Veteran actress Jackie Lou Blanco revealed that she almost turned down the offer of playing kontrabida to Claudine Barretto in Saan Ka Man Naroroon.
In this ABS-CBN show, which ran from 1999 to 2001, Jackie Lou played Violeta Bermudez-Antonino. She was the evil aunt of the triplets Rosenda, Rosario, and Rosemarie, played by Claudine.
Violeta manipulated Rosenda to have evil thoughts, causing the latter to harbor ill feelings towards her sisters and parents.
Before starring in Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Claudine was part of the popular series, Mula sa Puso.
In Mula sa Puso, the late director Wenn Deramas was able to create the iconic kontrabida character Selina Matias, played by Princess Punzalan.
Selina became one of the most unforgettable villains in TV during the '90s, mainly because of her evil laugh.
During her recent interview, Jackie Lou recalled that, 19 years ago, she initially had apprehensions about accepting the Violeta role when it was offered to her by Direk Wenn.
Direk Wenn also helmed Saan Ka Man Naroroon.
The 54-year-old actress reminisced, "In fact, I remember, when Direk Wenn asked me to do that, kakatapos pa lang ng Mula sa Puso yata.
"Sabi niya, 'Can I get you?'
"[Sagot ko,] 'Parang nakakanerbiyos naman 'yan kasi after Mula sa Puso, parang ako yung [magiging Selina].'
"'Hindi,' sabi niya, 'I want you!'
"And I’m happy I said yes, kahit in the beginning, apprehensive ako. Kaya ba 'yan? Parang ang lakas ng pressure. Pero I'm happy that I said yes."
Jackie Lou considers all her scenes with Rosenda as her favorites.
"My scenes with her, how I would try to make her do something or how I try to make her think the way I would, siguro those would be my favorite scenes, kasi lagi naghahanap si Direk Wenn ng ganito, or you attack it this way."
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had an exclusive interview with Jackie Lou after the Walk of Fame Event in Eastwood City.
Jackie Lou was one of the hosts of the event, together with John Nite.
MEMORIES WITH CLAUDINE BARRETTO
In the show, Jackie Lou worked closely with Claudine, allowing them to create happy memories together on the set of Saan Ka Man Naroroon.
But one memory that stood out involved her eldest daughter, Rikki Mae.
Jackie Lou narrated, "One of my daughters, my elder daughter, sobrang love na love niya si Claudine. Fan na fan siya ni Claudine.
"I appreciate those times na pag dumadalaw siya [Rikki Mae] sa set, Claudine would really play with her, spend time with her.
"Yun yung sigurong one of my fondest memories with Claudine, kasi talagang binigyan niya ng oras, and my daughter, hindi niya nalilimutan yun.
"Yung daughter ko is 25 na. She was siguro maybe 4 or 5 at that time. At saka si Claudine, mahilig kasi siya sa bata so she would go out of her way para i-entertain yung anak ko."
Saan Ka Man Naroroon was the first and last full-length series Jackie Lou did with Claudine, although they have worked with each other in an episode of Claudine's 2010 self-titled drama anthology with GMA-7.
This is the reason why she hasn't communicated with Claudine for a long time now.
"Matagal ko na siyang hindi nakikita. But I'm glad that she’s back, I know she’s doing well.
"I hope I see her again, she’s really one of our best actresses. I hope I get to work with her again."
INAGAW NA BITUIN
After Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Jackie Lou became a kontrabida in most of her teleseryes.
Some of which were GMA-7's teleseryes, mainly: Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw (2002), Sine Novela: Magdusa Ka (2007), Destined to be Yours (2017), Super Ma'am (2017), and Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka (2018).
However, for Jackie Lou's upcoming GMA-7 series, Inagaw na Bituin, she won't play a kontrabida anymore.
She told PEP.ph with delight, "Hindi, for a change, I’m not a kontrabida!
"It’s just ano naman, actually, I welcome any role, pero nagkasunod-sunod din kasi yung kontrabida ako, so nice naman now.
"I’m the mom of Sunshine Dizon and Angelika dela Cruz."
The new teleserye, which will also be top-billed by Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar, is now airing teasers in GMA-7 as it is set for a January 2019 release.
Jackie Lou gave a few details about the show's story.
"I won't say the whole ano ano, but kasi may anak si Sunshine na mapapalayo sa kanya for some reason.
"And then marunong siyang kumanta, because she was separated from her mom, siyempre yung dream niya of becoming ano, parang naagaw sa kanya, what was rightfully hers, because napalayo siya sa family niya. Something like that."
Jackie Lou did not specify if Sunshine's daughter will be played by Kyline or Therese.
Inagaw na Bituin, which will be directed by Mark Reyes, also has musical elements.
Jackie Lou continued, "Meron silang mga singing singing, may pa-concert kasi si Angelika.
"It started na siya yung singer tapos eventually, nagkaroon ng career si Sunshine."
The Kapuso actress said viewers can look forward to feisty confrontation scenes.
"I’m sure, marami silang aabangan na Angelika and Sunshine kasi sila talaga yung magkapatid na parang naging mag-rivals ba."