Jessy Mendiola on  JM De Guzman, “Nagmahal din ako, hindi lang siya”

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='062613-jessy_main.jpg' align='left' border='0' height='290' width='305'>All set to reprise the role originally played by Mexican superstar Thalia in the 90s, Jessy Mendiola brings to life the Kapamilya remake of Maria Mercedes. “This is really one of my dream roles. I grew up watching Maria Mercedes and and I still can’t believe that I will actually become the Pinoy version of this character loved by many Filipinos,” she admits during her solo presscon held last June 26 inside ABS-CBN. During the event, the 20-year-old actress talked about growing up in a single parent household and slowly entering showbusiness at the age of 14. She also made a few revelations including acknowledging a two-year relationship with Angelito star JM De Guzman whom she met after doing the soap opera Sabel in 2011.</div><div> </div><div>Jessy reveals she initially denied the relationship because of a family conflict. “I really can’t say na kaming dalawa nung time na yun kasi magkaaway kami ng mom ko and I really don’t want to make things worse na baka pagka-inamin ko baka gumulo pa lahat ng bagay. naging kami and marami akong natutunan sa part ng buhay ko na yun. Hindi ko masabi yun dati because kami ng mom ko hindi din kami okay noon. And siyempre kung magsasalita ka pa sa maraming tao, kung internally hindi kayo okay, mas magiging gulo kung lahat ng tao alam yugn nangyayari sayo so I kept mum about it. Dumating sa time na hindi na kami nag-uusap ng mom ko. Gumigising ako at pumupunta ako ng taping na hindi ko alam kung nasaan sila and maraming nagsasabi na napakasama kong tao kay JM kasi hindi talaga ako nagsalita tungkol sa kanya. nagkataon lang na umamin siya na mahal niya ako nung wala na kami at ayoko ng dagdagan kasi hindi kami okay ng mom ko at tinanggap ko na lang yung sinabi ng ibang tao na pinaasa ko lang siya, ganito, ganyan, sinira mo yung career niya, yung trabaho niya. Pero gusto ko rin malaman ng ibang tao na nagmahal din ako. and masasabi ko din na inalagaan ko din siya so hindi na alng ako nagsalita. So ngayon kung anong nangyayari sa kanya I really hope and wish the best for him. Na sana makabangon siya kasi napakagaling niyang actor at ang bait niyang tao. Sabihin na lang natin na nagmahal din ako, hindi lang siya,” she tearfully admits.</div><div> </div><div>The mestiza beauty says she had to endure a lot of criticism especially when JM admitted his feelings for her during a TV guesting. “Parang pinili ko na lang na ako yung mas magmukhang masama, magmukhang nega kasi nung time na yun lahat ng tao sinasabi nila, ‘Wow, ang sweet niya, umamin siya sa TV.’ And I’m really happy for him na nagawa niya yun para sa akin. but on my part, as long as alam ng maraming taong malapit sa akin kung sino talaga ako at may paninindigan ako na magiging okay kami ng nanay ko, mas pinili ko lang na huwag magsalita. We broke up even before he said he loved me on TV. So he said that because I think he wanted to patch things up and he wanted to get back together but it really didn’t help,” she recalls.</div><div> </div><div>Despite all that has happened, Jessy says she has no regrets being with JM, whom she is no longer in contact with. “It was very hard pero marami akong natutunan sa relationship nayun. Siyempre madaming against sa relationship namin. kasi siya lahat tayo dumadaan sa rebellious stage and I was 18 at that time so siyempre madami ring nangyayari at that time na pasaway ako. Lahat naman tayo napagdaanan natin ito. Tinuturo ng mom ko na baka nga si JM yung reason pero may time na talagang okay na sila, pumupunta na si JM sa amin at nakakasama ng mom ko mag-usap and yung mom ko binibigyan niya ng advice si JM so nag-sa-swap sila ng mga advice and everything.”</div><div> </div><div>After JM’s show Angelito abruptly ended last year due supposedly to his rumored drug problem, Jessy still refuses to address the topic. “I don’t want to speak about that issue. Ayoko na to make any comments kasi I really hope na si JM na lang yung sumagot niyan. Nasasayangan ako. kasi magaling talaga siyang artista. Pero siya na kasi yun eh. Hindi ko na hawak yun so desisyon niya yun. siguro nasa kanya nya un. Babangon siya. Kailangan niya ibangon ang sarili niya. Nung time na nandun ako para sa kanya, hindi yun nangyayari. So I could say that on my part I really did my best. Wala akong guilt. Wala akong pagsisisi kasi binigay ko talaga lahat nung time na yun. Nakikita niyo naman yung pinagtakpan ko talaga yung nararamdaman ko kahit magmukha na akong masama basta’t maging okay lang siya, ginawa ko,” she says.</div><div> </div><div>Jessy adds that she and JM had a very civil break-up. “Mas pinili ko talagang alagaan yung sarili ko. Kaming dalawa nag-usap at tinanggap naman niya. Nagulat na lang ako nung may lumalabas na mga hindi siya okay, may problema siya sa trabaho kasi nung pag-uusap namin okay naman. Mas minahal ko yung sarili ko na lang muna. Kasi mahirap din yung hindi kayo nagtitira ng konting pagmamahal sa sarili mo,” she says. The Maria Mercedes star says she has accepted everything that has happened between her and JM and is ready to move on. “What’s love without tragedy? I mean, everything happens for a reason and whether it’s bad or good, it’s still love.' </div>

The Maria Mercedes star finally admits she had a two-year relationship with the actor.

Jessy Mendiola on JM De Guzman, “Nagmahal din ako, hindi lang siya” | PUSH.COM.PH