There's no doubt that Jennica Garcia is at the peak of her showbiz career right now. Coming from a very successful teleserye, she has an upcoming movie, a new TV show, and several endorsements.
Despite being a single mom raising her two daughters, Mori and Alessi, she has been blessed enough that she was able to share a part of her earnings with her mom, veteran actress Jean Garcia.
"Always remember, my wins are your wins," Jennica told her mom in their interview with Karen Davila.
Jennica growing up without Jean
Their relationship as mom and daughter has been the talk of the town, with Jean having to leave her daughter in the Philippines for more than two years to work in Japan. There, she had a partner and they had a son, Kotaro.
Nevertheless, Jennica, who turned out to be a kind, humble, and genuine woman, revealed her perspective as a child for the first time.
"After everything that happened in my life, sobrang masaya lang ako na hindi ko hinayaan na lumabas sa bibig ko growing up kay mama na bakit wala ka. Kasi I often get asked kung nagtampo ka ba sa mama mo or sa papa mo kasi nagkahiwalay sila, di mo sila kasama. Hindi kasi ako mareklamo, may longing akong na-fi-feel pero hindi na para sabihin pa sa kanya," she said.
Whenever her mom would go back home, the young Jennica would make sure that she would feel loved and appreciated, "Buti nalang kasi nung naging single mom na ako, 'yung greatest fear ko is maparamdam sa mga anak ko na andito ako, iisa kami ng bahay, pero wala ako."
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Jean admits her shortcomings as a single mother, but she said she has always put her children first, and she treated them with respect.
"'Yung pinakaswerte ko sa buhay, hindi sila [mga anak] mareklamo," she told Karen. "Kaming mag-ina, ang respeto namin, maski nung lumalaki siya, at ngayon na marami na siyang pinagdaanan din, may dalawa na siyang anak, kung hindi siya mag-o-open up sa akin, kahit na may inkling ako, hindi manggagaling sa akin na, "Oh, balita ko.." Hinihintay ko palagi, respeto 'yun, na siya yung mag-o-open up. 'Yung ready siya."
Jennica said her mom has been a very good provider to her that when she became a single mom herself, she realized how unconditional her mom's love is.
"Alam kong marami akong pagkukulang sa kanya pero pinupunuan niya yung pagkukulang na yun kasi hindi siya nagsasalita against me." —Jean Garcia
"Kaya rin po ako di ganun ka-vocal kasi alam kong sobrang love ako ng mama ko. Walang hindi gagawin para sa akin yung mama ko. Hindi niya paparamdam sakin na kailangan ko mag-adjust," she explained.
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Jennica speaks up about Jean and "air-con" issue
That's why Jennica easily sided with her mom when the public asked why Jean won't simply buy them an air-conditioning unit when Jennica revealed that they needed one in their home.
"My confidence came from how I saw my mom, na parang she was able to handle it well, and if my mom was able to do it, I'll be able to do it too." —Jennica Garcia
She said Jean didn't know that they didn't have an air-con at home as they were the ones who would visit their mom in her home. "Yung reason ba't di ko sinabi kay mama, kasi alam ko ibibigay niya. At di naman niya kailangang ibigay kasi kung wala naman kami, 'di naman po namin ikamamatay."
She said in jest, "Pag single mom ka kasi yun ang batayan eh, ikamamatay ba namin to? 'Di naman."
Jennica looks up to her mom now more than ever
"I think a lot of the big decisions I made in my life, my confidence came from how I saw my mom, na parang she was able to handle it well, and if my mom was able to do it, I'll be able to do it too," Jennica stressed.
Jean, meanwhile, got emotional when she said, "Alam kong marami akong pagkukulang sa kanya pero pinupunuan niya yung pagkukulang na yun kasi hindi siya nagsasalita against me."
"Kahit anong dumating sa buhay ko mula noon hanggang ngayon, kumpleto pa rin ako kasi andyan yung mga anak ko." —Jean Garcia
When Karen asked what drove Jennica to understand her situation as a child, it's because of her love for her parents, "Hindi ko alam, basta ang alam ko lang po, mahal ko po yung mama ko, mahal ko yung papa ko. Hindi ko man po nakuha yung childhood na nakuha ng iba, ang sa akin lang po, ayoko lang po silang mas mahirapan pa, pakiramdam ko kung dadagdag pa po ako sobrang kawawa naman po yung magulang ko."
