Derek Ramsay Says He Has Better Rapport With Jennylyn Mercado In 'All Of You' Where They're Predicted To Win The Filmfest Acting Awards Once Again

DEREK RAMSAY says he’s aware that his role as Gab in “All of You” was originally intended for Jericho Rosales, but it’s just fine with him. “Ilang beses na nangyari yung I wasn’t the first choice, even in ‘English Only, Please’ na si Sam Milby ang unang kinonsider nila, but the role landed with me and I consider it a blessing,” he says. “Hindi issue sa akin ang maging second choice. After our producer, Atty. Joji Alonso of Quantum Films sent me the script of ‘All of You’, I read it, and in less than two days, everything was settled kasi maganda talaga yung material and it’s nice to be reunited with Jennylyn Mercado and Director Dan Villegas na siya ring mga kasama ko noon sa ‘English Only, Please’.”

So how is it working with Jennylyn this time? “Sa ‘English Only’, uncomfortable pa kami with each other kasi first time namin to work together. Now, mas may rapport na kami. ‘English Only’ is more of comedy, pero dito sa ‘All of You’, nag-level up kami nang sampung beses kasi mas serious ang take nito about relationships and commitment. Mas matindi rin ang chemistry namin dito kasi hawak pa lang, alam na namin ang gustong sabihin ng isa’t isa. Mas marami rin kaming intimate scenes at mga mabibigat na eksena. I’m sure couples who have gone through failed or difficult relationships will be able to relate with the issues that our characters went through in ‘All of You’. Sobrang totoong-totoo ang mga sitwasyon. Feeling ko nga, hindi ako umaarte rito kasi things na nangyari talaga sa’king past relationships, breakups, heartaches, naranasan ko first hand and I’m just speaking from my heart.”

Off cam, Derek is very open about his relationship with his non-showbiz inamorata, Joanne Villablanca. They’ve been on for nearly three years and he says they now really know each other well. They just returned from a vacation together in Europe and they’ve seriously talked about marriage. Joanne’s daughter from a past relationship, Sophie, lives with them. His own son, Austin, from a previous relationship, is also coming over to spend Christmas with him.

Is it true he’s now a Kapamilya once again after ABS-CBN came up with statement saying everything is okay between them? “We had a meeting to quash all the past tensions created by my transfer to TV5 six years ago, just like friends who haven’t spoken for a long time. Nailabas namin ang feelings namin sa isa't isa and we came out of it relieved and happy. But my contract with TV5 is officially until April of 2018 yet, so I’m still committed to them. But as of now, I’m doing a movie with Bea Alonzo and Paulo Avelino for Star Cinema.”

 

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Jennylyn Mercado & Dennis Trillo On Advanced Honeymoon In Various European Countries

JENNYLYN MERCADO was absent from her hosting duties in “Superstar Duets” last Saturday because she was vacationing in Amsterdam, Paris and Belgium with her inamorato, Dennis Trillo. This time, they’re apparently no longer hiding the real score about this as they’ve been posting their pictures on their social media account together, looking very much the sweet lovebirds that they are.

GMA allowed her to take a leave of absence from her show as they know she needs a break after her Mommy Lydia’s long illness at the hospital that ended with her passing away. It’s good Dennis served as a ready and willing shoulder to cry on during Jen’s hour of bereavement.

Their fans quickly registered their messages of approval on the internet upon seeing the sweet photos of the lovebirds and added they are so “kinikilig” seeing the two of them together. Some of them are even asking as to when they are going to walk down the aisle. But Jen said then that they’re not in a hurry to do that and she’s willing to wait for five more years before wedding bells start ringing for them.

By early next year, both Dennis and Jen will be busy with their own new shows. Dennis was already shown attending the initial meetings for the revival of “Mulawin”. He was also part of the first “Mulawin” more than ten years ago. As for Jen, it looks like her own local version of the Korean hit, “My Love from the Star”, will finally start grinding, but it’s still a guessing game as to who her leading man will be.

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Jennylyn Mercado Being Linked To New Guys But Prioritizes Her Work

JENNYLYN MERCADO was recently confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center for three days due to recurrent fever. Doctors can’t seem to pinpoint what’s causing it. Jen initially didn’t want to be confined as she still has to tape for her hit drama show, “Rhodora X”, but her doctors refused to let her go and told her to rest and recover first before working again.

