| Jennylyn Mercado | |
| Birth Name: | Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado |
| Birth Date: | 15 May 1987 |
| Birth Place: | Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Years Active: | 1998–present |
| Partner: | Luis Manzano (2011–2013) |
| Children: | 2 |
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 competition StarStruck in 2003. Mercado garnered acclaim at a young age for her acting performances on television and film. She starred in multiple commercially successful films, including English Only, Please (2014), The Prenup (2015), Walang Forever (2015), and Just the 3 of Us (2016).[1] [2] [3] [4] With GMA Records and Viva Records, Mercado has released three albums, which have several popular singles such as "Sa Aking Panaginip", "Moments Of Love" in collaboration with Janno Gibbs, "Basta't Nandito Ka", and "Kahit Sandali". In 2017, Mercado top billed the Philippine remake of My Love from the Star.[5] [6]
Mercado's success in Philippine 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, in Parañaque, Metro Manila. She spent her senior year of high school at the Augustinian Abbey School in Las Piñas. As a child, Mercado suffered physical abuse from her estranged stepfather, Noli Pineda. Her biological mother, Jinkee Pineda returned from Dubai 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 a Pond's TV advertisement. She was also part of the Elite Circle of "10 Modeling Search", where she competed with StarStruck co-finalist, Dion Ignacio.
In 2002, Mercado made her debut acting appearance playing a minor role in ABS-CBN's TV series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, which was top-billed by Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz.[12]
In 2003, Mercado joined the reality show StarStruck. She and Mark Herras won, receiving 1,000,000 pesos and exclusive contracts from the GMA Network. After winning StarStruck, Mercado and Herras were launched as a love team in Forever in My Heart, and months earlier they were in the last batch of the teen series Click.[13] She later starred in numerous TV series, including Encantadia, I Luv NY, Dangal, Super Twins, Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?, , Ikaw Sana, and Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak. She also acted in films such as So Happy Together (2004) and teen-flick Let the Love Begin (2005).
Mercado released her first album Living the Dream, which contained original compositions by Vehnee Saturno, and a carrier single titled "Kahit Sandali". In May 2006, Mercado released her second album Letting 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, under Viva Records, she released her third album, Love Is... Jennylyn Mercado.
Mercado starred in Filipino period piece Rosario (2010).[16] Her acting career was handled by Becky Aguila and Viva Entertainment, where she joined her Starstruck co-alumnus Cristine 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 with PolyEast Records to reinvent herself as singer.[18] She also signed an acting contract with Regal Entertainment in the same year.[19]
Mercado branched out into television hosting, hosting reality series [20] with co-hosts Ogie Alcasid and Dingdong Dantes. She was also in the GMA-7 Sunday talk show, Showbiz Central.[21] [22] [23]
In 2013, Mercado acted in the romance The Bride and the Lover (2013).[24] Her contract with Polyeast Records ended that year. In 2014, she played the role of a woman with a split personality through Rhodora 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.[25] [26]
