Jaclyn Jose: A life lived like in the movies
Jaclyn Jose’s untimely passing brought a premature conclusion to a career that had so much more still to offer.
Jaclyn had her start in sexy films but reinvented herself to become a multi-awarded actress and one of the best the industry had ever seen.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Industry) takes a look back at the life on and off the camera of the one and only Jaclyn Jose.
GROWING UP IN PAMPANGA
Jaclyn’s real name was Mary Jane Guck. She was of German and American descent.
Born on October 21, 1963, Jaclyn grew up in Angeles, Pampanga.
Her father was part of the U.S. Armed Forces and was stationed at Clark Air Base — the military facility operated by the Americans here in the country until 1991.
Performing runs in the blood of Jaclyn’s family. Her mother, Rosalinda Santa Ana, was a bar singer.
Meanwhile, her half-sister Veronica Jones was also an actress and was active in showbiz from the 1970s until the 1980s.
“I never saw my dad,” Jaclyn told broadcast journalist Jessica Soho in 2016.
“Wala along desire [to see him]. No, life goes on without you, parang ganyan. I was very, very observant type of kid.”
Despite growing up in a poverty-stricken household, Jaclyn said she had a fun childhood.
“I enjoyed my [childhood],” she stressed.
“I was poor, so what? Kaya lang, yun nga, yung social awareness bukas na agad bata pa ako.”
SCREEN NAME ORIGIN
Jaclyn initially wanted to go to Japan to work as a singer — not that she could carry a tune.
“Hindi ako kumakanta,” she stressed.
“But the thought of maiaangat ko ang pamilya ko sa kahirapan kapag nagpunta ako sa Japan.”
Jaclyn, who served as her celebrity sister’s PA or personal assistant, eventually ended up being an actress.
Her first movie was Chikas released in 1984 starring Rey ‘PJ’ Abellana and Lovely Rivero, among others.
Director William Pascual gave her the showbiz nickname “Jacklyn.”
William found “Mary Jane” too Westernized and sought a memorable nickname with good recall for the budding actress.
GETTING NOTICED
It didn’t take long for Jacklyn to get noticed by directors.
Her second acting project was in the sex-drama movie, Escort Girls, starring Maria Isabel Lopez and Amy Austria.
Critically acclaimed director Lino Brocka made Jacklyn the lead star in White Slavery released in 1985.
She changed her screen name from Jacklyn to Jaclyn, a nickname she would use throughout her career.
It was also in 1985 when Jaclyn was seen in the provocative flick Private Show directed by Chito S. Roño.
Jaclyn won her first acting award in 1987 — Best Actress from Gawad Urian — for the movie Takaw Tukso.
Viewers knew Jaclyn from appearing in sexy movies during her early years as an actress.
Jaclyn gave this tip to young sexy stars in an interview with entertainment reporter Leo Bukas.
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na parang maging ako sila. Ang sa akin lang, kapag sexy scenes, gawin mo na para wala nang Take 2. Kasi kapag Take 2, Take 3, lalo lang madadagdagan yung exposure,” said Jaclyn.
“So, as much as possible, gawin mo na one take para isahan na lang
“Ganun ‘yung ginagawa ko noong araw. Para sa akin, ipapaulit lang ito, gawin ko na lang. Tutal kapag isahan, eh ‘di one time na lang.
‘Yan lang ang lagi kong ina-advise sa paggawa ng sexy films, sexy scenes.”
“NO ACTING” STYLE OF ACTING
Jaclyn, as an actress, has been associated with the so-called “no acting” method.
“I believe good acting comes from within,” Jaclyn once said.
This was prominently displayed in Jaclyn’s portrayal of Rosa Reyes in Brillante Mendoza’s 2016 drama film Ma’ Rosa.
The movie tackles the drug problem on the streets and how people get drawn to illegal substances for a variety of reasons, particularly because of poverty.
Critics applaud Jaclyn’s subtle and controlled acting in the film, with Brillante describing the veteran actress’s performance as “natural the whole time, from the opening up to the very end.”
Jaclyn won Best Actress at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal in the movie.
The victory was the Philippines’ first Best Actress win in the prestigious film festival.
Ma’ Rosa was just the culmination of Jaclyn’s impressive acting career marked by several awards and unforgettable films under her resume, such as Macho Dancer, Imortal, The Flor Contemplacion Story, and Patay na si Hesus, to name only a few.
JACLYN’S DOMESTIC LIFE
Jaclyn met and got romantically involved with actor Mark Gil in 1988 while doing the movie Itanong Mo Sa Buwan.
The two have a daughter: Andrea Nicole, popularly known as Andi Eigenmann.
Jaclyn also have a son named Gwen Garimond with guitarist Kenneth Ilagan (True Faith, The Dawn, XAGA, which ultimately became Rivermaya).
As a mom, Jaclyn was proud to say that her children grew up eating “lutong bahay” as she was not fond of fast food items.
“Ang worst na kakainin nila, na ipit na ipit ako sa oras, canned goods. Pero madalang na madalang yan. Nagluluto talaga ako. I see to it na fresh ang niluluto,” she told Smart Parenting in 2016.
Jaclyn’s no-frills lifestyle was also evident in her routine at home during downtime.
During her leisure time, Jaclyn would often be at home enjoying a beer or two while watching movies.
“Those are enough to make my day,” she quipped.
However, in a September 1, 2022, interview with PEP.ph, Jaclyn admitted going through bouts of loneliness now that her children have their own lives.
She mused, “Hindi mo na-anticipate na someday, mawawala sila, matitira ka lang palang mag-isa.
“So, parang hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang mga ginawa ko at the end of the road.
“Na palagi akong wala, pero pinupunan ko kasi ang mga pangangailangan nila.
“Kahit mga kaibigan, napag-iwanan ako. Kasi, work-mga anak, work-mga anak [ang priority ko]. Parang ganyan.
“Hanggang sa darating pala ang time na magiging mag-isa ka na lang.”
RETIRING FROM SHOWBIZ?
In late 2022, Jaclyn surprised many when she announced that she’d be retiring from showbiz, only to take it back.
“I wanted to but I still have two years contract with GMA. I have to finish my contract,” Jaclyn explained to PEP.ph after retracting her earlier statement.
“Akala ko, expired na [but] my RM [road manager] told me na hindi pa.”
Her then-manager, Liza Costales, clarified that Jaclyn was not quitting and that her client was “happy [siya] sa GMA.”
Indeed, it was hard to imagine Jaclyn giving up acting for a quiet life away from the spotlight.
She remained graceful until the end, refusing to leverage her veteran status to impose or intimidate co-stars.
“I do not judge actors who cannot deliver well. I’ve been here for so long. Alam ko kapag magtatagal ang artista. Hindi na ako ang magsasabi nun, ang tadhana na,” she remarked candidly.
“You just have to be nice, help, and let them deliver.”
As Jaclyn glowingly said in another interview, “I love my job, it’s so fulfilling and I like the people I work with.”