“Extended kami ng eight more weeks at alangan namang pabayaan ko ang show ganyang malaki ang tiwala ng GMA-7 sa amin dahil laging mataas ang ratings namin,” she says. “Buti na lang at dahil sa Holy Week, nakapag-rest din kami dahil wala kaming telecast ng Huwebes at Biyernes Santo. Nakapag-rest din ako ng somehow.”

It seems that the feeling of being debilitated stemmed from a viral infection on her upper respiratory system, aggravated by overfatigue and her lack of appetite to eat that lessened her body’s resistance.

“Hindi naman ako napapagod dahil sa trabaho dahil I really enjoy what I am doing,” she adds. “May nasagap siguro akong germs nang mag-shooting ako for an endorsement sa Manila Bay. E, napakabaho pala at polluted ng hangin doon.”

Jen is now being linked to Luis Alandy and Benjamin Alves. The latter even visited her while she was at the hospital. She stresses that nothing romantic is going on between her and these guys as she prefers to be unattached these days. “Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit hinahanapan ako ng boyfriend ng ibang tao. E, sinabi ko ng hindi ko priority ngayon ang magkaroon ng lovelife,” she adds.

Jen is currently preparing to launch a new album that she has just finished recording for GMA Records. It’ll be released as part of her 10th anniversary in showbiz and as a special birthday offering to her fans when she celebrates her 27th birthday on May 15.

In “Rhodora X”, things get worse when Jennylyn as the evil Roxanne teams up with Mark Anthony Fernandez as Nico so they can get back Yasmien Kurdi as Angela for Mark. Mark is wanted by cops, along with his brother Ken Chan, because of the complaint of Mark Herras’ mom, Lollie Mara, in their business deals. He and Ken plan to escape to Hongkong aboard their own yacht and then to Russia. He wants to take Yasmien with them. Roxanne connives with them to fulfil their evil plan. Yasmien agrees to sacrifice herself and go with them for the safety of her sister Rhodora.

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Jennylyn Mercado Getting Raves For Her Superb Portrayal Of 'Rhodora X'

JENNYLYN MERCADO is grinning from ear to ear these days. And why not? According to AGB Nielsen NUTAM ratings, her “Rhodora X” is now the number one show in its slot. Angel Locsin might have won her ex-BF Luis Manzano’s heart but Jen has won the nod of the viewers for her crackerjack portrayal of the schizophrenic Rhodora/Roxanne. The feedback from netizens praising her performance is overwhelmingly positive and Jen wants to thank all of them for their lavish praises. Many viewers are predicting she might eventually win an award for her acting.

The vindictive Roxanne is getting more and more evil in her thirst for revenge against the people she thinks stole her happy childhood away from her after she was kidnapped. Her good side, Rhodora, tries to fight her but Roxanne easily overpowers the meek Rhodora. She confronts sister Yasmien Kurdi as Angela and puts an X mark on her face, telling Angela that she herself planned everything to frame up Angela and put her in jail for a crime she didn’t commit.

Angela fights back when Roxanne tries to stab her and manages to get the knife away from Roxanne. But their parents (Gardo Versoza and Glydel Mercado) arrive and side with Roxanne who transforms into the pitiful Rhodora. The cops appear and Angela tries to escape from them by jumping off a cliff. The police think she’s dead and Roxanne rejoices, but Mark Anthony Fernandez has rescued Angela and will eventually help her to get back at Roxanne.

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Jennylyn Mercado On Those Who Keep On Asking Her About Luis Manzano: 'Nag-Move On Na Ko, Mag-Move On Na Rin Kayo'

JENNYLYN MERCADO is no longer pleased when folks still constantly ask her about ex-BF Luis Manzano, especially about his rumored coming wedding with Angel Locsin. “Ang tagal ko nang nakapag-move on, kaya sana, lahat ng nagtatanong niyan, mag-move on na rin dahil sila yata ang hindi makapag-move on,” she says.

