Filipina actress and fitness guru Jackie Lou Blanco writes to her fans:"How long have I been in the entertainment business? I’m 41. I started when i was 14.Wow! 27 years. Its been that long.
I started as a co-host of German Moreno in the Sunday noontime show on ch.7, Germspesyal. How was it the first time? I was so nervous. I didn’t have any hosting experience then. The result was I had my back to the camera most of the time. My mom taped that episode and made me watch it after. She said, "Jacqui, when you are interviewing anyone, I want to see your face, not your back.I practically grew up in that show. Stayed till I was 34.I had 2 children already. I got to hone my hosting, singing and dancing skills. I got to meet entertainers from all over the world. I got to interview Leif Garret, Menudo, Morris Albert, Jon Secada and Matt Monroe among others. I consider myself lucky. I’m proud to say our show was the first stop of international performers. We were no.1!
Aside from Germspesyal which eventually became GMA Supershow, I also became part of another noontime show, from Mondays thru Saturdays, Student Canteen, also on ch.7.It was already a long running show with thespian hosts, Eddie Ilarde and the late Bobby Ledesma. They needed 3 new female hosts and got me, Chiqui Hollman and Chat Silayan, and another male host, George Javier. I was elated. I was going to host with 2 seasoned hosts. How exciting was that? It was a big achievement for me.
During that time I shuffled between my school work and the show, attending morning classes bet.7:30 t0 9:30,rushing off to the salon and then had to be in the studio by 11:30.The show was 12:00 to 1:30,then back to school for my class at 2:30.Pretty hectic ha? Nevertheless I looked forward to each working day. We were like a big family. Bobby and Eddie were like fathers to us, Chiqui, Chat and George like sisters and brother. We had so much fun on and off camera that it wasn’t like work at all.
When I joined them I already had 4 years of hosting experience because of GMA Supershow and yet I still learned so much from Bobby and Eddie. I would marvel at how they knew so much. They could talk about anything and everything under the sun.
We had spiels which were prepared for us, guide questions for guests, but you cant stick to just that. As a host you need be spontaneous. Our show was live everyday, and anything can happen in a live show. You'd introduce a guest to sing and all of a sudden something goes wrong with the material. What are you to do? You can't just stand there and freeze. I learned that on television there cant be a lull, no dead moments.
So I asked Bobby and Eddie how they did it. What do I do when emergencies like that happen? This is what they taught me. Use anything and everything available to you at that moment .Could be somebody from the audience you've noticed. Talk to them. Comment on the weather, something you've read, or watched. They'd tell me, "Jacqui, talk about what you're learning in school, read the newspaper. Be updated on current events.
So even if reading the paper wasn't a habit, I forced myself to. I realized that as a host, we weren't there only to entertain but to be informative as well. It was our duty as good hosts. T.V. is a very powerful medium to get any message across, and so I realized that any contribution, big or small could always be of help to anyone watching. So I learned to be a responsible host. Thanks to Bobby, Eddie, Chiqui, Chat and George. All of them enriched me as a host.
I also got the chance to do a musical with my mom, "Pilita and Jacqui" I got to sing songs from broadway musicals and had the chance to perform with the best singers. Plus I got to sing with my mom who I looked up to so much. Lucky me.
During my stint at Student Canteen, I was also given the chance by VIVA Films bossess, Vic del Rosario and the late Mina Aragon to try the movies. They offered me to star in my first movie, My Only Love with no less than Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion. I was excited and nervous at the same time. This was the big screen. I was overwhelmed.
On my first shooting day, I approached Eddie Garcia, our director and asked for some tips on how to go about my role. He said, "Jacqui, just be natural. Acting is reacting to the situation given. Put yourself in the characters shoes and make it your own. Relax and enjoy it. Everything will just flow. Oh boy, how could I relax? My knees were shaking, my hands were clammy and I had butterflies in my stomach. I walked around waiting to be called, i prayed and took a deep breath. I said, "GOD, just be with me. "Of course HE was. I did okay and learned to relax in the next scenes.
