Jennylyn Mercado

Jennylyn Vergara Mercado (born May 15, 1987) is a Filipino actress, singer and songwriter. She gained fame as the winner of the first season of the Philippine TV series StarStruck, a reality search show on GMA Network. She has released three albums from GMA Recordsand Viva Records which have several popular singles such as "Sa Aking Panaginip," "Moments Of Love" collaboration with Janno Gibbs, "Maybe This Time" and Kahit Sandali."

Career

Mercado started as a recording artist with Alpha Records in 1999 through the recommendation of her voice coach, Susanna Pichay. She was in Nonoy Tan's singing group, G4. Unfortunately the group never released an album because two of the four members dropped out. However, the group was able to record two songs. After G4, Mercado went into commercial modeling and landed a stint with Bambini cologne and a Pond's television advertisement. She was also part of the Elite Circle of 10 Modeling Search where she competed with StarStruck co-finalist, Dion Ignacio.

In 2003, Mercado joined the reality show StarStruck She and Mark Herras won, receiving 1,000,000 pesos plus exclusive contracts from GMA Network. After winning StarStruck, she starred in the Encantadia, I Luv NY, Now and Forever titled Dangal, Super Twins, Sine Novela: Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?, SRO Cinemaserye: Suspetsa, Ikaw Sana and Sine Novela:Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak.

She released her first album, Living the Dream, containing original compositions of composer 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. Her first major concert was held on May 15, 2006 at the Music Museum in Greenhills. In January 2010, under VIVA Records, she released her third album, Love Is... Jennylyn Mercado. Due to her popularity, she held a birthday concert at the Music Museum, titled I Am Woman in May 2009. The concert was sold-out.

Her first films included So Happy Together and the teen-flick Let the Love Beginand her first major solo movie was say that you love me under viva films with mark herras but her most acclaimed film performance was a Filipino period piece, Rosario. Jennylyn's acting career is handled by Becky Aguila and VIVA Entertainment, Inc. Her singing career is managed byVIVA Records. Her contract with VIVA ended in 2011. Jennylyn signed back with Regal Entertainment. Jennylyn Mercado has also signed up with PolyEast Records for her singing career which she hopes would help in her bid to reinvent herself as singer.

Mercado recently branched out into television hosting, hosting the Philippine reality series Protégé: The Battle For The Big Break[1] with co-hosts Ogie Alcasid and Dingdong Dantes. She is also in the GMA-7 Sunday talk show, Showbiz Central.

Personal life

Jennylyn Vergara Mercado was born on May 15, 1987 to a mother who was a Duty Free store beauty consultant. Mercado had a stepfather who abused her as a child. He burned her skin with cigarette butts. Her mother, who was working in Dubai at that time, immediately flew back to the Philippines not to help her daughter, but to bail out Mercado's stepfather who was in jail for abusing 4-year old Jennylynn.

Mercado's life story was featured in the weekly drama anthology Magpakailanman in October 14, 2004. She is now the official spokesperson of the Bata Foundation (Christian Mission Services), a non-government organization.

At 21, she got pregnant by her ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia, who distanced himself upon learning of her pregnancy. On August 16, 2008, she gave birth via Caesarian section (8-9 p.m.) to an 8 pound, 12 ounce (3.68 kg) baby boy at St. Luke's Hospital, Quezon City. Her child's name is Alex Jazz "AJ" Mercado.

On October 28, 2010, Jennylyn was reportedly rushed to the hospital because of a minor heart attack.

She is the niece of television reporter, Abner Mercado. Her cousins are Cheri Mercado (news and radio anchor for News5), Charee Pineda, and Eliza Pineda who both work for ABS-CBN channel.

Extracurricular activitiesAside from being a performer/entertainer, Mercado is also a political activist. She works with and the Philippine Women's Organization GABRIELA,

She is also an aspiring triathlete.