In “Rhodora X”, Jennylyn as Roxanne is crushed when Mark Herras as Joaquin suddenly leaves for abroad. Rhodora always tries to fight back with her alter ego but it’s the dominant Roxanne who always wins. Roxanne also gets to kill her psychiatrist, Irma Adlawan as Dr. Vivian. Gardo Versoza as her dad Derrick discovers the evidence in a crime Roxanne did, a handkerchief full of blood she’s hiding in her metal box. But she manages to get it back and burn it.

Yasmien Kurdi as Angela loses her baby and gets sad when she learns that Joaquin has left for abroad without even saying goodbye to her. Their dad Derrick tells her he has a suspect as to who the real killer of Krista Miller is but he’s still gathering enough evidence. But his wife Glydel Mercado as Lourdes stops him from pinning down Rhodora especially now that she’s discovered to be pregnant with Joaquin as the father. Natuhog ni Joaquin ang dalawang anak nila!

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Jennylyn Mercado And Mark Herras Do Their Most Daring Love Scene Ever In 'Rhodora X'

JENNYLYN MERCADO says she doesn’t think Mark Herras’ admission that he’s an unwed father will negatively affect his career. “Ang dami na namang ibang umamin na may anak sila before at tinanggap pa rin sila ng tao, so I don’t think it will be a problem,” she says. And this is true, among those who sired children out of wedlock whose careers still flourished are Aga Muhlach, Dennis Trillo, Piolo Pascual, Marvin Agustin and others.

“Ang importante, you deliver as an actor,” adds Jennylyn. “Kahit wala kang sabit, pero hindi naman convincing ang acting mo, wala rin, di ba?”

Jen is happy that the viewership of “Rhodora X” is increasing by the day. “Mas nagiging intriguing naman kasi talaga ang story. Grabe na ang kamalditahan ng alter ego ni Rhodora na si Roxanne. She framed up her own sister, Yasmien Kurdi as Angela, for the murder of Krista Miller as Trisha.”

This week, don’t miss the love scene inside a motel room between Jen as Roxanne and Mark Herras as Joaquin. “Sa tagal ng pagiging magkapareha namin ni Mark, ngayon lang kami gumawa ng ganito ka-daring na love scene kaya abangan nyo,” says Jen.

Meantime, Yasmien denies she’s the killer and even their parents, Gardo Versoza and Glydel Mercado, can’t believe that she’s capable of doing such a thing. She also told Mark that someone just set her up. Rhodora realizes that it’s her alter ego, Roxanne, who killed Trixie and she wanted to tell the truth but Roxanne, who has become more dominant and overpowering, restrains her. Roxanne even planted a piece of evidence, Angela’s necklace which is a gift from Mark, into the scene of the crime, making Mark believe that it’s really her who is the killer. Upon the suggestion of her lawyer, Yasmien pleads insanity. Inside her jail, she discovers she’s pregnant and Mark is the dad. Roxanne makes Mark drunk then takes him to a motel where they make love. Mark regrets this and decides to leave for abroad. Roxanne runs after him at the airport but fails to convince him not to leave.

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Jennylyn Mercado Doesn't Care If Luis Manzano Is Now Back Into The Arms Of Angel Locsin

WHAT CAN JENNYLYN MERCADO say now that ex-BF Luis Manzano and Angel Locsin are back in each other’s arms? “Wala, kailangang bang may sabihin pa ko,” she says. “Nag-move on na ako, I’m busy with work now, so don’t ask me about them anymore. Naka-focus ako ngayon sa ‘Rhodora X’ kasi pataas nang pataas ang ratings namin and more and more people are watching it.”

This week in “Rhodora X”, Jennylyn as Rhodora has been confirmed to have a split personality and an alterego, Roxanne, that she’s not aware of. As for Rhodora’s sister, Yasmien Kurdi as Angela, arrangements have been made for her marriage to Mark Herras Joaquin. Vaness del Moral as Pia organizes a hen party for Angela’s coming wedding.

Krista Miller as Trisha sabotages the party by putting drugs into their drinks and then hired a macho dancer to do dirty dancing with Yasmien. Krista videotapes this on her phone which Roxanne gets hold of and she texts Angela that Joaquin is her property. She also tore into pieces the wedding gown of Angela then burned all the wedding invitations.

