‘I Don’t Want My Children To Live A Sad Life’ Jennica Garcia Recalls How She Became A Solo Parent

Dirty Linen actress and mom of two girls Jennica Garcia opened up about the time she became a solo parent, saying it’s natural to become depressed but a parent needs to move forward for the sake of the kids. 

“Noong naging single parent ako, ramdam na ramdam ko na pasan ko ‘yung dalawang anak ko. Yes, I can be depressed. Yes, pwede akong umiyak. Pero hindi pwedeng matagal, she says to Kapamilya Chat. 

Jennica Garcia and Alwyn Uytingco were married in 2014 and have two daughters together, Athena Mori and Alexis Severina. Despite feelings of defeat when her marriage ended, Jennica knew she could not remain in those feelings. 

“I-a-accept mo na may pangarap kang hindi natupad… pero pakiramdam ko kasi sa sarili ko, ‘pag tinuloy ko kung ano ‘yung relasyon na natapos, alam ko hindi ako magiging masaya.  

Jennica adds, “At ‘pag hindi ako masaya, magra-radiate ‘yan toward my children, and I don’t want my children to live a sad life. 

No longer a wife, but still a mother 

Her thoughts remind all parents that we set the tone in our homes. After accepting that her dreams of becoming a wife has ended, she decided that her role as a mother doesn’t need to follow suit. 

“So, pagkatapos kong mag-emote emote, pagkatapos ko namnamin ‘yung pagkatalo ko sa larangan ng pangarap ko na maging asawa, may isa akong gising na sinabi ko sa sarili ko na okay lang. Hindi man ako nasa posisyon na gusto ko ngayon, pero pipilitin ko at sisikapin ko maging isang mabuting ina, she said. 

This new drive is what led her to seek out work and how she landed her role of Lala Millado in ABS-CBN's Dirty Linen. 

RELATED: Jennica Garcia Admits Asking For Work "Kasi Dalawa Yung Anak Ko", Considered Being OFW

Mommy Jean helps Jennica 

Jennica reveals in the same interview that her dance scene which trended on Twitter and surprised many viewers was done with the help of her mom, Jean Garcia. 

“’Yung dance, doon namin pinraktis sa bahay ni Mama… Umalis na ‘yung choreographer, tapos si Mama meron siyang, ‘Patingin ng dance.’ Pinanood pa ako ni Mama. Sobrang supportive, she said. 

Jean then helped Jennica improve her dance, instructing her how to make it look more seductive on camera.

“Ginawa ko ‘yung dance, and then Mama would, ‘Anak hindi ganyan. Anak, ganito. Anak, hawak sa katawan, kulang sa hawak.’” 

RELATED: Kwento Ng Panganay Ni Angel Aquino: 'We Never Felt Her Absence' Bilang Single Working Mom

It was a nerve-wracking experience for Jennica, even more than when she had to dance on set because Jean is a dancer. “Dancer kasi talaga si Mama… Mama is a very graceful dancer. So, when she told me to dance in front of her, parang mas kinabahan pa ako nu’ng nasa harap ko si Mama kesa nu’ng nandu’n na ako sa set. 

She adds, “Kasi siyempre mommy ko ‘yun. Iko-correct niya ako ‘pag may mali. Important pala ‘yung pag-point ng toes, galaw ng ulo, ganyan, she said. 

“So, thank you, Jean Garcia. Maraming salamat nag-trend po tayo Madam Jean sa 45 seconds.” 

Read more about being an empowered solo parent in this story.