Jessy Mendiola on Luis Manzano’s toughest year: ‘I know when he’s hurt’

As Jessy Mendiola resumes her acting career with ‘The Sins of the Father,’ she shares her insights about the political setback that both tested and strengthened their 10-year relationship.

Luis Manzano didn’t just find a wife in Jessy Mendiola, but a partner who held his hand through the difficult year he faced after losing the vice-gubernatorial race in Batangas last May.

During a recent media thanksgiving hosted by the couple, Jessy opened up about the emotional toll the political defeat took on her husband.

“We went through a lot this year, and I saw how much Luis needed support. Luis is very quiet when he’s going through something, and that’s what I learned about him. With just one look, even when he’s not doing or saying anything, I already know,” the actress said.

The Batangas election loss and its aftermath

Luis lost the vice-gubernatorial race to then Batangas governor Dodo Mandanas, despite being a household name in Philippine television and running on the same ticket as his mother, cinema-icon-turned-politician Vilma Santos.

He admitted he felt lost after the elections and that several brands he endorsed began distancing themselves from him.

“During that time, I gave all my energy just to be there for him. Luis is the type who doesn’t say anything when he’s hurt. He’ll still smile and make others happy even when he’s not okay. So I always tell him, ‘When you’re hurt, I know it. It’s okay to say it, even just to me.’ I think that’s what he learned from me—that he can be vulnerable,” Jessy said.

Support System: The Manzano Family

Jessy added that she also had a strong support system during this time—from her friends, family, and mother-in-law. “Whenever she sits next to me, she asks for updates: ‘How are you? How’s my son?’ That’s how Momski and I are. We always update each other. Even if we haven’t seen each other in a long time, she calls me,” Jessy told reporters. “When I’m sick or going through something, she always checks on me. She treats me like her own child. She’s basically my mother, too.”

Showbiz comeback in ‘The Sins of the Father’

Jessy said she likewise felt supported by her husband of 10 years, especially during her comeback to show business through “The Sins of the Father.” Luis, she said, was one of her biggest cheerleaders in returning to acting.

“I would always tell him what happened on set—the scenes, the drama, the fights—and he would listen enthusiastically,” Jessy said.

 

 

Luis is very quiet when he’s going through something… With just one look, even when he’s not saying anything, I already know.

Jessy Mendiola

 

 

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