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How her parents’ separation shaped Janine Gutierrez’s views about love

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Liezel dela Cruz

Janine Gutierrez bares the realities of stepping out of her family’s shadows and how her parents’ very public and traumatic separation affected her growing up. Plus, what makes <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/dirtylinen">“Dirty Linen”</a> a progressive teleserye. Being the child of a famous ‘80s loveteam Lotlot de Leon and Monching Gutierrez, and the granddaughter of the “Superstar” Nora Aunor and “Asia’s Queen of Songs” Pilita Corrales was both a blessing and a test for Janine.It was in second grade when she realized that she has two showbiz icons as grandmas after seeing their photos in her Sibika at Kultura textbook. Admittedly, she didn’t have to work hard to get into showbiz. Her famous lineage automatically opened the doors for her.“Hindi tinatanong kung gusto mo ba. Ang tanong is kailan. Kasi expected na. So, talagang may advantage,” she confessed in an interview with broadcaster Karen Davila. But that doesn’t make her immune to the pressure. In fact, it raises the challenge to prove herself worthy of her spot.People might think it was all glamor and good times growing up with popular parents. But in reality, it has cons, especially when the family goes through problems such as her parents’ separation. It was a traumatic time for then-12-year-old Janine.“Hindi lang naging madali na alam ng lahat ng tao. Madami akong nakita na mga bali-balita na hindi naman totoo. There was a time na my mom and lola wouldn’t be okay during nu’ng hiwalayan. May panahon na meron na lang TV van sa labas ng bahay hoping to get an interview sa parents ko,” she recalled, adding that her teachers would write inspirational quotes underneath her test papers or come up to her to somehow provide comfort.Asked what caused the breakup, Janine chalked it up to growing up and growing apart. “They got married so young. So, it happens, I guess.” This is the exact reason why she doesn’t want to settle down too young. “Sinabi po ng Nanay ko sa akin na huwag magmadali. Take your time. Una sa lahat, tapusin ang pag-aaral.”The kids had to split up as well. Janine and the brood’s only boy, Diego, lived with Monching. While this deepened her closeness with her dad, on the other hand, it caused friction in her relationship with her mom. They had a love-hate relationship up until Lotlot became her manager. The troubled relationship and other factors in her job caused Janine too much stress which led to alopecia. She went to therapy and after just one session, Janine managed to improve her relationship with Lotlot. “I was young and I didn’t understand. But now we’re good.”Admittedly, she once felt responsible for her mom’s career slowing down. “I know that her career kind of ended when she had me. So meron akong, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I always felt like a little bit guilty.” She related in heartfelt detail the moment she asked if her mom regretted getting pregnant with her. Lotlot, as Janine recalled, replied, “No, anak. I always wanted to have you.”She clarified that it wasn’t only her relationship with her mom that she needed to heal from. There was also pressure related to her career, “It was also about work. I wanted to do other things that I wasn’t able to.”It took a while for Janine to figure out which path she wanted to pursue. Besides, having a star-studded family isn’t a guarantee to getting projects. “When I was starting talaga, there were years na wala akong trabaho, wala akong teleserye. Hindi ko din alam ‘yung gagawin. May time na naisip ko baka nagkamali ako na nag-artista ako,” she said, adding that she initially dreamed of becoming a diplomat or an ambassador, specifically in Spain because of her Mamita Pilita’s lineage. It&#x27;s still possible since she has a degree in European Studies in International Business, which she finished at the Ateneo de Manila University.Janine brings to mind her earliest heartbreaks as an actress like the time she was so close to getting her first lead role but only to lose it to another actress. “Masakit talaga.” These setbacks presented her with a lesson about perfect timing and trusting God’s plans, “In small moments na parang I’ve always wanted something tapos hindi ko siya makukuha, pero a year later, or two years later, parang babalik siya in another form.”As she grows in the industry, Janine has come to see acting in a different light. Her motivations have become clearer, which is to make good projects, especially those that will rouse a strong impact on the viewers. “’Yun na rin siguro ‘yung paraan ko para hindi ma-pressure sa status ng mga Lola ko kasi there’s no way. You will never be another Nora Aunor, ‘di ba?”Her current series<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/dirtylinen"> “Dirty Linen” </a>certainly fits her criteria, with its progressive and bold storyline, “Parang mas naa-attract ako ‘pag merong paniniwala o may sinasabi itong script na ito na ‘yun din ang paniniwala ko.” She’s talking about the show’s theme about injustice, “Na ‘yung mga makapangyarihan palaging nkakalusot samantalang ‘yung mga mahihirap, hirap na hirap makamit ‘yung hustisya.”“Sobrang happy ako na ganu’n ‘yung tema namin. Ang tapang ng show. May mga eksena na parang nagtataka kami, ‘Pwede ba ‘tong ipalabas sa TV?’ Pero pwede daw. We’ll push the envelope. Kasi if not now, when?” Janine smiled, adding that this is a chance for the industry to keep up with Korean and Hollywood production levels.<div> </div><div>Rediscovering Love </div>With a bashful smile, Janine admitted that Paulo Avelino is special and that she is hopeful about where their special friendship is going. The two keep mum about their real score, keeping things as private as possible, which she knows might be disappointing to their fervid shippers. “Pasensiya na kayo,” she pleasantly addressed their fans eagerly waiting for conformation.At the moment, all she can say is, “I guess hindi ka na rin naman mag-i-invest ng oras sa isang bagay na wala lang.”“I think we’re happy,” she further hinted, keeping in mind her greatest takeaway from her parents’ separation: Don’t rush into love. “Lumaki kasi ako na nakita ko ‘yung breakup ng parents ko plastered on the news. Everybody said things about it. So, sana maintindihan na lang nila kung bakit ako ganito.”Maybe fans can make do with her confession that she liked Paulo the first time they met five years ago. But then they lost touch and just reunited for the filming of their movie “Ngayon Kaya.” Life imitates art, as romantics say.

Janine Gutierrez bares the realities of stepping out of her family’s shadows, plus rediscovering love and starring in “Dirty Linen.” 