Rafa Siguion Reyna as Cal shows to Rhodora her video while dancing wildly as Roxanne. She says it’s not her but both of them have the ugly X mark on their chests. Irma Adlawan as the psychiatrist Dr. Vivian performs a therapy session on Rhodora and her other personality comes out, confirming that she has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). She tells Dr. Vivian not to reveal this to her family. Meantime, Mark Herras gets jealous when he sees Mark Anthony Fernandez comforting Yasmien and this results into a fistfight.

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It's Jennylyn Mercado's 'Rhodora X' & Not Marian Rivera's 'Carmela' Vs. Angel Locsin's 'Legal Wife'

WE WENT to the press preview of “Rhodora X” and the story is pretty engrossing from the start. It starts in 1998 with Glydel Mercado and Gardo Versoza as the parents of two girls, Angela (who’ll grow up to be Yasmien Kurdi) and Rhodora (who’ll grow up to be Jennylyn Mercado). They’re a happy family but everything changes when they go to a picnic in the park and Rhodora is kidnapped by Rez Cortez, who kidnaps girls to sell their body parts.

Directed by Albert Langitan, he gets pretty good performances from Glydel and Gardo as the parents who are devastated by the loss of their younger daughter and child stars Kyle Ocampo as young Angela, Angel Aviles as young Rhodora, Anton Luis Limgenco as young Joaquin (he’ll grow up to be Mark Herras) and Terry Malvar (the award-winning actress of “Huling Chacha ni Anita”) as Roxanne, another kidnap victim.

Roxanne is a feisty girl who teaches Rhodora how to fight their tormentors and she is killed by Rez for being defiant. When Rhodora develops her new alternate personality, she will use Roxanne as her peg for her alter ego. GMA-7 should sign up Terry Malvar as she’s really promising. Too bad she appears here only in the first episode.

We’re told that “Rhodora X” is the one that will be competing directly against Angel Locsin’s “Legal Wife”, not Marian Rivera’s “Carmela”. As we all know, Angel is currently the rekindled object of affection of Luis Manzano, who just broke up with Jennylyn Mercado before 2013 ended. So they’re now competing not only over Luis but also as to whose show will emerge as the winner in the ratings game.

Jennylyn says she’s not competing with Angel at all but she believes the edged of “Rhodora X” is that this the first time a local soap tackles the case of a woman with multiple personalities. Rhodora reinvents herself as Roxanne after going through some very traumatic experiences as a kidnapped victim. As Rhodora, she’s shy and introverted, but when she assumes the personality of Roxanne, she becomes aggressive, seductive and manipulative.

How Jennylyn will interpret the two very different roles will surely be a challenge to any actress. Let’s see if she’d be able to do it with flying colors.

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Jennylyn Mercado Doesn't Care If Luis Manzano Reconciles With Angel Locsin

LOOKS LIKE Jennylyn Mercado was able to bounce back very quickly from her heartaches after Luis Manzano broke up with her. She looks so pretty at the presscon of her new soap, “Rhodora X”. “Nakatulong nang malaki ang pagiging busy ko sa trabaho kaya wala na kong time magmukmok,” she says. “Very challenging ang role ko as Rhodora X na may multiple personalities. We got a psychiatrist to help us interpret the character. Dahil sa traumatic experiences niya sa buhay, Rhodora created other personalities to defend herself from people who want to hurt her. Pero dahil din dito, naapektuhan ang mga taong malapit sa kanya. Na-miss ko talaga ang umarte after doing mostly hosting lately. Kaya kahit sobra akong nahirapan sa role ko, enjoy pa rin ako.”

“Rhodora X” is her reunion with Starstruck 1 colleagues Mark Herras and Yasmien Kurdi. “Kulang na nga lang si Rainier Castillo at buo na ang Final Four namin. Ten years na kami in the business and it’s nice to work with them again. We were able to maintain naman our friendship through the years, lalo na si Mark na kahit na may nakaraan kami, nanatiling mabait at reliable na kaibigan. I’m happy naman for Yasmien dahil nagbalik na siya sa showbiz. Sayang kung magre-retire lang siya kasi magaling siyang artista. Pareho na kaming nanay ngayon at napagkukuwentuhan namin ang mga anak namin. I’m glad na kasama rin namin si Mark Anthony Fernandez, who I last worked with in ‘Little Star’ in 2010. Napakahusay ring actor kaya masarap kaeksena.”

