Kahit yun lang po ang meron ako, talagang magsu-survive po talaga. Kasi kami naman po ng mga bata, we don’t live naman po beyond our means, marunong naman po kami magtipid.
“So, alam ko po, hangga’t may ‘Ur Da Boss,’ dito po ako sa Pilipinas. Siyempre, thankful po tayo sa ‘Dirty Linen,’ thankful po tayo sa ‘Fractured,’ pero siyempre po, yung mga ganito po kasi may hangganan po yan, di ba? Shoot kayo for this span of time.
“Pero yung ganito po kasing hosting, kahit papaano po yung spirit ko po tumataas. Pwede po itong mag-run for years, so, kung mag-run siya for years, as long as I can continue earning every month, then it means I can be with my children here in the Philippines.”
Transcript Ria Javate
Banner Art Paulo Correa
