(From left) Jake Ejercito, Ellie Eigenmann, Jaclyn Jose. Images: Instagram/@unoemilio, AFP
Jake Ejercito was overwhelmed with emotion during his eulogy for Jaclyn Jose, promising to be a good father to Ellie, the veteran actress’ granddaughter.
Ejercito couldn’t help but tear up when he looked back with fondness some of his favorite memories with Jose, saying being the beloved Nanay to his daughter “seemed like the best thing that ever happened” to the screen veteran.
His speech was captured in a video by fan account @unoupdates_ on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, March 10. It remains unknown, however, who uploaded the original clip.
Ejercito said that Jose was “the happiest,” upon learning of her daughter Andi Eigenmann’s pregnancy with Ellie.
“It wasn’t exactly the smoothest pregnancy showbiz-wise, but being a nanay to Ellie, seemed like the best thing that ever happened to Tita. Ellie was her pride and joy. Ellie became her life,” he said of Jose, whose real name was Mary Jane Guck.
The actor said his “highs and lows” with Eigenmann was “no secret” to the public, but it brought him and Jose closer. “Through it all, Tita Jane never wavered. The trials that Andi and I faced brought Tita Jane and I even closer. Siya ang kausap ko sa phone nang ilang oras kapag may problema, siya ang kainuman ko kapag may mas malaking problema. Siya ang kaiyakan ko kapag hopeless na talaga.”
“And when it comes to Ellie, lalo pa noong magulo pa ang lahat, siya ang naging sanggang-dikit ko,” she continued. “There were just too many ways that she would help me. But what stands out to me is during the times I was dying to see and spend time with my daughter but I couldn’t, Tita was the one who would help me find ways.”
#JakeEjercito’s eulogy for Ms #JaclynJose 🤍🕊️ctto (1/3) pic.twitter.com/KxrO0b2xYQ
— best boy uno ✨ (@unoupdates_) March 10, 2024
But Ejercito and Eigenmann’s split eventually put a “gap” between him and Jose, saying it also put an end to their “phone calls, text messages, and drinking sessions.”
“It genuinely pains me to admit that we have become strangers in these past few years,” he said. “Tita, if you’re listening, salamat sa lahat. And I’m sorry. Napakabigat mo, Tita. Nagpaalam ka na lang bigla. Ang daming sana. Sana naibalik pa natin kung paano tayo dati. Sana nahingan kita ng advice sa trabaho natin.”
(It genuinely pains me to admit that we have become strangers in these past few years. Tita, if you’re listening, thank you for everything. And I’m sorry. This is very heavy for me, Tita. You suddenly said goodbye. There are so many should have beens. We should’ve been close again. I should’ve asked for advice when it came to our work.)
“Sana naka-eksena man lang kita. Sana nakapag-two bots pa tayo. Sana napadalas pa sa’yo si Ellie. Sana kinumusta kita noong malungkot ka at nag-iisa,” he further added. (I should’ve shared a scene with you. We should’ve had more bottles of beer together. Ellie should’ve spent more time with you. I should’ve checked up on you when you were sad and alone.)
Jake Ejercito says he wouldn’t survive fatherhood without Jaclyn Jose | Images: Instagram, X/@unoemilio
While tearing up, Ejercito vowed that he would be a good father to Ellie as a way to make up for lost time with Jose. “Wag kang mag-alala dahil tinuruan mo ako, pinakita, at ipinaramdam mo sa’kin kung paano maging mabuting magulang.”
“Ellie would be okay, Tita. Hindi ko siya papabayaan,” he continued while recalling one of the last messages he received from the veteran actress.
“In one of your last text messages to me, ang sabi mo, ‘Jake, namimiss kita sobra. Anak pa rin ang turing ko sa’yo. Mahal kita, alam mo ‘yan.’ Tita, sana alam mo na mahal kita. At mahal na mahal ka ni Ellie, Tita. Her one and only nanay, you’ll always be,” he said.
(Don’t worry because you taught, showed, and made me feel how to be a good parent. Ellie would be okay, Tita. I won’t leave her. In one of your last text messages to me, you said, “Jake, I miss you so much. I still treat you as my son. I love you, you know that.” Tita, I hope you know that I love you. And Ellie loves you so much. Her one and only nanay, you’ll always be.)
Jose died of a heart attack on March 2 at 60 years old. Her death was confirmed by her label PPL Entertainment, then by Eigenmann two days later.
The screen veteran was reportedly laid to her final resting place at The Garden of the Divine Word Columbary in Quezon City on March 10.