MANILA, Philippines - Actress Jaclyn Jose continues to wear white even after her mother, Rosalinda Sta. Ana Kelley, 72, was laid to rest at the Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park last January 22.
Jose’s mom died of severe asthma with complications.
“Araw-araw nakaputi ako,” declared Jose during the wake at the Ascension Chapel of the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Araneta Avenue in Quezon City.
“Matatagalan akong magsuot ng puti for mourning, kahit na pagkatapos ng libing. Of course, 'pag trabaho, like taping or shooting, kung ano ang requirement sa character [susuutin ko]. Pero sa private life ko, gusto ko nakaputi ako,” Jose said.
Her elder sister, erstwhile movie and television actress Veronica Jones, was in black during one night at the wake though. “Nilabhan lahat ang mga puti kong damit pero nakaputi rin ako sa buong duration ng wake,” volunteered Jones.
“This is the first major death in the family kaya masyadong iba ang situation,” Jose explained.
Jose revealed to relatives and friends who condoled with her, among them former actress and ex-president Joseph Estrada’s girlfriend Laarni Enriquez and her son Jake, that she has been absent from tapings because of the family tragedy.
“Hindi ako nagte-taping ngayon. Nagsabi na ako at humingi ng permiso since nga nakaburol si Mommy. Absent ako sa taping ng ‘Sabel’ pero nauunawaan naman nila ako,” said Jose.
Her daughter, young teen actress Andi Eigennman, however, had to go to the tapings of her new soap "Minsan Lang Kitang Mamahalin" in between time spent at the wake of her grandmother.
“Si Andi, pinagre-report ko sa taping dahil kailangan. Mauunawaan naman siya ni Mommy, I’m sure,” added Jose.
But the actress revealed that she is taking extra precautions for her family's safety.
“Ngayon, sa hirap ng buhay, ang daming mga krimen. Kaliwa’t kanan ang mga kidnapping at murder. May mga Venson Evangelista at ‘yong anak ni Atty. Oliver Lozano [na napatay] kaya nakakatakot para sa isang bata na tulad ni Andi.
“Ang ginagawa ko, kahit na ngayon na pinapupunta ko siya sa taping, nagmo-monitor ako minu-minuto kay Andi. Kung nasaan na siya dahil inihahatid siya ng driver. Kung nakarating na siya sa set. Pinapatawag ko talaga siya sa akin every minute. Nakakatakot ang panahon ngayon,” Jose quipped.
The death of her mother was a big loss for Jose, who is Jane Guck in real life.
“Alam mo naman ang lahat ng pinagdaanan naming hirap, 'di ba? Mami-miss ko ang Mommy ko. Sa totoo lang, iginapang talaga niya kaming anim na magkakapatid sa hirap,” she revealed. (report from Boy Villasanta, abs-cbnNEWS.com)
