Away from the bright lights, the late veteran actress Jaclyn Jose found her true triumph in the role of a devoted mother.
Beyond her flawless performances on-screen, she charted the unscripted role of being a mother to Andi Eigenmann and Gwen Garimond Ilagan Guck.
Andi is her daughter with the late actor Mark Gil, while Gwen is her son with guitarist Kenneth Garimond Ilagan.
Stamped by resilience, imperfection, and boundless love, Jaclyn’s parenting journey is reflected in some of her memorable quotes through the years.
TRUSTING THE PROCESS
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on October 16, 2014, Jaclyn Jose revealed her desire for Andi to live a fulfilling life outside the confines of the entertainment industry.
“I want her to live a life, e. Ayoko siyang makahon ng industriyang ito kasi, nakulong din ako ng tatlumpung taon, hindi na ako makalabas.
“Pagkita ko, ‘Ay, gabi na pala! Ay, matanda na ako!’
“Well, sabihin na lang natin na meron siyang pananaw sa buhay na nabuo rin naman dahil sa mga pagkukulang ko during the time na lumalaki siya. I wasn’t present all her life.
“Sinasabi niya nga sa mga interview niya noon na gumigising na mag-aalmusal, gumigising siya the next day, nag-aalmusal pa rin mag-isa. Kasi, ganito ang kalakaran ng trabaho namin.
“Ngayon that she’s realizing that, naiintindihan na niya ang trabaho namin, why it happened.
DRAWING MOTHERLY INSPIRATION
On March 22, 2021, Jaclyn expressed admiration for Andi’s courage and apologized for her faults and lapses through an Instagram post.
“Anak, hinahangaan kita sa kung meron ka buhay ngayon…
“Ang ganda ng pagpapalaki mo sa mga bata sorry sa lahat pag kukulang ko…
“Anak, mahal na mahal kita at support ko lahat ng ginagawa mo..mag ingat palagi…”
A MOTHER’S SHIELD
More than once, Jaclyn defended her daughter against bashers.
On October 6, 2016, she appealed to others to refrain from passing judgment, particularly when they don’t fully comprehend the challenges Andi encounters.
“Sana isipin niyo na may inang nasasaktan sa mga masasakit niyo na sinasabi sa anak ko…
“Kung may galit man ako sa taong yun, hindi dahil sa ibang dahilan kundi ang pananakit na ginawa niya sa anak ko.
“Wala ka dun, wala ka sa buhay na pinagdadaanan ng anak ko. Wala kayong alam. Wala kang karapatan maghusga.
SELF-RELIANCE
Despite being a single mother, Jaclyn promised in an Instagram post on February 23, 2020, to remain dedicated to providing for her children without allowing her own hardships to weigh them down.
“I am a single mom of 2, I worked so hard to make them feel that everything was okay.
“Kakayanin ko lahat para sa mga anak ko. I did all my best to raise them.
“Happy lang…no controlling para pag time naman nila, gawin nila naman para sa mga anak nila… Let them.
“In the end, they will [be] more responsible…us parents must understand our children.
“Let them leave, madadapa iyan pero babangon kung hahayaan natin sila. Wag i-obligate your children to pay your dreams, they have their own too.”
REALISTIC PERSPECTIVE
During an interview with Ogie Diaz on his YouTube vlog dated December 22, 2021, Jaclyn clarified that her children’s needs necessitated her to prioritize her career.
“Well, for one, yung pagre-resign para sa mga anak, hindi ko kayang gawin yun.
“Pero hindi ko ibig sabihin na pinili ko yung career ko dahil mas mahal ko yung career ko kaysa sa anak ko.
“Mas mahal ko yung anak ko. At kung hindi ko pipiliin yung career, wala siyang environment na mahusay na kalalakihan o school.”
PRESERVING PEACE OF MIND
At the press conference for the movie Anak ng Macho Dancer on January 21, 2021, Jaclyn talked about respecting Andi’s preference for a positive environment, and how she supports her children’s choices.
It can be recalled that in 2017, Andi moved to Siargao, where she met her partner Philmar Alipayo. The two are now hands-on parents to their kids, Koa, born in 2021, and Lilo, born in 2019.
“They are genuinely happy, they’re just living their lives to the fullest.
“Ayaw nila ng negative, they don’t watch news, they don’t watch things that will make them think.