After My Only Love I did "Friends in Love", Palabra de Honor, Kung aagawin mo ang lahat sa akin and Misis mo,Misis ko for Viva Films.
For Regal Films I did I can't stop loving you and When I fall in love.
For Seiko Films I did Di bale na lang, Lumuhod ka sa Lupa, Isusumbong kita sa Diyos with my husband, Ricky Davao and my first starring role with no less than Christopher de Leon and Ace Vergel.
Then I did "Hihintayin kita sa langit" for Reyna Films. This is the film where i got nominated for best supporting actress and it is one of my favorite films.
And my last movie was "Hanggang may hiniga" with Philip Salvador and Anjanette Abayari.
I also had my share of the music scene. Did several intimate shows at the Tavern on the square, Reverie Bar and a big one at the Araneta Coliseum.
I also recorded some duets with my mom with Octo arts and my first single under Blackgold Records, "You don’t own me". I remember not wanting to do it because it was an old song. I was only 18 then. But my boss, Vic del Rosario said, "Jacqui, trust me. This will be a hit. He was right. It was very well received. I also got the chance to record my own album, "Deep in my heart".
I loved singing but I realized soon enough that I wasn’t a great singer like my mom and I felt I could do better as an actress. So I concentrated on acting. This became my home.
My husband, Ricky started in theatre and was prodding me to try it. He said you are never complete as an actor if you don’t try the stage. It is an actors medium as they say. I was apprehensive in the beginning because on stage there were no cuts, no take 2's.If you made a mistake you had to go on, keeping your composure. You had to rely on yourself and your co-actors only. I was scared but nevertheless challenged.
Nonon Padilla of Tanghalang Pilipino offered me the role of Thomas More's daughter in the filipino version of "Man for all seasons", entitled, "Taga sa panahon" I was with theatre thespians, Mario O'hara ,actress Alicia Alonzo who played my mother and my husband, Ricky who played the king.
I had to adjust to many things. Movements on T.V. and the movies were more limited depending on the angle and shot the director wanted. In theatre you need to exaggerate your movements. You had to be larger than life. There were no close-ups and so hand and body movements had to be extended, facial expressions exaggerated. The person at the last row of the theatre needed to see and understand everything you were doing.
In the movies you were given the chance to dubb your voice. On T.V. you had microphones. On stage we also had but not individual ones. I had to learn how to project my voice use my diaphragm, to throw my voice so everyone could hear. I was taught to enunciate well. My diction had to be clear.
Little by little I got the hang of it, realizing it was truly an actor's medium. You own the stage, you own your audience. Right there you'd know if they liked your performance. Instant reaction. Very overwhelming.
One of the most beautiful experiences of doing a play is growing with your character. Performances were on weekends lasting for a month or more. I would attack some scenes differently as it went on. Some worked, some didn't, but that's how I learned. I had the opportunity to get more in depth with my character.
Ricky was right. One is never complete as an actor if they don’t try theatre.
After not making movies for a while I went back to T.V. work. This time becoming part of several soap operas.
My first soap opera was 'Esperanza' with Judy Ann Santos. Then "Saan ka man naroroon" with Claudine Barretto. Then about 3 years ago, "Ang iibigin ay ikaw". This I consider my most challenging soap. Why? I played so many characters. I was a muslim, a religious woman, a model, and a 60 year old woman. I wore a bra 5 times my cup size. I felt like Mrs.Doubtfire. They had teeth made for me. Wow! It took a while to get used to those .Had to walk slower, all my movements had to be. Took an hour to do my hair and make-up. That was such a challenge for me. I must have really gotten used to playing a 60 year old lady that I even fooled my own brother. He visited me once and didn’t recognize me. That was so funny.
That soap opera allowed me to do so much as far as acting and experimenting. Such a wide range of emotions. I consider myself so blessed to have been chosen for that role.
Right now I’m concentrating on writing for Allure of the Phil.Star. Been writing for about 3 years. My column is titled "Between you and me". I also have begun writing for "Abante".
I thank GOD for giving me all these wonderful opportunities. HE has blessed me with so much. All these are a big part of who I am today."
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