After tying the knot with actor Renz Fernandez and welcoming their first child last year, Jef Gaitan admits there’s been a lot of big changes in her life. Jef returns to showbiz this year as part of the cast of Pocket Media Films’ newest love story offering Meg & Ryan which stars JC Santos and Rhian Ramos. Jef admits the film was actually shot before she gave birth to her first child Rodolfo Victor in September last year.
“We did this film before pa ako kinasal at nanganak. This is a good film and I enjoyed it. It’s a different Rhian, it’s a different JC. So sobrang fun nitong palabas na ito. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!” she shared during the Meg & Ryan grand media conference held last July 9, in Quezon City.
Image Credit: jefgaitan IG
During the presscon, Jef was asked by the press if she has gotten any acting tips from her mother-in-law Lorna Tolentino, who is part of an elite list of grand slam actresses in the country, along with Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, and Elizabeth Oropesa. Jed married Renz, Lorna’s youngest son with the late actor Rudy Fernandez, on June 2024 at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan. The 35-year-old actress says she has not gotten the chance to ask LT (as she is fondly called in showbiz) directly about how to improve her craft.
“Hindi pa ako nagtatanong kay Mama about dun kasi nung dumating ako sa family, hindi ako nag-wo-work nung una kasi I was pregnant ‘di ba? Pero may mga times na pinag-uusapan namin ‘yung character that she plays. Tapos ‘yung mga insight niya about it. May one time pinag-usapan namin ‘yung sa Espantaho at nag-share siya nung tingin niya na dapat na atake niya or ‘yung pagkakaintindi niya sa script. Dun ako nagtatanong kung ano ba ‘yung dapat na ginawa na ganyan. So I’m learning from her habang nagkukuwento siya dun sa roles niya,” Jef shared.
READ: IN PHOTOS: Renz Fernandez with his lovely wife Jef Gaitan
READ: Jef Gaitan on playing Jodi Sta. Maria’s assistant Bani in The Broken Marriage Vow
Although she and Renz have a long dating history together, Jef revealed to PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview that his mother was actually one of the biggest reasons why she had reservations about getting into a relationship with him at the start. But she eventually changed her mind once they started getting serious.
“You know, hindi siya ‘yung in-expect ko kasi akala ko LT is mataray, LT is masungit. May mga times nga noon na before, before pa na nililigawan na ako ni Renz, ayoko talaga because of LT. Kasi siyempre sabi ko parang ano, parang ang bigat,” she admitted. “Yun ‘yung expectation ko and then I met her.”
Her perception of Lorna quickly changed the first moment that Jef actually met Lorna in person.
“‘The very first time I met her, she hugged me agad. And then the rest, nung dumating ako sa family nila, I never felt like an outsider. Parang in-embrace niya agad ako as Renz’s wife, in-embrace niya agad ako as part of the family. And she treats us all like her children,” Jef shared.
“So it’s totally different dun sa LT na nakikita natin onscreen, ‘yung mga roles na headstrong,“ Jef revealed of the seasoned actress. “She is a strong person but she’s really cool. She’s a cool mother-in-law. She’s a cool person. She’s funny, lalo na yung mga hirit niya. And she’s full of wisdom.”
Image Credit: jefgaitan IG
Last May, Jef even dedicated a post to her mother-in-law LT as they celebrated their very first Mother’s Day together as family members.
Jef wrote, “Today, I honor you, Mama. I’ve never met anyone as thoughtful, generous, and selfless as you. I always tell Renz that when it comes to having a heart full of kindness and generosity, I look up to you. You embraced me as your own, and even in moments when I’ve felt unsure or unworthy, you have loved all of us equally and wholeheartedly. You have always been there, not just for us, but for anyone fortunate enough to be in your life. Whether family, friend, or someone you worked with or works for you, you welcome people with open arms and care for them as if they were your own. Your love is genuine, someone who gives so freely and loves so deeply. Thank you. To the world, you may be LT. But to me, you are Mama. Thank you for guiding us, protecting us and caring for us. Happy Mama’s Day!”