Janine Gutierrez is the first brand ambassador of healthcare brand iCare. Leah Salterio
MANILA -- Two months after three of her family members passed on one after the other, actress Janine Gutierrez admitted she is still recovering from that grief.
“Siyempre malungkot pa rin,” Gutierrez told ABS CBN News. “Sobrang nagsabay-sabay, nagsunod-sunod.”
Gutierrez lost three family members in a span of only three weeks. Her Mamita, Pilita Corrales, died last April 12. After only four days, Gutierrez’s maternal grandmother, Nora Aunor, died on April 16.
After two weeks, Gutierrez’s uncle, Ricky Davao -- who was once married to Jackielou Blanco, the sister of Gutierrez’s dad, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez -- succumbed to cancer last May 2.
“There are good days and there are bad days,” Gutierrez said. “But that’s also a testament to how important family really is.”
The Urian best actress winner for “Babae at Baril” in 2020 counted on the support of her family in times of her grief.
“Actually, kinakabahan ako coming here [to St. Luke’s Medical Center in BGC],” Gutierrez said. “My uncle was confined in the ICU here. Parang medyo fresh pa sa akin.
“Part of my message, you’ll never really know what’s going to happen, no matter how prepared you think you are. It’s so important to have people to rely on na talagang masasandalan mo.
“So kung hindi ka okay today, sila ang haharap sa tao. Kung may tanong ka, you can ask them. I’m really grateful to doctors and healthcare. Napakalaking bagay. It’s really life or death sometimes,” she said.
Gutierrez hopes that her family can continue their tradition of seeing each other every Sunday, which they call “Family Sunday.”
“Before, our Sunday was with Mamita, every Sunday we spent it in her house,” Gutierrez said. “How do we keep that tradition alive now?
“Wala pa kaming maisip na bagong home base. Baka ako na lang ang mag-volunteer. Marami lang akong huhugasang pinggan when we do it in my house. Pero, kaya natin ‘yan.
“I also hope for strength for my parents and my cousins. It’s still a difficult time for the family. I’m just here to support my mom, whatever comfort and love that I can offer and give her.”
Her mother, Lotlot de Leon, is now busy taping for “Sins of the Father,” the new teleserye of Gerald Anderson. Gutierrez is also taping for her new teleserye, “The Accused,” with boyfriend Jericho Rosales. They first worked together in the drama series, “Lavender Fields” (2024).
Gutierrez encouraged the public to really take care of their health. She was recently introduced as the brand ambassador for ICare, a healthcare brand.
“I guess that’s really my message to the public,” Gutierrez said. “Really take care of your health and live life to the fullest. Always find the best partner. At the end of the day, it’s really the people around you who can lift you up in times of need.”
Admittedly, Gutierrez is really “health-conscious” for her and her family. “Nakita ko sa ibang tao, especially in showbiz, na tuloy tuloy lang sa work kahit may karamdaman ka,” she said.
“Everybody is more health-conscious around, especially after the pandemic. It’s important that we take care of our health.”
Gutierrez also shared about the making of the documentary she’s working on for her late grandma, Pilita Corrales.
“Last year lang namin inumpisahan to interview people who worked with her,” Gutierrez said. “That became my priority. But nag on-off ako because of Mamita’s health issues.
“We didn’t film the interviews right away considering her condition. We simply chose to spend more time with Mamita.
“Marami namang footage na magagamit in Mamita’s decades-long career. I could have gotten more interviews had I started earlier to interview her, that would be better.
“Lesson learned talaga that if you think of something you want to do, do not procrastinate. Gawin mo na agad. Sign na ‘yun ng universe na gawin mo na. Don’t delay it anymore,” she said.