Veteran actress Jackie Lou Blanco has remained loyal to her home network, GMA-7, for many years now.
Though she was able to do shows for ABS-CBN in the past, Jackie Lou said that she has always considered herself to be a Kapuso.
This was even before she made things official in 2016 by signing a managerial contract with the network's talent arm, GMA Artist Center.
"Even noong hindi pa ako part ng Artist Center, I always considered myself a Kapuso kasi I really started with GMA, e.
"Not that hindi ako nakagawa sa ABS, nakagawa din ako but karamihan talaga ng ano ko, it’s all GMA."
The 54-year-old actress, who used to host GMA Supershow, said she doesn't see the need to transfer networks at her age.
She explained, "Kaya parang at this point in my life, in my age, parang I’m happy where I am.
"I’m always being given good roles, I'm always taken care of, whether the role is maikli o mahaba, it’s always a good role.
"I know that they respect me and I’m giving back the same.
"I really cannot imagine myself being with another network, anyway.
"I’m just full of gratitude and I’m happy where I am, so feeling ko there’s really no reason for me to go elsewhere."
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) spoke to Jackie Lou after the Walk of Fame event in Eastwood City.
KAPAMILYA OFFERS
In the past, Jackie Lou was also able to do teleseryes with ABS-CBN.These were Esperanza (1997), where she had a guest role, and Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999-2001), where she played its main kontrabida, Violeta.
Her last project with ABS-CBN was the weekly series, Volta, which aired 10 years ago.
Most of Jackie Lou's TV shows were with GMA-7.
These were: Del Tierro (1997-1999), Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw (2001-2002), Captain Barbell (2006), Sinasamba Kita (2007), Magdusa Ka (2008), Lalola (2008), Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang (2009), Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2009), Rosalinda (2009)......Basahang Ginto (2010), Dwarfina (2011), Blusang Itim (2011), Legacy (2012), Together Forever (2012), Indio (2013), Genesis (2013), Hiram na Alaala (2014), Destiny Rose (2015), Because of You (2015), Someone To Watch Over Me (2016), Destined to be Yours (2017), Super Ma'am (2017), and Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka (2018).
Jackie Lou admitted that she also received offers to do teleseryes with ABS-CBN in the past.
However, most of the time, she turned down these offers.
"Lagi naman ako naiimbitahan to do a soap with ABS pero pag naiimbitahan ako, lagi na akong mayroon na akong ginagawa [sa GMA] so hindi ako nakaka-oo."
Still, Jackie Lou was able to guest in ABS-CBN's drama anthologies, Ipaglaban Mo and Maalaala Mo Kaya.
GMA Artist Center allows her to guest in these shows.
"Pwede naman pero as Artist Center, pwede, pero hindi soap. Mga pwede, mag-guest sa Ipaglaban Mo, pero with their approval pa. Tama rin naman."
NO EXCLUSIVITY
Jackie Lou wants artists to have freedom in working with any TV station.
This is because during her heyday, exclusivity was not a big deal.
"For me nga, wala naman ganyan dati, di ba? Anybody can work anywhere.
"How I wish nga na sana pwedeng, 'Oy ipapahiram ko sa 'yo si Dingdong [Dantes], pahiram mo sa akin si John Lloyd [Cruz].
"Sana ganon, ano?"
Jackie Lou admits that she also wants to work with ABS-CBN actors and actresses.
"So that yung mga artist sa each network can also work with other artist kasi, di ba, bilang artista, you also want to work with likes of Piolo [Pascual], di ba?
"Kaya lang, siyempre, because of exclusivity, nakakahinayang kasi dalawa lang naman ang major networks.
"I pray na sana umabot sa ganon, magkaroon ng chance."
Jackie Lou will be part of the GMA-7 afternoon series, Inagaw na Bituin, which is scheduled to air its pilot episode this January 2019.