At the end of 2014, Mercado agreed to participate in the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Her entry, English Only, Please (2014), was originally offered to singer-actress Angeline Quinto and was chosen as one of the eight official movies for the film festival.[27] It became a success despite having fewer promotions than the other movies included. Critics deemed it a "sleeper hit". In the film, Mercado played the role of Tere Madlansacay, a Filipino tutor. The film's success established her as a movie star.[28] [29] [30] In early 2015, Mercado received the MMFF Best Actress award for the recently concluded film festival.[31] [32]
In 2015, Mercado was first in the FHM "Philippines' 100 Sexiest Women" list after Marian Rivera vacated the title.[33] Before Mercado traveled to New York for the film PreNup with actor Sam Milby, she was surprised and given a plaque by publisher Aeus Reyes, Allan Altera, and GMA News reporter Nelson Canlas. On July 11, Mercado participated in the two-part FHM 100 Sexiest party at the SMX Convention Center in the SM Mall of Asia.[34]
Mercado played the lead role of Melanie "Mel" Fernandez-Dela Paz in the GMA series My 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 and WalangForever. The series earned the lead actors multiple acting awards and nominations.[35] [36] After the commercial success of WalangForever, Mercado earned her second consecutive MMFF Best Actress award in 2015.[37] [38] [39]
Through social media, Mercado announced her upcoming project, confirming that she was acting in a new film with actor John Lloyd Cruz. The film, titled Just the 3 of Us, was produced by Star Cinema.[40] [41] 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.[42] [43]
After months of negotiations, Mercado and the GMA Network renewed their contract on July 4, 2016.[44] [45] As part of the contract, Mercado hosted GMA's new comedy-singing show Superstar Duets.[46] [47] She was later chosen to play the role of Steffi for the Philippine remake of the South Korean series My Love from the Star.[48] [49]
In October 2018, Mercado became the first Filipina brand ambassador for international makeup brand Max Factor.[50]
Mercado has spoken often on the matter of women's rights, particularly violence against women. She has been recognized by GABRIELA, a Philippine women's organization, which has made her an honorary member.[51]
In 2008, at age 21, Mercado announced that she was pregnant. Her ex-boyfriend Patrick 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, via Caesarian section.[52] [53] [54]
In 2021, she married her longtime boyfriend Dennis Trillo. Their daughter, Dylan Jayde, was born on April 25, 2022.
See also: Balintawak Eskrima. Mercado is also an aspiring triathlete. 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.
Mercado is a practitioner of Tabimina Balintawak, a close-range variant of Balintawak Arnis created Grandmaster Bobby Tabimina, who in turn developed its principles after studying the Balintawak system developed by Grandmaster Venancio Bacon in the 1950s.[55]
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002—03 | Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay | Aira | ABS-CBN |
| 2004 | Click | Carol | GMA Network |
| Click Barkada Hunt | Herself | ||
| 2004—05 | Joyride | Casey | |
| Forever in My Heart | Joey Almasan | ||
| 2005 | Encantadia | Lira / Milagros | |
| 2006 | |||
| Fantastikids | Video Kikay | ||
| I Luv NY | Natalie Young | ||
| Now and Forever | Altamira "Alta" Roxas-Marquez | ||
| 2007 | Super Twins | Super S | |
| Fantastic Man | |||
| 2007—08 | La Vendetta | Almira Cardinale | |
| 2008 | Sine Novela | Charmaine Ambrosio | |
| 2009 | Sine Novela | Elizabeth "Lisa" Estrella-Valderama | |
| 2009—10 | Ikaw Sana | Eliza Garcia / Eliza Montemayor-Olivarez | |
| 2010 | Sine Novela | Rachel Mantaring | |
| 2010—11 | Little Star | Helen Estrella | |
| 2010 | Cecille | ||
| 2011 | Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbell | Rose | |
| Futbolilits | Lani Melendez | ||
| 2012 | Makapiling Kang Muli | Young Mara Silvestre-Valencia | |
| Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa | Elisa Santos | ||
| 2013 | Indio | Esperanza Sanreal | |
| 2014 | Rhodora X | Rhodora Ferrer-Valdez / Roxanne / Baby Rowena | |
| 2015 | Second Chances | Lyra Bermudez-Padilla | |
| My Faithful Husband[56] | Melanie Fernandez | ||
| 2017 | My Love from the Star[57] | Steffanie Elaine "Steffi" Chavez | |
| 2018 | The Cure | Charity "Charie" Valdez-Salvador | |
| 2019 | Love You Two | Rafaella "Raffy" Batungbakal-Reyes | |
| 2020 | Descendants of the Sun | Dra. Maxine "Doc Beauty" Dela Cruz | |
| 2024 | Love. Die. Repeat. | Angela Zafra- Yuzon |
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2003 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Various | ABS-CBN |
| 2004 | Magpakailanman Ano ang Kulay ng Tunay na Pagmamahal | Herself | GMA Network |
| 2005 | Love to Love (Season 9): Miss Match | Joey | |
| 2006 | Love to Love (Season 12): Jass Got Lucky | Genie Jena | |
| 2009 | Nina | ||
| Cheska | |||
| 2011 | Spooky Nights Singil | Bless | |
| 2013 | Magpakailanman: May AIDS ang Asawa Ko | Melissa | |
| Wagas The Mike and Baby Enriquez Love Story | Baby Enriquez | GMA News TV | |
| Wagas: Love me Tomorrow | Lolet Carangga | ||
| 2015 | Magpakailanman Rehas ng Pag-ibig | Mavic | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Pagsubok | Jane | |
| Magpakailanman Gayuma ng Pag-ibig | Kukay | ||
| 2018 | Dear Uge: Kuha Kita | Sandy | |
| 2020 | I Can See You: Truly. Madly. Deadly | Coleen De Vera | |
| 2021 | Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko | Angel |
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Penpen de Sarapen | Herself / Guest performer | RPN | ||
| 2001 | MTB | Herself / Performer | ABS-CBN | ||
| 2002 | ASAP | Herself / Guest Performer | |||
| 2003–2004 | StarStruck l | Herself / Finalist / Winner | GMA Network | ||
| 2004–2010 | SOP | Herself / Performer | |||
| 2004–2006 | SOP Gigsters | ||||
| 2010–2013 | Party Pilipinas | ||||
| 2011 | Herself / Host | ||||
| 2011–2012 | Showbiz Central | ||||
| 2012 | |||||
| 2012–2013 | HOT TV: Hindi Ordinaryong Tsismis | ||||
| 2013–2015 | Sunday All Stars | Herself / Performer | |||
| 2013 | Anak Ko Yan! | Herself / Host | |||
| 2015 | StarStruck VI | Herself / Judge | |||
| 2015–2016 | Sarap With Family | Herself / Host | |||
| 2016 | Superstar Duets | ||||
| 2017 | Everyday Sarap with CDO | ||||
| 2019 | StarStruck VII | ||||
| 2020; 2024 | All-Out Sundays | Herself / Guest Performer | |||
| 2024 | It's Showtime | Herself / Guest Performer | Kapamilya Channel A2Z All TV GMA Network GTV |
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | So Happy Together | Wena | |
| 2005 | Let the Love Begin | Alex | |
| Say That You Love Me | Kristine | ||
| Lovestruck | Denise | ||
| 2006 | Blue Moon | Cora / Corazon | |
| Eternity | Megan | ||
| Super Noypi | Lia | ||
| 2007 | Angels | Vivian / Bianang | |
| Tiyanaks | Rina | ||
| Resiklo | Bianca | ||
| Nars | Ella | ||
| 2008 | Half-Blood Samurai | Kristine | |
| One Night Only | Elvie | ||
| 2010 | Working Girls | Ada Rosales | |
| Rosario | Rosario | ||
| 2012 | Moron 5 and the Crying Lady | Prison Visitor | |
| 2013 | The Bride and the Lover | Shiela Montes | |
| 2014 | English Only, Please | Tere Madlansacay | |
| 2015 | The Prenup | Wendy Cayabyab | |
| Walang Forever | Mia Nolasco | ||
| 2016 | Just the 3 of Us | CJ Manalo | |
| 2017 | All of You | Gabby | |
| 2019 | Trina Guillermo |
| Title | Album details | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||
|
| ||
| |||
| Never Alone |
| ||
| Ultimate |
|
| Title | Album details | |
|---|---|---|
| Kahit Sandali: The Best of Jennylyn Mercado |
| |
| GMA Collection Series: Jennylyn Mercado |
|
| Title | Album details | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Forever By Your Side |
|
|
| Jennylyn Mercado – Ultimate |
