By Robbie Pangilinan
Wholesome. Talented. Beautiful. Intelligent. The fast-rising teen star seems to already have it all, but she is just at the beginning of her way toward her dreams.
Janeena Chan, who is only 17, is the pretty chinita who played a mean girl in the recent revival of the popular ‘90s teen show Gimik. But this was not her first TV appearance. Janeena, at 11 years old, joined RPN Newswatch’s Search for Junior Journalists and was chosen to host the telemagazine show Kid’s TV. At this young age, she learned to do the routines of a real journalist—looking for interviewees, conducting interviews, writing scripts, directing, editing, among others. Her hard work paid off when she was awarded Best Kiddie Show Host in the 23rd Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for TV. She was then given her very own youth-oriented segment in Newswatch titled Teen Watch. Janeena features the latest trends, events, fashion, places, and personalities.
Flexibility is something she learned best from being a junior reporter. She recalls those times when she spontaneously needed to think of questions to strike a conversation with her subject or when she suddenly meets important personalities after she finished writing the script.
“It’s important to be able to think fast and adjust to the situation presented. Since I write my own script, research is very important and I really need to know about the features well before going to my shoots,” Janeena shares.
Being a teen reporter also enabled her to meet people from all walks of life—from the people ho live on the streets to the richest elites. She always learns something from her subjects and even made friends with many of them.
Looking back, Janeena started even earlier. She was a Disney Singing Princess for SM Supermalls when she was 7 years old and started modelling for brands and products like Barbie, Kids of Bayo, Bratz dolls and My Scene dolls at age 9. She also modelled for teen magazines like Candy, Seventeen, Pink, Total Girl and Meg, and family-oriented ones like Good Housekeeping and Smart Parenting. Janeena is also DEI and Natasha’s endorser. She was a finalist in the Total Girl model search at 12 years old and the Candy Model search at 14.
From modelling, Janeena has learned to be sincere with the people she works with. She has likewise stayed humble, cooperative and has kept her feet grounded.
The only teen reporter in the Philippines is also a voice talent for radio and TV commercials such as Skin White, Smart and Maxipeel and a host for various events like Guess mall shows and SM Science Discovery Center. Magic 89.9 listeners know her as JJ (Junior Jock) Neena. She also cosplayed a character in Animax’s “K-ON” anime. Because of her skills in gymnastics, Janeena was cast as cheerleader in Disney’s “High School Musical Onstage” at the Meralco Theater.
During the first ever Camp Nivea at the Peninsula de Punta Fuego in Batangas, Janeena was hailed the Most Fashionable female. She was also awarded the Runner of the Day at the Star Magic Run where 150 Star Magic artists and 400 other participants gathered to advocate youth power in the May 2010 elections.
Janeena likes to further her skills and career in hosting, singing and modelling. She dreams to host a travel show like Samantha Brown because she truly enjoyed doing travel segments during her Kids TV time and for Teen Watch. She would also like to spend more time as a junior jock and says, “My mentors in magic 89.9 are very nice people to work with and since I love music, maybe I can also be a VJ someday.”
Behind the spotlight, Neena is basically a cheerful person who hates emotional baggages. “It’s draining and it cuts down productive time,” she says. Being the youngest in the family, she is malambing by nature and “I get my way done through lambing,” she laughs.
The happy and simple girl always thinks that “it’s cool to be cool,” and avoids heavy dramas. She always kids around her yaya cum personal assistant and her driver. When in school, she strikes conversation with the school helpers and guards.
“I’m happy to be in touch with everyone. They love me and I love them, too,” the teen actress shares.
Graduating this school year from an international school, Janeena is a consistent honor student but would like to have more medals to her name. Despite her busy schedule, Neena stays focused on her school performance, knowing well that it is important to finish a college degree in a good university. In this business, she says, it’s an effort to finish college and have a back up plan.
Of course, Janeena needs to be healthy and fit to be able to face all her hectic schedule. She is into gymnastics and joins competitions with Club Gymnastica. She visits the gym when time permits, eats healthy food and sleeps on time—things that teenagers find difficult to do. For Neena, being healthy means embracing a lifestyle without vice and being beautiful means staying happy, positive and stress-free.
She thinks that her eyes are the most beautiful parts of her face and her behind as the sexiest part of her body. She also wishes she had a thinner pair of legs. “Probably, there is no way to make it thinner but through exercise which at the moment, I have to find time for,” Neena says.
The young reporter/model/actress likes to play different hats but knows that she would have to choose her path in the near future. But, right now, she is just trying to balance everything in the best way she can. Her weapons are prayers, having no grudges, and forgiveness. She avoids severing ties as much as possible, and stays positive that everything will work out for the best. She tries to always talk sense everytime she opens her mouth, knowing too well that she serves as an inspiration to her fellow youth.
With her intelligence, determination and positive outlook in life, Janeena Chan’s dreams are just within her reach. #
