Vlad Bunoan

Jackie Lou Blanco welcomes diverse acting roles in film, TV and theater

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

Without her consciously knowing it, veteran actress Jackie Lou Blanco recently observed the first year of the passing of her mother, Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales, only last April. “One year really happened so fast,” Blanco told ABS-CBN News. “I didn’t exactly keep track of the time. There are talks about a musical for her. We already have the script, but I still don’t know who will produce it. We are just presenting it. We have already talked to interested ones, yet I still don’t know anything final in the plans.”In the meantime, Blanco is busy with her acting offers –- film, TV and stage -- and is proud to be doing her first Virgin Labfest (VLF) play.“I really wanted to do VLF after I was able to watch one play,” Blanco said. “I don’t know if I told Tata Nanding [Josef] or Sir Dennis [Marasigan] to invite me if there are auditions or role that fits me. Early this year, they called me and asked if I could do a reading with a director.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779349803064690616332_1339234428022281_3042022449856380960_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div>She was offered a role as a nun in playwright Gab Mactal’s “Lualhati,” a character she has never played before. She shares the stage with Angel Aquino and the latter’s daughter, Iana Bernardez. Alternating with Blanco is Banaue Miclat, with Bea Garcia Choy and Sarah Monay also in the cast, directed by Mara Paulina Marasigan,“I was so happy because I was playing opposite Angel Aquino and her daughter, Iana,” Blanco said. “It’s always a work in progress. From the first rehearsal, there was always something added to what we know and what we do. We always encounter a new perspective.“It has been really, really nice. It has been something you can really relate to even if the characters are not like you. The feeling, for sure, you felt that at some point in your life in different situations. The scenes are very relatable also, especially what they go through.”The most challenging for Blanco in “Lualhati” is the theme and how she will bring the character to life. “The character is different from who I really am,” she said. “It’s my first time to work with Mara as a director, although I worked with her before when she was an assistant director for TV. But it’s nice because I’m working with an all-women cast.”She started VLF rehearsals while she was wrapping up work on the series “House of Lies,” as well as the Cinemalaya entry. “Mag-iina,” directed by Giancarlo Abrahan.“What happened then, when it was the break time of my TV, I was memorizing lines for the VLF play,” Blanco shared. “I’m using the time when I didn’t have to do scenes in the soap, to memorize my lines for the play.“That became a bit hard because everything became simultaneous. I’m relieved and happy now because my TV and Cinemalaya were finished. I did a film, ‘Mag-iina’ for Cinemalaya. That was written by Guelan Luarca. I only have to concentrate on VLF now.”Blanco cannot be thankful enough that she has been getting challenging roles in the projects that she accepts of late.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779335087972IMG_4085.jpeg" style="width:655px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>In March last year, Blanco played a wealthy matron Anna, who was paired with a passionate dance instructor Diego (JC Santos), as they prepare for their final rehearsal ahead of an amateur ballroom dancing competition in “The Foxtrot,” staged by Theatre Titas.She reprised her role in “The Foxtrot,” where she was later paired with Royce Cabrera. The musical was written by Theatre Titas co-founder Chesie Galvez-Cariño.“I’m really so happy with the offers I’ve been getting. They give me more fulfillment, something that I’ve been wanting to do even before. My role in ‘Lualhati’ is something that I cannot do on TV, with the theme. Maybe in the movies. My role in Cinemalaya, ‘Mag-iina,’ ibang-iba talaga. I’ve never done that role before. The theme is also very different.”“Mag-iina (The Mothering)” is one of the 10 finalists of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2026, happening on August 7-16. The film is based on the play “Corridors,” originally written and adapted for the screen by multi-awarded Filipino playwright, director and actor Guelan Luarca.Blanco plays a “much, much, much older woman,” that is really different from previous roles she has played before.At 62, she credits her positive attitude and the lifestyle that she leads, despite the challenges. “Naging habits ko na ang ginagawa ko before.”While her mom previously watched her in a musical, Blanco regrets that Corrales will no longer see the challenging roles that she accepts of late.

Veteran actress Jackie Lou Blanco is keeping a full slate across stage, film and television, taking on a string of challenging roles that she says have given her renewed fulfillment.

Veteran actress Jackie Lou Blanco is keeping a full slate across stage, film and television, taking on a string of challenging roles that she says have given her renewed fulfillment.