t's not only during these solemn moments of Lent that internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza, a native of the City of San Fernando in Pampanga remembers her award-winning actress Jaclyn Jose, a daughter of Angeles City.
Every day of his life since Jaclyn's passing last month, Brillante misses her sorely.
In his Facebook wall, the 2009 Palme d'Or Best Director for "Kinatay" has been teary-eyed when the thoughts of Jaclyn, Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck crosses his mind.
The prizewinning filmmaker has posted a series of photos with him and Jane together.
"I miss you so much," posted Mendoza in his social media spaces.
It is because for more than four solid decades, Jane and Dante Mendoza (Brillante's other screen name) had been very close with each other professionally and personally.
Even when Dante was still a Production Designer (PD) for Jaclyn's films like "Takaw-Tukso," "Private Show," "Flesh Avenue," among others they have found true friendship and pro liaison.
When Mendoza was given the chance to debut for film directing, he quickly got Jaclyn to play the role of Coco Martin's mom in "Masahista (The Masseur)" which catapulted the titular actor to superstardom.
And in 2016, Brillante gave the most coveted role of a small time drug dealer in "Ma' Rosa' which clinched the Palme d'Or Best Actress award for Jaclyn at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival besting other noted Hollywood stars like Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotillard, Ruth Negga and Kristen Stewart.
Off-camera, Jane and Dante were real friends who showed each other their true selves in the most uncompromising situations.
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