Has she heard that Luis might reconcile with Angel Locsin? “Naku, 2014 na at very positive ang outlook ko sa buhay. Ayoko ng pag-usapan ang mga ganyan para good vibes. Labas na ko diyan. I just want to stay focus sa trabaho ko. I’m just happy that I’m so blessed dahil sunud-sunod ang projects na dumarating. So career na lang muna at ang anak kong si Alex Jazz ang priorities ko.”

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Jennylyn Mercado Feels No Need To Still Communicate With Luis Manzano

JENNYLYN MERCADO has definitely moved on after her breakup with Luis Manzano. How did she do it? “Dahil kailangan kong gawin,” she says. “Alangan namang magmukmok na lang ako. Having a lot of work definitely helped me a lot. Wala kang dahilan para malungkot o ma-depress. Waste of time lang yun. Basta tuloy lang ang buhay. Sayang naman ang maraming blessings na dumarating sa akin. I’m really thankful sa GMA sa sunod-sunod kong projects. I’m in ‘Sunday All Stars’, I have a cooking show, I’m taping my new soap ‘Rhodora X’ and I’m about to start recording songs for my new album under GMA Records. No chance to think of negative thoughts. Then there’s also my son Alex Jaxx to attend to. Pag may time, I also train para sa triathlon.”

Does she still communicate with Luis? “What for? There’s no need. Tapos na, e. Pareho na kaming moving on. Happy na ako, okay na ako, so yun na yon.”

So is she ready to fall in love again in 2014? “Naku, ayoko munang makipagrelasyon. Kababangon ko pa lang, sa work muna ko magpo-focus. Lalo ngayon, mahirap ang role ko sa ‘Rhodora X’. I play a woman with dissociative identity disorder at may iba-ibang characters, so a psychologist is always on the set para maging consultant sa role na ginagampanan ko. It’s physically and emotionally draining dahil very dark si Rhodora X. At sunod-sunod ang taping namin kasi malapit na itong mag-start ng telecast on primetime kaya double time kami.”

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Jennylyn Mercado Doesn't Want To Comment On Patrick Garcia's Not Visiting Their Son Lately

SOME WRITERS are provoking Jennylyn Mercado to speak against Patrick Garcia who has not visited their son Alex Jazz for some weeks now. But Jen adamantly refused to say anything. “I don’t want to be misinterpreted,” she says. “Baka busy lang siya talaga. But our son is looking for him.”

Someone said Patrick has a new non-showbiz GF who gets jealous each time he visits his son or even communicates with Jen about the boy, but Jen won’t confirm this. “Hindi ko talaga alam. Wala akong balita kasi wala naman kaming communication, e. Basta, wala kaming away at okay naman ang anak namin kahit kaming dalawa lang. No problem.”

How about the rumor that she and Luis Manzano are already living in? “Naku, bihira nga kami magkita. Naospital na naman siya due to acid reflux. Ako naman, busy with two daily shows, the soap ‘Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa’ in the afternoon at ‘Inside Protégé’ sa gabi. May ‘Party Pilipinas’ pa ko and magi-start din this Sunday ang ‘HOT TV’ na kapalit ng ‘Showbiz Central’. Tapos nagsu-shoot pa ko ng movie, ‘The Bride and the Lover’, sa Regal. I have new endorsements pa, Bench and Belomed, so talagang punong-puno ang sked ko. At bakit ako makikipag-live in. I have my own house, he has his own house.”

In “Hindi Ka Na Mag-iisa”, she as Elisa now lives with her mom Glydel Mercado to take of her mentally challenged half sister, Crystal Reyes. On “Hot TV”, she’s happy to have new co-hosts Regine Velasquez and Roderick Paulate. “Pareho silang masayang kasama. Sa pictorial pa lang, tawanan na kami ng tawanan. Pero mami-miss ko rin sina Pia Guanio and John Lapus kasi ang tagal naming magkasama sa ‘Showbiz Central’.”

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