|
|
| Title | Year | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kahit Sandali" | 2004 | Living The Dream | |
| "Sa Aking Panaginip" | 2005 | Letting Go | |
| "It's Christmas All Over The World" | Kapuso sa Pasko | ||
| "Moments of Love" (with Janno Gibbs) | 2006 | ||
| "Kaya Mo Bang Ibalik" | 2008 | Kahit Sandali | |
| "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" | 2010 | Love is... | |
| "Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa" | 2012 | Forever By Your Side | |
| "Basta't Nandito Ka" | 2014 | Never Alone | |
| "Hagdan" | 2016 | Ultimate |
| Year | Organization | Category | Nominated work(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gawad Tanglaw Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Blue Moon | ||
| 2006 | 32nd Metro Manila Film Festival | People's Choice for Best Actress | |||
| ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-Musical or Comedy | Lovestruck | |||
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama | Blue Moon | ||||
| Gawad Urian Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres) | ||||
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie/Film Actress of the Year | ||||
| FAP Luna Awards | Best Supporting Actress | ||||
| 2009 | PEP Forum Awards | Best Drama Actress | Ikaw Sana | ||
| 2011 | Femalenetwork.com | Best Television Host | |||
| FAP Luna Awards | Best Actress | Rosario | |||
| 13th Gawad PASADO Awards | Best Actress | ||||
| 59th FAMAS Awards | Best Actress | ||||
| 2012 | PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Talent Search Program Host together with Ogie Alcasid and Dingdong Dantes | |||
| 2013 | 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Reality Competition Program Host together with Dingdong Dantes, Carla Abellana and Maxene Magalona | |||
| Best Magazine Show Host together with Regine Velasquez, Raymond Gutierrez and Roderick Paulate | HOT TV: Hindi Ordinaryong Tsismis | ||||
| ENPRESS Golden Screen Television Awards | Outstanding Female Showbiz Talk Program Host | Showbiz Central | |||
| Outstanding Original Reality Competition Program Host | |||||
| 2014 | 28th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Talent Show Program Host | Anak Ko Yan! | ||
| 40th Metro Manila Film Festival[59] | Best Actress | English Only, Please | |||
| 2015 | 31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Actress of the Year | |||
| 2nd PEP List Awards | Editor's Choice: Teleserye Actress | Rhodora X | [60] | ||
| 6th ENPRESS Golden Screen Television Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Program | ||||
| 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Educational Program Host | Sarap With Family | |||
| 63rd FAMAS Awards | Best Actress | English Only, Please | |||
| 41st Metro Manila Film Festival[61] [62] | Female Celebrity of the Night | ||||
| Best Actress | Walang Forever | ||||
| 2016 | 2016 GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards[63] | Film Actress of the Year | |||
| Gawad Pasado | Pinakapasadong Aktres | ||||
| 39th Gawad Urian Awards[64] | Best Actress | ||||
| PEP List Editor's Choice Year 3 | Teleserye Actress of the Year | My Faithful Husband | |||
| 30th PMPC Star Awards for Television[65] | Best Drama Actress | ||||
| Best Educational Program Host | Sarap With Family | ||||
| 2017 | The 7th EdukCircle Awards | Best Female TV Host | Superstar Duets | ||
| The 7th EdukCircle Awards[66] | Most Influential Film Actress of the Year | Just the 3 of Us | |||
| 31st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Game Show Host | Superstar Duets | |||
| 31st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Educational Program Host | Everyday Sarap with CDO | |||
| 41st Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Actress | All of You | |||
