KISSES TO HISSES: Janella Salvador is “the” snake woman
Snakes symbolize lots of things. A snake deceived Adam and Eve in the Christian Bible. Also in the Bible, Moses turned his staff into a snake to prove God’s power and existence. Ancient Aztecs worshipped a snake as the Master of Life. In some African cultures, killing pythons is considered a crime. Meanwhile, some Australians believe that a rainbow-colored serpent created life. Needless to say, snakes have always garnered mixed opinions. There is one snake, however, that balances everything out. And, that is this generation’s Valentina: Janella Salvador.
KISSES TO HISSES: Janella Salvador is “the” snake woman
Slithering through
Janella Salvador first shared her talent in 2008 and 2009 at a world trade fair in Seoul. After her appearance in Eat Bulaga, management directors Manny Valera and Johnny Manahan signed her. Although, it wasn’t surprising how Janella became interested in performing because of her parents.
Her mother Jenine Desiderio is a West End musical actress. Meanwhile, Juan Miguel Salvador, her father, is an Awit Award singer-songwriter and the vocalist of Rage Band. Through her parents’ background, Janella could have easily made her way through show business.
She didn’t, though. She inherited her parents’ talents but she didn’t stop there. Like a snake, Janella slithered her way into the industry through her own hard work; through her own merit.
Never hisses but sets the record straight
One of Janella’s most admirable traits is her tenacity. She knows she has the tools to advance in her career and she uses them. Like the tenacity of a snake, Janella makes use of her talents and hard work, cementing her mark in the industry. Whenever she faces a challenge, she makes sure to display honesty. In an interview with Ricky Lo in 2018, Janella broke her silence over what happened with her onscreen partner Elmo Magalona. She narrated how he physically hurt her in two separate incidents, both occurring with alcohol involved.
In the said interview, Janella vehemently explained that she “can never tolerate” someone hurting her. She also discussed that she sought professional help after the second incident. Moreover, she mentioned that Elmo did the same and that she supports him for “recognizing the problem and addressing it.”
This time, I am giving more attention to myself.
Coiling around her beloved eggs, offering warmth
In 2020, rumors about Janella’s pregnancy circulated online. She granted an interview with Slater Young and Kryz Uy’s podcast Skypodcast on March 2021 to once again, set the record straight.
Janella said that an intern at the hospital spread the news. She admitted being “pissed” at the time because she wanted to tell her family in person. Despite the rumors spreading, Janella kept mum about the rumors to protect her and her family’s privacy.
At my age, it was kinda scary. I had to think about so many things. How am I gonna tell everyone? Of course, it’s not easy, especially at my age there’s a lot of harsh criticism.
Upon the announcement of her pregnancy, Janella Salvador had to pause her career. But of course, she wasn’t spared from the criticism. She received comments calling her “sayang” for being a mother in her early 20s. In an interview with Ogie Diaz, Janella remarked,
I can still work. Bakit sayang, ‘di ba? Wala namang nabago sa ‘kin so walang sayang.
Some snakes leave their offspring the second it hatches but Janella isn’t like that. She is the mother snake. Mother snakes leave and bathe in the sun to warm their bodies. After that, they would return to the nest and warm their babies by coiling around them. Much like mother snakes, Janella goes to lengths to provide them with the care and the life they deserve.
Janella made sure to experience a “happy pregnancy” and enjoy it as a family. Moreover, she proved that parenthood is a choice that everyone, especially women, should have to make whenever they feel like it; whenever they are ready. Parenthood shouldn’t be forced upon someone because it is a huge responsibility.
Taking care of someone else’s hopes and dreams requires a lot of work and heart – things that Janella Salvador obviously possesses. A year after giving birth, Janella snakes to the top again, bagging the iconic role of Valentina in the latest remake of Mars Ravelo’s Darna.
Fangs and glorious scales
Let’s be honest: a woman with a bunch of scaly snakes as her hair isn’t something we see every day. But despite looking enchantingly haunting, Darna’s nemesis Valentina is above all, a woman.
Like Valentina, Janella Salvador is jolly and daring despite her struggles. She has many sides of her that she is yet to reveal like the snake woman she plays onscreen.
And like snakes, women have lots of definitions. Women are real. They are complex, sometimes even perplexed by their very own emotions and experiences. Women cannot and shouldn’t be defined by one trait.
For centuries, the definition of women has been discussed. The odd thing, however, is that women aren’t always included in the conversation discussing their roles in society.
As for my definition, there’s this quote from Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag that comes close. Delivered by Kristin Scott Thomas, it’s something that I’ve always loved. One that I’ve always remembered every single time I see or encounter a woman who embodies it – someone like Janella Salvador.
Women are born with pain built in. It’s our physical destiny – period pains, sore boobs, childbirth. We carry it within ourselves throughout our lives.
While I wholeheartedly agree with this true (albeit depressing) definition of women, I can’t help but acknowledge its sunny side. Kristin continues, “Men don’t [have pain built in them]. They have to seek it out. They invent all these gods and demons so they can feel guilty about things, which is something we do very well on our own.”
The way I see it, women possess something that men will never have – no matter how hard they try. The way I see it – women having pain forced upon them is what makes them special. I don’t want to glamorize the general definition of pain but it’s always alluring to watch someone rise above it. There’s always the sense of feeling honored to witness a woman go through hurdles and thrive despite them.
It’s exactly what makes Janella Salvador so special. It takes guts for someone to go through the pain, rise from it, and actually strive in life as if nothing else matters; like a snake successfully wriggling free from its predator’s sharp talons. Want to read more articles like this? Click here.
