On March 2, 2024, the local entertainment scene lost another bright star as award-winning veteran actress Jaclyn Jose, or Mary Jane Guck in real life, passed away at the age of 60.

As we mourn the passing of the illustrious actress, let’s reminisce about her notable stints in Kapamilya teleseryes throughout her exceptional acting career that spanned four decades in this special edition of Kapamilya Spotlight.

Unbeknown to many, Jaclyn’s first-ever appearance on television was on ABS-CBN when she got cast as one of the main characters, Ester Lagrimas, in the classic soap opera “Familia Zaragoza” in 1995 – around a decade since she started her showbiz career in the ‘80s through movies. But it was her portrayal of Magdalena “Magda” Trinidad-Pereira in the original “Mula Sa Puso” in 1997 that catapulted her to immense stardom.

She appeared in the romantic comedy series “Labs Ko Si Babe” and in her first Maalaala Mo Kaya episode in 1999 prior to switching networks the following year. As she made her return to ABS-CBN in 2004, she starred in another MMK episode titled “Upuan,” and then in the series Hiram and youth-oriented drama “SCQ Reload: Ok Ako!” It was followed by her stints in Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005) and Agua Bendita (2006).

In 2007, she starred in the "Bumalaka, Bulalakaw, Boom" episode of the fantasy and romance program “Love Spell,” then in the afternoon soap opera Prinsesa ng Banyera as Virgie Burgos, the cruel mother of the lead heroine Maningning (Kristine Hermosa). She eventually became a wicked deity as she portrayed Mariang Magayon in the 2008 fantaserye “Dyosa.”

The following year, she appeared in the “Babalik Kang Muli” episode of the weekly program Your Song, and got to work with Coco Martin for the first time in the series “Nagsimula Sa Puso” as the main antagonist Minda Fernandez. That went on in “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo” (2010), wherein she served as his character’s manipulative and greedy mom Astrud Quijano-Crisanto.

Jaclyn had quite a busy year in 2011 as she worked on six projects. She appeared in the “Andi” episode of “Your Song”, in the “Vanishing Vanessa” episode of Wansapanataym, and in the “Tsinelas” and “Bisikleta” episodes of MMK. At the same time, she got casted in the teleseryes Sabel as Dra. Bettina Imperial-Zaragosa, and Reputasyon as Luisa Alcantara-Delos Santos.

In her last year in ABS-CBN prior to transferring to another network in 2013, she starred in the “Bahay” episode of MMK and then in the series Kahit Puso’y Masugatan, which was top-billed by her daughter Andi Eigenmann, wherein she played the role of Esther Gerona-Espiritu.

And after around a decade, she made her momentous return to ABS-CBN when she was tapped to play the tough Jail Chief Supt./BGEN Dolores Espinas in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo. In a previous interview with ABS-CBN News, the late screen icon expressed that being part of the series personally makes her feel like that her being an artist was already complete.

She had a slew of remarkable scenes in the series, through which she displayed the two facets of Chief Espinas as a strong and harsh leader yet with a compassionate heart. As she finally regained consciousness after being fatally shot by Bong (Vandolph Quizon) during the riot that sparked in the correctional facility, avid viewers are now puzzled about how the story of her character will continue.

She may be gone too soon, but her legacy and memories as an actress and as an individual will definitely remain etched in the hearts and minds of many. You will be missed, our one and only Jaclyn Jose. May you rest in peace.