The agency of veteran Filipino actress Jaclyn Jose - whose real name is Mary Jane Guck y Santa Ana - announced her death late Saturday night, local time (afternoon UTC, March 2) at the age of 60.
Sources close to the celebrity told local media that she died inside her residence in Manila and was only discovered dead at the scene by emergency service crews after she stopped responding to messages and calls from her relatives.
"The Guck and Eigenmann families are requesting for everyone to please pray for the eternal repose of Miss Jaclyn Jose and for them to be allowed the respect and privacy to mourn her passing, and navigate these difficult times," PPL Entertainment said in its statement on social media.
One of the first to confirm Jose's death was Philippine Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was a personal friend of hers during his time as an actor.
"The accolades and recognitions to her exceptional excellence and talent are already etched in Philippine film history, and it would be difficult to imitate," he said.
Jose is survived by her daughter Andi Eigenmann and her son Gwen Garimond Guck.
Her family is yet to release a public statement regarding her death, local media reported
From Manila to Cannes
Jose began her acting career in the local Filipino scene in the 1980s with her debut role in the films "Private Show" and "White Slavery." Her popularity then exploded due to her role in the 1990's TV series "Mula sa Puso" ("From the Heart").
She was currently acting as a villain in the ABS-CBN series "Batang Quiapo" ("Quiapo Kid") - a TV adaptation of the Fernando Poe Jr. film of the same name directed and starred by Filipino celebrity Coco Martin - by the time she died.
The highlight of her career came in 2016 when Jose won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the Brillante Mendoza crime flick "Ma' Rosa." She was claimed to be the very first Southeast Asian to win the prestigious accolade.
Local Industry in Mourning
In the aftermath of Jose's death, many in the Filipino entertainment industry paid tribute to what they considered one of the greatest actresses that ever lived.
"We love you so much ... What a painful goodbye," seasoned actor Gardo Versoza wrote on Instagram. "I thought we would still have a chat."
Gladys Reyes, a contemporary of Jose, also posted a video of each other behind the scenes of a movie where both of them starred.
"Jane, this is shocking, you gutted us all," she wrote, using Jose's real name. "This vlog is one of the memories we have of each other on set that I will never forget. Thank you for the tips, as well as for taking care of me as if you're my older sister. We will miss the one and only Jaclyn Jose."
