Jessy goes sensual, sings and dances a la Thalia

Jessy Mendiola is the Pinay Maria Mercedes (Photo by Jecelyn V. Macahindog)

Jessy Mendiola is just one of the few “lucky” actresses who are made to sing their own teleserye theme song.

“The management wanted me to sing the theme song kasi si Thalia gano’n. Gusto nila, gano’n din ’yung Pinoy version,” she related during the grand press launch of the Filipino adaptation of “Maria Mercedes,” held Friday in Plaza Ibarra, Quezon City.

The 20-year-old Kapamilya actress is elated for being given the opportunity to embody the Pinay Maria Mercedes and channel Thalia in the process. Thalia, of course, is the Mexican singer-actress who hit worldwide fame in the ’90s because of her “Marias” telenovela: “Maria Mercedes,” “Maria La Del Barrio” and “Marimar.”

The original “Maria Mercedes” was aired on ABS-CBN in 1996 and is considered to be one of the most successful telenovelas in Philippine TV history. The other two have their Philippine adaptations as well.

Jessy feels vindicated that her video for the “Maria Mercedes” theme song, wherein she sings and dances a la Thalia, has been received well by the public. After the screening of the said video at the press launch, Jessy shared she didn’t undergo voice lessons and that “two hours lang namin ni-record ’yung kanta tapos ’yun na ’yun and I’m very happy na tanggap naman siya ng mga tao. Nakakatuwa kasi, ‘Yes! Finally, napapakinggan na ng mga tao ang boses ko.”

She then performed the song live before the media along, complete with a sexy dance number with her leading men Jake Cuenca and Jason Abalos.

To play a woman that is an object of men’s desire, Jessy admitted to going on a diet to prepare. For her, though, sensuality isn’t just about being sexy.

“Si Maria Mercedes, hindi niya alam na sexy siya. I guess what makes her sexy and attractive to men is ’yung pagiging matapang niya and being confident with herself na harapin ang lahat ng pagsubok sa buhay,” she noted.

Pressure on

Jessy considers “Maria Mercedes” as her biggest break so far. Although she has starred in a couple of title roles (“Sabel” and the Precious Hearts Romances series “Paraiso”) in the past, “Maria Mercedes” is her first primetime project.

“I think it (being on primetime) calls for perfect time and perfect timing. With ‘Maria Mercedes,’ since it’s a title role, they’ll expect me to be a very good actress, to be a very good dancer, to be a very good singer just like Thalia,” she said.

With the pressure of the public’s expectation on her shoulder, Jessy admitted, “Grabe ’yung pakiramdam – ninenerbyos, sobrang masaya, sobrang kinakabahan, pero ito na po ’yun eh. It’s all or nothing. I’m very willing to give everything, ’yung best ko talaga para magustuhan ng mga tao ’yung pag-portray ko as Maria Mercedes.”

At one point during the launch, Jessy couldn’t contain her emotions that she cried because of the commendations given by her director, Chito S. Roño, and her co-stars.

‘Maria’ before love

Jessy admitted that she is now focused is on her project alone, such that she can’t entertain love at the moment.

While fellow Kapamilya actor Sam Milby and current leading man Jake have already expressed their intention of wooing her, Jessy maintains she doesn’t plan to have a boyfriend soon.

“Honestly, nasa ‘Maria Mercedes’ lang ’yung focus ko. Hindi ko na nga maintindihan ’yung sarili ko (laughs). Kaya ’pag tinatanong ako about manliligaw, hindi ko din alam ang isasagot ko kasi sabay-sabay din silang nanliligaw, nahihirapan din ako,” she said.

Jessy added, “Nandiyan lang naman sila, si Sam, andiyan lang, si Jake… I’m very flattered na ako ’yung napili nilang babae na ligawan… (Although) hindi naman full blast na panliligaw, siguro nafi-feel nilang hindi pa ako ready.”

The Philippine remake of the “Maria Mercedes” also stars Ariel Rivera, Vina Morales, Dominic Ochoa, Nadia Montenegro, Nikki Gil, Atoy Co, Vivian Velez, Devon Seron, Yogo Singh, Erika Padilla, Marx Topacio, Alex Castro and Isabelle De Leon. The series premieres on Oct. 7 on Primetime Bida.

Jessy goes sensual, sings and dances a la Thalia

Source: Mb.com.ph (September 27, 2013 at 07:54PM)

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