You might despise Lena, the mistress in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” but in real life, Mercedes Cabral is a woman of great heart and intelligence. Did you know she has a knack for visual arts? Before her acting career took off, she was an artist, and painting remains her first love.

Catch this episode of Kapamilya Chat where Mercedes delves into her creative passion and explains the inspiration behind her art.

Having studied Fine Arts at UP Diliman, Mercedes developed a strong affinity for surrealism and figures, often focusing on conceptual and abstract representations of the female form. Her unique style was showcased in a recent group exhibit themed ‘Women in the Bible,’ where she chose to depict Salome.

This year, Mercedes is committed to expanding her artistic horizons by taking on more painting projects and participating in group exhibits. While her acting schedule keeps her busy, she also indulges in digital art as a creative outlet.

One of her earliest artistic ventures was working with Alfred Galvez and his team, creating murals in the homes of wealthy clients. That was her first job as an artist.

Her foray into modeling happened quite by accident when she ended up showcasing Alfred’s ‘naked art.’ “Covered ‘yung buong katawan ng paint or art tapos maglalakad sa runway,” she described the experience. “May time na hindi nakapunta ‘yung model so ako ‘yung magprisinta tapos doon ako nag-start mag-model sa kanya.”

Through her modeling gigs for Alfred’s art, Mercedes caught the eye of a talent manager who introduced her to the world of professional modeling. Eventually, her talent manager encouraged her to try an acting workshop, and that’s where she felt a ‘spark’ with acting.

Amidst her exciting explorations in art and media at the time, Mercedes continued modeling and even posed for a men’s magazine. It was there that iconic director Brillante Mendoza discovered her, seeing the potential to transform her into an actress.