Ricky, Jackielou reunite, children cheer
ESTRANGED couple Ricky Davao and Jackie Lou Blanco are reunited playing husband and wife in GMA-7’s new teleserye, “AlterNate” in the drama anthology, “I Can See You”. So how is it?
“It’s easy to work with Jackie kasi magaling na artista and we have a good material in ‘AlterNate’ as the parents of Nate, ‘yung (karakter ni) Dingdong Dantes na mabait,” says Ricky. “We shot the show on lock in taping for one month in San Pablo, Laguna at okay naman ang lahat.”
“I’m very happy we were given the chance to work together again after so long,” says Jackie. “As actors, huli kaming nagkasama was in ‘Captain Barbell’ pa in 2006. But he got the chance to direct me in one soap. Napakadaling katrabaho ni DIrek Ricky kasi he’s very professional. Wala kaming naging problema at all.”
It’s their three kids who got excited when they found their parents are working together again. “Kinukumusta kami at ang sabi ko sa kanila, grabe, ang galing talaga ng tatay nyo,” says Jackie. “May mga binigay na naman siya sa eksena namin na hindi ko ine-expect. He always surprises me.”
“Our kids are mga Marites (meaning, they want chismis),” says Ricky. “Lagi kaming kinukumusta. When they learned there’s a scene that I would slap Jackie, they got worried. Will you really slap Mama? Is it for real? Sabi ko, ang gusto ni Direk Dominic Zapata, back slap, parang ‘yung kay Gina Alajar kay Claire Castro in ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ that went viral sa tindi ng sampal ni Gina. Pero hindi kami umabot sa ganoon. We are both professional actors. Basta kung anong kailangan sa eksena, yun ang ginawa namin. ‘Yung mga anak namin, parang back up, e. Cheerleaders sila.”
So wasn’t there anything rekindled between them? “Jackie and I, araw-araw nagkikita kami. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, magkasama kami. Yun ang bonding namin. Si Jackie runs everyday and lahat ng mga kasama ko rito, puro health buffs, so tinuturuan nila akong mag work out and I lost 10 lbs. during our month’s stay in Laguna.”
Did they spend Christmas together? “No, ako I just stayed home from Christmas to New Year. I didn’t go out. But Jackie sent me food nung Christmas.”
“Our kids and I, we spent Christmas day with my mom (Pilita Corrales) for lunch then for dinner, the kids go with Ricky,” says Jackie. “This year, dahil sa pandemic, ‘yung ibang celebrations namin, hindi natuloy.”
We tell Ricky he seems very favored by GMA management. He just played Alden Richard’s dad in “The World Between Us” and now he’s the dad of Dingdong Dantes in the show that replaces it.
“Well, loyal Kapuso naman ako and I’m really very thankful kasi parehong si Direk Dominic Zapata ang direktor ko dyan. Swerte akong mapili na dad ng pinakamalalaking artista ng GMA. Ibang-iba ang characters ko and I feel so blessed kasi naka-acting pa rin ako. Kung minsan, sabi ko, naku, nalilimutan na yata nilang aktor ako at puro pagdidirek ang offers sa akin. So when they offered this to me, I was so happy, kasi once you’re an actor, you will always be an actor. Iba ang high na ibinibigay ng pagiging aktor. It has its magical moments na hindi mababayaran. Ang sarap talaga ng feeling na you’re acting with other good actors and with beautiful materials. Thankful ako na nagawa ko ulit yan, but I still want to direct so I’m just lucky that I can do both with GMA.”
