MANILA, Philippines – Jessy Mendiola said that as much as possible, she would rather not talk about ex-boyfriend JM de Guzman. 

“Huwag na lang natin pag-usapan kasi nanahimik na siya. Kumbaga huwag na, sasabihin na naman akong user… may magba-bash na naman,” Jessy told reporters after the press conference for the finale of You’re My Home on Monday, March 14.

(I would rather not talk about him because he’s already quiet about it. In other words, people again will say I’m a user, they’ll bash me again for mentioning his name.)

“But he has been always part of my life and he’s very dear and close to me. So I hope huwag na lang i-touch,” she said.

Jessy said that for now, falling in love is the least of her priorities.

“Wala pa sa isip ko ang love life. Self muna at work. Kasi parang ang dami kong na discover sa sarili ko ngayon, like akalain mo mapapamahal ako sa scuba diving or kaya ang hilig-hilig ko sa dagat?

(My love life is not really top of mind for now. Myself first, work first. Because I continue to discover so much about myself now – like who would have thought I would fall in love with scuba diving, or that I love the sea?)

“When you come from that point in your life, na sobrang low mo, biglang dadating yung ma-appreciate mo yung paunting-unti ka nakakabangon ulit mag-isa, kasi nahahanap mo uli ang sarili mo. And I could say right now, I know myself more than ever,” she said.

(When you come from that point in your life, where you feel so low, it will come, you’ll appreciate recovering little by little by yourself, because you’re rediscovering yourself again.)

In November, Jessy confirmed that she and JM broke up again, months after they got back together. At that time, Jessy said she and JM decided to part ways because they wanted to focus on their careers. (READ: Jessy Mendiola on moving on after airplane incident, forgiving detractors)

But after confirming their breakup, it was reported JM was going through various personal issues again. In September, he challenged Enrique Gil to a fight after the plane incident that involved Jessy, where she was said to have been harassed by an intoxicated Enrique. JM was dropped from the movie Walang Forever, which he was suppose to star in with Jennylyn Mercado, and stopped appearing in the show All of Me. (READ:‘Tandem’ stars, director on JM de Guzman)

In November, JM issued an apology on Instagram, telling fans not to blame Jessy and the All of Me staff for his behavior.

‘You’re My Home’ and working with JC de Vera

After the controversy she faced last year, Jessy said that she was grateful to have You’re My Home as an outlet. In the show, she plays Grace Fontanilla, the eldest child of Gabriel and Marian Fontanilla, played by Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. 

“Malaking tulong ang soap na ito. Kasi after nung mga pinagdaanan ko late last year, binuhos ko lahat ng emotion ko at saka isip ko sa trabaho,” Jessy said during the press conference. 

(The soap really helped. Because after what I’ve been through late last year, I really poured all my emotions and thought into work.)

“So I guess kaya yung mga tao pag napapanood nila yung mga eksena ko with sila Ms. Dawn or kaya si JC [de Vera], nararamdaman nila na ah talagang tagos… syempre hugot.”

(So I guess when the viewers see the scenes with Ms. Dawn or with JC, they really feel it…that it’s coming from somewhere.)

Jessy said: “Masaya po ako ngayon (I’m really happy) in totality of my whole life, I am happy right now in terms of myself and career.”

As for her tandem with JC, Jessy said that both of them did not expect the warm reception they received, since their characters Christian and Grace became closer as the show neared the finale. They even have fan clubs online.

“Yung sa amin ni JC na it was warm yung pagtanggap ng mga fans, ng mga manonood, mas ginaganahan ako magtrabaho, mag post [sa Instagram] kasi nakakatuwa magpakilig. Nakakatuwa makita yung mga tao na nag-eenjoy sila panoorin yung pinaghirapan nyo,” Jessy said. 

(The thing with me and JC, the fans accepted us very warmly, and I was inspired to continue to work, to post [on Instagram] because it’s nice to make them feel giddy about the characters. It’s just so nice to see people enjoying what you’ve worked hard for.)

Jessy also clarfied that despite being close to each other, she and JC are not together. But they do support each other outside of their work in the show, with Jessy agreeing to appear in JC’s upcoming music video for his album. The two also appear together on Banana Sundae.

Although she has been paired up with many leading men in her past shows, Jessy said she feels very happy and comfortable with JC. 

Jessy on her closeness with JC pic.twitter.com/uPnUttJJNK

— alexa villano (@alexavillano) March 14, 2016

“Never ako nagkaroon ng partner na sobrang comfortable ako and I’m really happy that si JC, ganoon din s’ya sa akin. And I think that’s what it makes it better, yung comfortable sa isa’t isa yung parang trabaho lang, friends, kalma lang,” she said.  

“I’ve never had a partner that I’m as comfortable with and I’m really glad that JC also feels the same way with me. And I think that’s what make it better, that you’re comfortable with each other, and that it’s like – work only, friends, stay calm.)

It was also announced at the press conference by Star Cinema’s Mico del Rosario that the unit is now coming up with a possible project for the two. – Rappler.com