Photo from the Instagram page of Jaclyn Jose
MANILA -- She was a rare breed of actress. Many wanted to be like Jaclyn Jose (or Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck in real life) and envied her status as a much-respected film and television actress. However, no one came close to her achievements at the time of her death on March 2.
Actress Jaclyn Jose has passed away
Jose was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian who bagged best actress honors at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016 for her award-winning turn as a mom and shabu dealer in Brilliante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa.”
She also amassed a trove of local acting awards throughout her four-decade career, topped by three Urian trophies from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for William Pascual’s “Takaw Tukso” (1987), Chito Roño’s “Itanong Mo sa Buwan” (1988) and Emmanuel de la Cruz’s “Sarong Banggi” (2006).
“Her life itself was her greatest obra maestra,” declared daughter Andi Eigenmann who tearfully confirmed her mother’s demise at the age of 60 on the morning of March 2, due to myocardial infarction or heart attack.
Jaclyn Jose died due to heart attack, Andi Eigenmann says
Eigenmann put to rest all speculations after the sudden death of her mom.
“Her undeniable legacy will definitely forever live on through her work, through her children, through her grandchildren and the many lives she’s touched,” added Eigenmann.
Bringing home a much-coveted acting trophy from the Cannes Film Festival was a major career highlight in the life of Jose, who was accompanied by her daughter in the awards ceremony.
Ricky Lee recalls 'Private Show'
Jose made her big screen debut in William Pascual’s “Chicas” (1984), where she was joined by Rey “PJ” Abellana and Lovely Rivero.
She bagged the lead role in only her second film, Roño’s “Private Show” (1984).
When Roño was looking for a female lead to audition for “Private Show,” written by Ricky Lee, Jose came highly recommended.
“We scheduled an audition then at New Frontier, which is now Kia Theater,” Lee told ABS-CBN News. “There was one artist who was scheduled to be there, but she didn’t make it.
“We mentioned to Chito that Jaclyn was highly recommended by Lino [Brocka] after they did ‘White Slavery’ that was yet to be shown at that time.
“Jaclyn was requested to come for the audition of ‘Private Show.’ I remember, pupungas-pungas pa siya when she arrived. Ginising yata siya to go to the audition. She was really young at that time. But she was really good and she got her first lead role in ‘Private Show.’”
After that, Jose and Lee worked in many other films -- Lino Brocka’s “Macho Dancer” (1988), Joel Lamangan’s “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995), “Deathrow” (2000), “Aishite Imasu Mahal Kita 1941” (2004) and “Pacquiao: The Movie” (2006).
Jose also starred in Lee’s first play, “Pitik-Bulag sa Buwan ng Pebrero” (2009), directed by Joel Lamangan. It was also Jose’s first theater venture.
“She was really nervous at that time, but she turned out to be very good and natural,” Lee recalled.
Jose also did director Laurice Guillen’s teleplay, "Desaparecidos" (2014), written by Lee.
“I did many films with Jaclyn,” Lee proudly said. “She became my friend through the years with our projects together. She was very simple. Hindi siya artista. Taong-tao. Madali mong makasundo.”
'Call Me Alma'
When Jose watched her last film with Lee, Mac Alejandre’s “Call Me Alma,” shown at the Cinemalaya Film Festival last year at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), she was in tears while watching.
“Taong-tao siya,” Lee said. “She was watching her film at umiiyak pa rin siya at nagre-react siya.”
Jose was elated that “Call Me Alma,” where she played a mother with early onset of Alzheimer’s, made it to Cinemalaya’s 2023 entries. She starred with young actress Azi Acosta.
“Huwag niyong kalimutan, nasa PICC tayo ngayon,” Jose said then. “Dito pinalabas lahat ng magagandang pelikula natin noong araw.
“Hindi lang pang-Cinemalaya ito, pang international ang ‘Call Me Alma’ dahil isinulat siya ng ating National Artist Ricky Lee.”
When Lee became jury chairman of FAMAS in 2017, he got Jose as juror. That was after she won for “Ma’ Rosa” at Cannes.
“She had a keen eye for detail,” Lee noted. “She remembered the details about what she saw in the movie that we discussed. She had a very sharp eye.”
Celebrities pay tribute
At the time of her death, Jose was playing prison warden Dolores Espinas in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” where she started appearing since September 2023.