“Ako na ang bahala dun, kumbaga ako na ang magbabalita. ‘Hey, we need to ganyan,’ and they will follow.
“Sasabihin ko, ‘Anak, alam mo ba yung ganito?’ ‘Nanay, no, di ko alam at wala akong balak alamin. Mag-aalaga pa ako ng baby.’
“Naka-focus talaga siya in taking care of their family.”
EMPTY NEST SYNDROME
Sitting down with PEP.ph on September 1, 2022, Jaclyn candidly discussed the challenges of being a single parent and the unexpected loneliness that comes with a child-free home.
“Mula nung ipinanganak ko si Andi, ako na iyan. Mula sa hospital, damit, pagkain, hanggang sa nag-aral, napagtapos ko.
“Gayundin yung isa ko [Gwen]. Sa kanya naman, katuwang ko ang lola niya sa father side. Pero, nawala nang maaga. Basically, ako lahat, pero okay lang yun. 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.
“Kung hindi ako magtatrabaho, paano sila mag-aaral? Paano sila makakakain? Paano sila titira sa good environment na tinatawag? Hindi naman ako mayaman, pero kahit papaano, nasa maayos kaming lugar na hindi nagbabayad ng renta.
“Inayos ko na talaga ang mga anak ko, hindi palipat-lipat ng bahay. Kumbaga, hindi ko inisip yung sarili ko.
“Every day, you feel sad and lonely, wala kang kasama. Iniisip mo na madalas, dumarating sa sarili mo na, ‘Bakit ko ba ginagawa ang lahat ng ito?’
“At the end of the road, you feel all alone. Mahirap. Mahirap pala.”
REASSURANCE AMID DISTANCE
Jaclyn spoke about the significance of having faith that there’s a reason for everything, and that things will fall into place eventually.
Her sentiments were shared at the celebrity premiere of the film Apag on April 5, 2023.
“Malayo ang Siargao [Andi’s residence]. Malayo ang Amerika [Gwen’s residence]. So magkikita at magkikita pa rin kami.
“Kailangan yung acceptance, e. Ayan mga influence ng mga movies na pinapanood natin.
“Sabi ng anak kong lalaki, ‘Nay, don’t you want to do anything in your life?’ Well, just this. Nag-a-adjust lang mag-isa. I can go on.
“Ito namang pamilya ko ngayon, second family ko na itong industriya, e. Ang laki-laki naman nito.”
HUMILITY IN PARENTHOOD
Jaclyn was not the type of parent who imposed rigid rules on her children.
Moreover, she did not mind admitting her mistakes and shedding her pride when necessary.
As she recalled in a YouTube vlog interview with Ogie on December 22, 2021, “Hindi ako namamalo. Hindi rin ako nagbubunganga, umiiyak na lang.
“Pagka may nasabi tapos mamaya, inaakap na lang. ‘Sorry, anak, patawarin mo ako. Hindi ko na uulitin.’ Ayokong magalit sila sa akin, e.
“Parehos sila, pero mas kay Andi kasi marami nang napatunayan si Andi sa akin na tama siya, e.
“Mature saka nahuhusayan ako sa kanyang talino. Ina-admire ko yun sa kanya.”
ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE
During the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) recognition on October 18, 2016, Jaclyn pledged unwavering love and protection for her kin as she expounded on the strength of their familial bond.
“Everybody is good in the family. Intact lang kami, buo ang loob, kapit-kapit.
“Ang importante sa amin, nagmamahalan kami at nagsusuportahan kaming pamilya. Sa lahat ng laban, hindi ko iiwanan si Andi at si Ellie [Eigenmann].
“I always remind her that I love her and si Ellie. I said I will protect them with my life.
“Hindi ko bibitawan ang dalawang iyan, mahal ko iyan, e, kadugtong ng buhay ko iyan, e.”
Jaclyn Jose (left) with granddaughter Ellie Eigenmann (right)CHERISHING FLEETING MOMENTS
Uploading an Instagram photo in a meme format with the words “Mahalin mo mama mo habang andyan pa,” on June 5, 2021, Jaclyn left a poignant reminder not to take borrowed time for granted.
In the caption accompanying the photo, her words tugged at the heartstrings of followers who continue to react to the post even after her untimely death.
