AT one point, actress Jennica Garcia seriously considered looking for greener pastures abroad to make a living for her family. But it only took a Viber message, and some help from her actress mom, to cut short her long showbiz drought and bring her back to the acting scene. 

Garcia is now part of the upcoming Kapamilya series “Dirty Linen,” her first series with the Kapamilya network. 

During the press conference for the program, the actress openly talked about her struggle to return to the industry after a seven-year hiatus. 

Project drought

“Bale seven years po akong nag-artista. Seven years din po akong tumigil. Pagbalik ko po nakagawa ako ng isang proyekto tapos wala na pong sumunod and it was almost six months of no work,” she said. 

And so with no clear future ahead, she thought of trying out a different life. 

“Iniisip ko na rin po nu’n na okay lang kapag hindi ako mabigyan. Mag-o-OFW na lang po ako. Ito lang ang alam ko na trabaho e, ang pag-aartista. Ang isa ko na lang pong naiisip ay mag-ibang bansa,” she said. 

She has two daughters with husband Alwyn Uytingco.

Mom to the rescue

But her pedigree helped her revive her career. Her mom, award-winning actress Jean Garcia, had offered to make a way for her to work in ABS-CBN if she was willing to transfer to the network. 

Garcia started her career in GMA and had been its longtime talent.

“Wala po akong kilala sa ABS. Hindi ko po makalimutan ‘yung sinabi sa akin ni mama dati, matagal na ‘yun. Sabi niya, ‘Anak, just in case na maisip mo na gusto mo with ABS-CBN, gusto ko alam mo na Sir Deo is a very trusted friend of mine. You can go to him,’ she recalled.

Recalling her mom’s advice, she mustered up the courage to send a Viber message to Dreamscape Entertainment’s Deo Endrenal and ask for a project. She did not shy away from revealing that unlike other stars, she was not exactly handpicked for the part.

“Nu’ng time po na ‘yun naisip ko, sige ito na, kakapalan ko na ‘yung mukha ko. Alam ko na they didn’t think of me when our writers were making Lala into the character that she is today,” she said. 

She said she did her best so that she could prove that she was right for the part.

“Ang goal ko ang maiisip ng mga boss ko, ‘tama, dapat siya nga si Lala,’” she added. 

Headlined by Janine Gutierrez and Zanjoe Marudo, “Dirty Linen” will premiere on January 23. 

Image: Jannica Garcia via @jennicagarciaph Instagram