Lead actor Coco Martin who was also Jose’s co-star in Mendoza’s Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry in 2022, “Apag,” posted a picture with Jose on the set of “Apag.”
“Isa pang mahalaga sa buhay ko, nawala ka pa,” Martin wrote in a Facebook post.
“The untimely passing of veteran actress Jaclyn Jose is a tragic loss to the entertainment industry, as she has made a remarkable imprint for her unique and world-class talent,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada said in a statement on Monday.
“Nakaukit sa kasaysayan ng pelikulang Pilipino ang mga parangal at pagkilala sa natatanging galing at talento niya at mahirap itong matumbasan,” Estrada said.
Estrada filed Senate Resolution No. 942 expressing profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of Jose, noting that when she won in Cannes, she bested other celebrated stars namely, Charlize Theron (‘The Last Face’), Marion Cotillard (‘From the Land of the Moon’) and Isabelle Huppert (‘Elle’).
“Her remarkable Cannes’ nod paved the way for the filing of Senate Bill No. 1032 or the proposed World-Class Filmmakers’ Incentives Act, which seeks to promote the production of world-class Filipino films by granting tax perks,” Estrada said.
“She brought life to her roles, making them feel real and relatable, transcending borders, and touching the hearts of those who watched. Her loss is a tragic one and will be felt deeply by the entire entertainment industry,” Estrada added.
Two children
Jose’s two children – Andi Eigenmann and Gwen Garimond Guck – were not with her at the time of her death. Eigenmann was in Siargao, where she is based with her family, while Gwen was in the US, where he is studying.
Eigenmann was Jose’s daughter with late actor Mark Gil (Eigenmann in real life). She resides in Siargao with her husband, Philmar Alipayo. They have two children, while Eigenmann’s eldest child, is her daughter with Jake Ejercito.
Jose’s second, Gwen Guck, was her son with 90’s bandmember, Kenneth Ilagan, formerly of True Faith. Music rubbed off with Gwen, who released an album with his band Suspiria Pink, under Ely Buendia’s record label Offshore
In 2022, Jose essayed the role of a killer mom, a real challenge for her, in director Bobby Bonifacio, Jr.’s dark, psychological and sexy thriller, “Tahan,” written by Quinn Carillo.
“It was really difficult,” Jose said then about her role. “I got to take out innards of the guys I kill. Then I throw them away. But my director helped me a lot in every detail of this project.”
Being a killer mom was totally shocking and unbelievable for Jose. “I never thought a mother could do everything I did in this film,” she asserted.
The multi-awarded actress found it hard to say “no” when “Tahan” was offered to her. As the domineering mother Nora, Jose didn’t give qualms about tragically throwing her daughter into prostitution. Nora went on a killing spree to save her daughter from the latter’s abusive clients.
“You can’t say no to a good project,” Jose insisted. “I believe in the project. Sobrang mysterious. When I talked to new stars, I always tell them, I was once there. I will never terrorize the newcomers.
“The young stars are the next generation who can continue in this industry. We need to make their job easy so they can do well in showbiz. We should be nice to them. They are the future of this industry. They will continue the work. So, let’s not intimidate them.”
Jose agreed that “Tahan” was a mother’s longing for her children. “If you are a mother, you will not stop crying,” she explained. “You can’t stop a mother when she cries.
“When a mother misses her children, you just have to control and keep on loving. A mother cannot stop. She is consistently on the look-out. Even when she’s sleeping, you cannot stop a mom when she cries.”
Jose’s other memorable films that undoubtedly left a mark with the public include Pepe Marcos’ “Gabi Na, Kumander” (1986), Roño’s “Olongapo… The Great American Dream” (1987), Ishmael Bernal’s “Working Girls, 2” (1987), Lupita Aquino Kahiwahara’s “Hati Tayo sa Magdamag” (1988).
Jose also proved her innate acting flair in Romy Suzara’s “Cedie” (1996), Lamangan’s “Felix Manalo” (2015), Victor Villanueva’s comedy, “Patay na si Jesus” (2016), Roman Perez, Jr.’s “The Housemaid” (2021) and Louie Ignacio’s “Broken Blooms” (2022).
She has three more upcoming projects that are yet to be released. Joey Romero’s film, “Sigaw sa Magdamaga,” with Monsour del Rosario and Zoren Legasi, plus a series now in the can, “Sellblock,” with Jericho Rosales.