Jake Ejercito couldn’t help but tear up while he delivered his eulogy for the late actress Jaclyn Jose, the grandmother of his daughter with ex-girlfriend Andi Eigenmann.
Jaclyn, who succumbed to heart attack at 60 years old on March 2, 2024, was laid to rest on Sunday, March 10, at The Garden of the Divine Word Columbary in Quezon City.
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Jake reminisced about the fondest moments and bittersweet memories he shared with Jaclyn in an emotional speech he gave during the late actress’ wake.
The actor recalled frequently meeting Jaclyn in children’s parties with his mom Laarni Enriquez.
“I don’t remember interacting with her that much aside from the usual beso, she was just that Tita who appeared with a facial burn on TV and that Tita who had a daughter who looked like a doll and almost never spoke,” shared Jake, referring to Andi as Jaclyn’s doll-like child.
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Years later, Jake would reunite with Jaclyn as he and Andi become a couple. “That’s when I got to know her more and when she became Tita Jane to me,” said Jake.
@jakeejercitofp #JakeEjercito’s eulogy for Ms #JaclynJose ??️ #fyp ♬ original sound – jake ejercito fp
The actor described Jaclyn as “indulgent, fun, and cowboy,” saying, “She would at times join Andi and I on our dates to the movies, to Fully Booked, and to restaurants.”
Jake further shared, “She’d always cook for me whenever I visited and we would bond over our love for Michael Jackson and interest in politics much to Andi’s annoyance.”
“Nevertheless, I still felt the need to impress Tita Jane. Mas niligawan ko pa ata siya kesa sa anak niya.
Jake started to suppress his emotions as he began to talk about his and Andi’s daughter Ellie.
“By God’s grace, a few months later, that daughter of hers who looked like a doll and almost never spoke, became the mother of my daughter, Ellie, and boy, was Tita Jane the happiest.”
“It wasn’t exactly a smooth sailing 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,” Jake said.
The actor said that the trials he and Andi faced brought him closer to Jaclyn, recalling the times how the late actress never wavered and was there for him amid all the troubles.
“Siya ang kausap ko sa phone ng 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 na yung mga panahong magulo ang lahat, siya ang naging sanggang dikit ko.
“There were just too many ways in which she would help me. But what stands out to me is during the times when I was dying to see or spend time with my daughter but couldn’t, Tita was the one who would help me find ways,” said Jake.
“Kahit anong oras kahit nasa taping pa siya, she would go out of her way para makasama ko si Ellie.”
Jake then expressed regret over losing communication with Jaclyn in the past years as he and Andi parted ways.
“Nawala na yung phone calls, text messages, at inuman.
“It genuinely pains me to admit that we have basically become almost strangers these past few years. ‘Hi,’ ‘Hello,’ and ‘Thank you,’ na lang every time na sinusundo or hinahatid niya si Ellie sa akin,” shared Jake.
The actor burst into tears as he said his farewell message to Jaclyn.
“Tita, if you’re listening, salamat sa lahat-lahat and I’m sorry. Napakabigat nito, 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. Sana nakaeksena man lang kita. Sana napadalas pa sa ’yo si Ellie. Sana kinamusta kita nung malungkot ka at nag-iisa.”
Jake ended his speech with the promise that he would look after Jaclyn’s granddaughter.
“Tita sana makabawi ako sa’yo through Ellie. Pero huwag kang mag-alala dahil tinuruan mo ako at ipinakita at ipinaramdam mo sa akin kung paano maging mabuting magulang. Ellie would be okay Tita, hindi ko siya pababayaan.
“Tita, sana alam mo na mahal din kita at mahal na mahal ka ni Ellie, Tita, her one and only Nanay and always will be.”
