Jaclyn Jose lives on through her work, the lives she touched

With the entertainment industry still reeling from the sudden passing of Jaclyn Jose, perhaps we can all take some solace, National Artist Nora Aunor said, from the late actress’ formidable body of work and the many iconic roles she played in her illustrious career.

“I join the entire industry in mourning the death of Ms. Jaclyn Jose, a premier actress and a dear friend to many of us. Her life and her numerous films and television shows are beautiful memories that we can look back to at a time when our hearts are grieving,” Nora said in a statement written in Tagalog.Among Jaclyn’s most memorable roles on the silver screen include Linet a provincial girl who falls victim to sex trafficking in Lino Brocka’s “White Slavery” (1985); Josie, a bank robbery hostage in Chito Roño’s “Itanong Mo sa Buwan” (1988); and the titular drug dealer in Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa” (2016), which earned her the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

But of course it was Joel Lamangan’s “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995) that Nora holds dearest. Nora portrayed the falsely accused domestic helper Flor; and Jaclyn, the mistress of Flor’s husband named Neneng. For their brilliant performances, they took home the trophies for best actress and best supporting actress, respectively, at the Gawad Urian Awards.

‘A huge void’

More recently, the two thespians worked on Adolf Alix Jr.’s yet-to-be-shown “Pieta”—one of the last movies Jaclyn did before her death.

“I will never forget the films that we did together, from ‘The Flor Contemplacion Story’ to ‘Pieta,’ our last project. I also celebrate her victory at Cannes, something that I know will pave the way for new opportunities for Philippine cinema and our immensely talented artists,” Nora said.

Jaclyn’s death, Nora said, will leave a huge void in the industry. “Laging masakit ang dulot ng kamatayan, lalo pa at isang dakilang artista ang nawala sa atin. Ngunit mananatili pa rin ang pag-asa at pag-ibig at ang sining na buong buhay nyang binigay sa atin,” she said. “Kaya’t sa gitna ng pagluluksa, naroroon pa rin ang ating pasasalamat sa kanya … sa karangalang ibinigay niya sa atin bilang mga Pilipino.”

Vilma Santos, another acting legend in show biz, echoed Nora’s sentiments, saying that Jaclyn’s death is “a big loss.” “Everything seemed so sudden. I was shocked… and so sad,” she told the Inquirer in a text message.

The “Star for All Seasons,” who also collaborated with Jaclyn in such films as Eddie Garcia’s “Immortal” (1989), added: “She’s one of the greatest artists we have had in the Philippines.”

While it’s her films that immediately stand out when appraising her career, her work for television is also notable. Jaclyn starred in long-running drama series, like “Familia Zaragoza” (1996) and “Mula sa Puso” (1997). She’s also credited in 36 episodes of the drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

‘Gone too soon’

“Remembering a bright star gone too soon… I bid farewell to a remarkable soul whose exceptional talent graced the small screen in ‘MMK’ episodes I have had the privilege of hosting,” actress-producer Charo Santos-Concio wrote in an Instagram post marking some of Jaclyn’s standout moments in the show, which, still, “barely capture her brilliance… that captivated our hearts.”

“From stealing scenes to stealing a piece of history as the first Southeast Asian best actress awardee at Cannes, her legacy transcends borders,” she added. “You made us proud.”

But Jaclyn’s legacy, Charo pointed out, goes beyond professional accolades. Her character “sets her apart”— “warm, respectful and professionalism.” And as the late artist’s daughter Andi Eigenmann said, her mother’s biggest “obra maestra” was her life and the lives she touched.

“Of her many iconic roles, being a grandmother was one she cherished the most,” said Jake Ejercito, the father of Andi’s firstborn, Ellie. “I surely wouldn’t have survived the early years of fatherhood without your guidance. We rolled with the punches together— anything and everything just for Ellie.”

“You have left a void in Ellie’s heart that we could only attempt to fill for the rest of our days. But I will give it my best shot, make sure she will be OK. Thank you for everything, tita. You were loved, especially by your Ellie,” he added.

Jaclyn also has two more grandchildren, Lilo and Koa, with Andi and her current partner, surfer Philmar Alipayo.

Jaclyn was a mother, an aunt, a lola—not only to her own family, but to other actors fortunate enough to have worked with her and been mentored by her.

“I keep hearing your voice in my head. I remember our heart-to-heart conversations under the stars,” said Kylie Padilla, who worked with Jaclyn in one of her last soap operas, “Bolera.” “We talked about motherhood, life and love. I remember our scenes where we couldn’t stop laughing. She was that fun to be with,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you for being a mom and a friend to me. It’s only a comfort that I saw you last night in my dreams, smiling. I got a sense that you’re at peace, wherever you are. And that’s what you deserve,” Kylie said.