(From left) Jaclyn Jose, Kylie Padilla, Robin Padilla. Images: Instagram/@kylienicolep, Facebook/Robin Padilla
Sen. Robin Padilla and Kylie Padilla were in Singapore when they learned about the death of Jaclyn Jose, which led to the actor-turned-lawmaker comforting his daughter who broke down in tears.
The father and daughter were in Singapore for Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour when they learned about Jose’s death, whose real name is Mary Jane Guck, through the text of the politician’s publicist.
“Nasa Singapore ako n’un, kasama ko si Kylie, naglalakad kami, iyak nang iyak. Mga 30 minutes kaming naglalakad habang iyak siya nang iyak (I was in Singapore with Kylie. We were walking while she was crying. She was crying for 30 minutes while we were walking),” Robin told reporters on the sidelines of the screen veteran’s wake.
Jose died on March 2 at age 60 due to a heart attack, as confirmed by her daughter Andi Eigenmann two days later.
The lawmaker admitted that he, too, was shocked by Jose’s death and that he was also in a daze while ensuring that his daughter was doing okay.
“Magkasama kasi [sina Kylie at Jaclyn] sa ‘Bolera,’ hindi ko siya mapatahan dahil nagulat ako. Hindi ko alam na meron pala silang bond,” he said.
“Bilang ama, sinabi ko sa kanya na, ‘Ganun talaga. Dapat lagi tayong handa. Hindi natin alam kung kailan [tayo kukunin]. Namnamin mo na lang ang inyong pinagsamahan.’ Kasi parang nanay niya talaga si Jaclyn,” recalled Robin.
(Kylie and Jaclyn worked together in “Bolera.” I couldn’t get her to stop crying because I was shocked as well. I didn’t know that they became that close and they had that bond. As her dad, I told her, “That’s life. We must always be ready. We don’t know when God will take us. Just make the most out of your past bond. Because she considers Jaclyn as her mother.)
Despite paying his respects in Jose’s wake, the lawmaker confessed that he’s still shocked over the screen veteran’s death as their friendship goes beyond the screen—almost to the point where they call each other the nickname “Batch.”
“Hindi lang sa [camera] kami nagsama, pero naging kaibigan talaga ng pamilya namin si Jane,” he said, referring to Jose using her real name. “Barkada kami, hindi kami showbiz. Noong parehas [umarangkada] ang aming career, hindi na kami masyadong nagkita pero kapag nagkikita kami, ang tawag namin ay Batch. Prangka ‘yan. Isang tawag lang namin kay Batch. Kapag humihingi pa kami ng saklolo, dumating siya agad.”
(We’re not just friends in front of the camera. Jane is also a friend of our family. We’re good friends, we’re not showbiz. When our careers rose, we didn’t see each other often, but whenever we met, we called each other Batch. She was straightforward. With just one call, and when we asked for help, she would come at once.)
Many celebrities paid their respects to Jose at her wake, including Coco Martin, Alden Richards, Claudine Barretto, Gardo Verzosa, John Arcilla and Gladys Reyes, among many others.