MANILA — Coco Martin was one of the first celebrities who rushed to Jaclyn Jose’s residence when he got the call from Jose’s older sister, Veronica Jones.

Up to this day, Martin is still in shock over Jose’s death.

He said the mood on the set of his show “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” was somber, and everyone was feeling the emptiness and the absence of Dolores Espinas, Jose’s character in their primetime series.

According to Coco, there were signs and premonitions of Jaclyn saying goodbye.

In one of the last scenes Jose did last Wednesday, she was supposed to just give Ivana Alawi’s character a stern goodbye.

But Martin said Jose delivered it as if Alawi was her daughter. She shed tears. Coco and his assistant director, Kevin de Vela, cut the scene then asked Jaclyn to do a retake with less tears.

Jose’s explanation to Martin on why she unexpectedly teared up was, “Kasi parang isa-isa nang nawawala yung mga character sa kulungan eh.”

Martin also recalled his last goodbye with Jose, saying  the hugs and “I-love-yous” felt different.

Together with the cast of ‘Batang Quiapo’, Martin went to Baguio to attend the annual Panagbenga Festival. “Pagdating ko pa lang ng Baguio, kinukuwento ko na siya kay Cherry Pie. Pie alam mo pinagkukuwentuhan namin ni Mommy Jane si Ma’m Charito Solis, sina FPJ. Tapos yung gabi after ng show sa Baguio, siya pa rin yung pinagkukuwentuhan namin. Yun pala, hindi namin alam may nangyari na pala.”

Martin received the call on Jose’s passing last Sunday, March 3 at around 6 in the evening. Right after, he said, “Pumunta kami agad ni Cherry Pie sa bahay niya. Seven PM, nandun na kami sa labas. Siyempre nagulat talaga lahat kami. Hindi namin inaasahan na mangyayari ito.”

Martin said he owes everything that he has now to Jose.

“Utang na loob ko lahat kay Mommy Jane. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito sa ABS-CBN. Kung bakit lahat nangyari sa buhay ko. Siya ang kasama ko sa kauna-unahang indie movie ko na ‘Masahista’. Siya ang nag-convince sa akin na pumasok sa TV, sa ABS-CBN,” Martin revealed.

In his eulogy during the ABS-CBN and “Batang Quiapo” night, there were no dry eyes in the room when Martin turned emotional and shared how much Jose loved her children – Andi and Gwen.

“Naiinggit ako sa mga anak niya, kasi may magulang na kagaya niya na may ganung pagmamahal sa mga anak,” he said.

As to what will happen now to the character of Chief Dolores Espinas in the series, Martin said he still doesn’t know what and how things will turn around. He said the whole team is still devastated and in disbelief.