She said Jennica has been like that growing up, "Isa pang pinagpapasalamat ko, diba usually yung mas matanda siya yung mag-aadjust, si Jennica siya yung mag-aadjust para sa lahat, para sa pamilya."
Jean is grateful, "Kahit anong dumating sa buhay ko mula noon hanggang ngayon, kumpleto pa rin ako kasi andyan yung mga anak ko."
Jean on Jennica's separation: 'Nandito ako'
Jennica and her husband Alwyn Uytingco got married in 2014 and parted ways in 2020, and Jean's stand is that she respects whatever Jennica's decision would be. "Sinabihan ko din siya na hindi naman por que magdecide kayo maghiwalay o hindi, sabi ko, tuloy naman ang buhay mo eh at tsaka nandito ako."
Jennica was firm that she's no longer trying to get back with Alwyn because she already gave her all when they tried to patch things up for one year.
"Okay na po ako kahit wala nang dumating, 'wag lang po ako masasaktan ng ganun po ulit." —Jennica Garcia
"Gusto ko din naman ibigay din po kay Alwyn na nung bumalik siya na okay naman, kumbaga nakita ko naman din yung willingness niya."
She added, "Sa totoo po parang ako na yung problema after ng one year, parang, we don't fight, kasi ayoko ng conflict, pero hindi ko po napansin na sa one year pala na yun, parang nagmomove on na pala ako ng di ko alam."
"Ang problema, alam ko pag tinuloy ko pa, hindi ko makikitang enough yung sarili ko, matatakot akong tumanda, mga ganun yung nararamdaman ko na."
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Jennica bares fear raising her daughters without a dad
Jennica then revealed what's her greatest fear for her kids.
"Isa po kasi na nakita kong effect sakin na lumaki po ako na wala yung papa ko 'yung parang kapag ka may lalaki na nagsabi sa akin na mahal niya ako, di niya ako iiwan, naniniwala po ako kaagad."
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She added, "Ang pinaka kinakatakot ko lang po, 'yung baka dahil hindi lumaki 'yung mga anak ko na kasama nila yung tatay nila, baka po pag may nagsabi sa kanila ng ganun din, maniwala po sila kaagad."
Jennica expressed that she is no longer looking for a new partner because of what she experienced, "Sa naranasan ko kasi okay na po ako kahit wala nang dumating, 'wag lang po ako masasaktan ng ganun po ulit."
Her only dream, she says, is to be able to be like a good provider like her mom. "Kung meron man po akong pangarap ngayon, 'yung mabuhay ko po yung mga anak ko na masaya po sila, mabigay ko po yung pangangailangan nila, and higit sa lahat, makahanap po sila ng asawa sa future na hindi po sila iiwanan."
Jean and Jennica have 'no regrets' in having kids
Despite not having partners in raising their kids, Jean and Jennica are happy with where they are right now.
Jennica also attributes her success in life to her kids, and "Ang nagturo po sa akin na magkaroon ng lakas ng loob, lumaban sa buhay, yung dalawang anak ko din po talaga. Kung wala din po talaga sila, wala po siguro po akong goal na na-achieve."
She tells Jean, "Mama, I'm really doing good with work right now. Ito para sa akin yung pinaka-peak ko and everytime na nakikita ko yun, hindi pumapasok sa isip ko na, 'Oh my gosh, sikat na ako!' Ang unang pumapasok sa isip ko, 'Oh my gosh, kaya naman pala kitang i-support for a change. Oh my gosh, magiging okay kami ng mga anak ko. I'm so happy."
Jean, on the other hand, reminds Jennica to keep believing in herself, and confesses, "She's a better actress than me, guys. Ganun ako ka-proud sa kanya."
She concluded, "Walang ibang mas magiging magaling sa akin kung hindi ang mga anak ko."
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