| 2020 | 2nd VP Choice Awards[67] | TV Actress of the Year | Descendants of the Sun |
| Year | Organization | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Candy Mag Awards | Breakthrough Artist | |
| SOP Music Awards | Breakthrough Artist | ||
| 2005 | iFM Pinoy Music Awards | Most Popular Adaptation of A Foreign Song | |
| Awit Awards | Best Performance by a Duet for the song | ||
| 2006 | ASAP POP Viewers Choice Awards | Female Pop Artist of the Year | |
| 2010 | 2nd PMPC Star Awards for Music | Female Pop Artist of the Year – Love Is | |
| 2013 | 5th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Female Pop Artist of the Year – Forever By Your Side | |
| ASAP 18 24K Gold Award – Forever By Your Side | Gold Awardee | ||
| 2015 | 7th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Female Pop Artist of the Year – Never Alone | |
| 7th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Pop Album of the Year – Never Alone | ||
| 7th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Album of the Year – Never Alone | ||
| 2017 | 30th Awit Awards | Best Inspirational Recording – Hagdan | |
| 30th Awit Awards | Best Cover Art – Ultimate | ||
| 30th Awit Awards | Best Music Video of the Year – Hagdan | ||
| 30th Awit Awards | Best Christmas Recording – Hagdan | ||
| 30th Awit Awards | Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist – Hagdan |
| Year | Organization | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Box Office Entertainment Awards | Most Popular Loveteam with Mark Herras | ||
| 2006 | ||||
| 2007 | Kapuso Box-Office People's Choice Awards | Kapuso Box Office Princess | ||
| Kapuso Movie Box Office Queen | ||||
| Kapuso Television Box Office Queen | ||||
| Kapuso Box Office Actress | ||||
| Kapuso Box Office Sexiest Female | ||||
| 2015 | Box-Office Entertainment Awards | Breakthrough Box Office Indie Film (with Derek Ramsay) |
| Year | Organization | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Yes Magazine Reader's Choice Awards | Most Popular Female Young Star | |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | Female Star of the Night | ||
| Star Struck Season 1 | Ultimate Female Survivor | ||
| 2005 | FAMAS Awards | German Moreno Youth Achievement Award | |
| 2008 | Yes Magazine Reader's Choice Awards | Young Female Superstar | |
| 2012 | Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Dressed Female Celebrity Award | |
| 2015 | PEP List Choice Awards | Teleserye Actress of the Year | |
| FHM Sexiest Women in the Philippines | Philippines Finest – Rank No. 1 | ||
| 2016 | EDUKCIRCLE | Drama Actress of the Year | |
| PUSH Awards | Female Celebrity for 2016 | ||
| PEP List Editor's Choice Year 3 | Female TV Star of The Year | ||
| Year | Organization | Category/Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Yes Magazine Reader's Choice Awards | ||
| 2006 | Franz Entertainment's Top 50 Sexiest Women in the Philippines | ||
| Inside Showbiz Magazine Reader's Choice | |||
| MOD's Magazine 32 Most Beautiful Filipinas | |||
| 2007 | Starmometer 100 Most Beautiful Pinays | ||
| 2008 | Yes Magazine Reader's Choice Awards | ||
| Friendster Most Popular | |||
| 2009 | Yes Magazine 100 Most Beautiful Stars | ||
| Starmometer.com | |||
| 2011 | Yahoo! OMG Awards | ||
| 2012 | PEP Top List | ||
| Yes Mag 100 Most Beautiful Stars | |||
| 2013 | Inside Pinoy Showbiz | ||
| 2014 | Yahoo! OMG Awards |
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 100 Sexiest Woman | Cindy Kurleto | ||
| 2005 | Angel Locsin | |||
| 2006 | Katrina Halili | |||
| 2007 | Katrina Halili (2) | |||
| 2008 | Marian Rivera | |||
| 2009 | Cristine Reyes | |||
| 2010 | Angel Locsin (2) | |||
| 2011 | Sam Pinto | |||
| 2012 | Sam Pinto (2) | |||
| 2013 | Marian Rivera (2) | |||
| 2014 | Marian Rivera (3) | |||
| 2015 | Herself | |||
| 2016 | Jessy Mendiola | |||
| 2017 | Nadine Lustre |