October 9, 2025 | 12:00am
Jackie Lou Blanco has achieved a dream, officially checking off her bucket list with a rare double-entry debut in the ongoing 2025 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. She plays a major role in Cheska Marfori’s drama film “Paglilitis” and a supporting character in Nigel Santos’ highly anticipated sapphic film “Open Endings.”
“I do more TV (now). So, it’s memorable because I’m happy that I’m back doing movies again, and then more memorable dahil Cinemalaya pa siya,” she told The STAR on the sidelines of the film festival during the gala night of “Paglilitis” on Oct. 7.
Landing the role of Mildred in “Paglilitis” marks her return to the big screen, an opportunity she is grateful for, as she loved playing the conflicted wife.
Jackie Lou draws inspiration from her relationship with lesbian daughter, Rikki Mae, for her performance in the LGBT-themed film ‘Open Endings.’
“I read the script. And ang inisip ko, if it happened to me and I had a husband who did that, but at the same time, alam kong mabuti siyang ama at mabuti siyang asawa, parang hating-hati ‘yung sentiments ko. So ‘yun ang ginamit ko dito,” she shared.
“Parang even if I knew that he wasn’t doing something right, but still I loved him. Di ba? It’s like sometimes people in your life, right, na gumagawa ng mali o nagkamali, but at the same time, mahal mo pa rin sila.
“But yes, ang mali ay mali pa rin. So, I love the script, I love that I had a role that was caught in between the truth and her love for her husband. So, I was very happy I was given this opportunity.”
The veteran actress plays Mildred Guzman, the wife of the accused in ‘Paglilitis.’
Meanwhile, she admitted that drawing from a real-life experience with her own daughter made her portrayal of Mihan’s mother in “Open Endings” (co-starring Leanne Mamonong) much easier.
“’Yung ‘Open Endings,’ I think it was easy for me because I have a daughter who’s also a lesbian. So very easy for me to get into the role kasi nangyari din sa anak ko ‘yun. I remember those times na meron siyang naging karelasyon tapos it didn’t turn out okay. So, it was easy for me to put myself into the shoes of the mom,” she detailed to The STAR.
While recounting the coming out story of her eldest daughter, Rikki Mae Davao, Jackie Lou revealed she knew Rikki Mae was queer even before her daughter admitted it to her in high school. Decades in show business, surrounded by mostly gay colleagues, helped her gain a deeper understanding of the community.
“I kind of had a feeling already. So, I just really waited for her to verbalize it to me. But of course, there were still some things that I didn’t understand and some things that I asked. Parang, pwede bang linawin sa akin? But I think it was easier for me because maybe I grew up in this business that I’m always with so many people who are gay,” she said.
Emphasizing on a shared experience, Jackie Lou stated that parents, like their children, undergo a journey, and she advised them to be open to understanding their child’s SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression).
“My daughter would always tell me nga na whatever the journey of your daughter or your son, may ibang journey rin ‘yung parents. If in the beginning siguro hindi mo pa totally matanggap, siguro dapat lang mangibabaw is ‘yung pagmamahal natin sa mga anak natin. And then, you just take the rest of the journey with them and just try to be as open as you can.”
She stressed that the importance of immediate family and friends being the first ones to embrace their queer loved ones. “If I cannot accept her, how will the world accept her? It needs to start with the immediate family and the immediate friends. So that if the outside world will judge them or will be harsh to them, they have you.”
Marking her new milestone of participating in the 21st year of the annual independent film festival with her two remarkable roles, Jackie Lou hopes to be seen more on the silver screen.
“Please help me pray for that. Yes, I really love that. I hope that this opens more doors for me to be seen on the silver screen. Let’s support our brave and new filmmakers and let’s support Cinemalaya.”
The Cinemalaya 21with the theme, “LAYAG sa Alon, Hangin at Unos,” continues to set sail at EDSA Shangri-La, Gateway Mall and select Ayala Malls cinemas until Oct. 12.
