Jennylyn Mercado has a different glow about her these days, a glow that radiates from beneath her apparent beauty.

The actress-singer signed a contract with record label PolyEast Records yesterday afternoon, February 15, at Universal Tower along Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Jennylyn is pleased about starting work on her album under the recording company. She is supposed to produce one album this year.

"Kasi yung past album na ginawa ko, puro lahat ballad... almost lahat pare-pareho ng genre.

"So dito, parang mas challenging and mas exciting kasi iba yung concept, 'tapos iba yung attack nila," relays Jennelyn, whose previous three-year contract with Viva Records ended in 2011.

Jennylyn places her faith in this new company, trusting that her singing career will see the same fate as RnB princess Kyla, a successful talent of PolyEast.

"Yung mga people under this recording company, like sila Kyla... napapaganda talaga nila.

"So, ang dami nilang mga talent, mga artist na talagang very successful, like Zia [Quizon]... Sobrang fan na niya ako!"

While her album is still being conceptualized, Jennylyn mentions that she will sing upbeat singles.

"Gusto talaga nila ngayon na different Jennylyn. Gusto nila kumanta ako ng fast [songs]."

She adds that at least one revival will appear in her album.

JIU-JITSU AND UNDERWATER VENTURES. On top of  all her expected projects this year— coming out with an album, working on a teleserye, and shooting movies for GMA Films and Regal Films— Jennylyn is determined to become better at Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu.

Under the tutelage of mixed martial artist Alvin Aguilar, the actress-singer attends two sessions a week.

Jennylyn relays that her training, apart from its fitness benefits, has taught her the value of self-defense.

"Sa 'kin, that's very important, lalo na sa mga kababaihan ngayon. Sa generation ngayon, ang dami-daming mga nangyayari.