Jake Ejercito openly expressed his heartbreak over Jaclyn Jose's demise.
Jake was reportedly one of the first people who visited Jaclyn's wake. He was seen taking part in the solemn placement of Jaclyn's urn. His sister, Jerika, was also at the wake to offer support for Ellie and Andi.
Jake also posted a throwback photo of his daughter Ellie and Jaclyn, with a heartbroken emoji as a caption. The veteran actress' daughter, Andi Eigenmann and Jake are both co-parenting for their Ellie.
Award-winning actress Jaclyn passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2024 due to a heart attack, her daughter Andi said in a press conference.
Instagram/unoemilio
Many fellow celebrities were spotted visiting Jaclyn's wake, like Alden Richards and Christopher De Leon, among others.
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Jake Ejercito and Andi Eigenmann connection
Jake and Andi's family connection goes a long way back. To be precise, Jake and Andi are childhood friends. Andi once publicly professed her love for Jake, which she declared began when she was only seven years old.
"My mother said, I was only seven years old the first time I said I was gonna marry you. Without even having any clue what that meant, I knew it. Twelve years later, with a clearer vision of what that means, I still feel the same," Andi said on social media back in 2013.
Jake and Andi had an on-and-off romance. At the time, Jake was not yet an actor and Andi was already a mother to Ellie. She was confirmed to be pregnant in 2011. Andi even made headlines for the controversy surrounding Ellie's true father.
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Jaclyn Jose on Jake Ejercito in 2011
It was Jaclyn who confirmed Andi's pregnancy in 2011. She did not mention Andi's baby daddy, but dropped hints that she was her "first boyfriend." During Andi's early showbiz run, she was romantically linked to Jake and Albie Casiño.
"Wala na sila 'nun. Iniwanan siya nung nabuntis siya. I don’t want to talk about him anymore. Wala akong hinihiling sa kanila, ni ayaw ko silang makita!" Jaclyn remarked in a 2011 interview with ABS-CBN News. It took almost five years for Jake to be revealed as the real father of Ellie.
Jaclyn had been very vocal about defending her daughter during the controversy about Ellie. She had expressed her disappointment in Jake for allegedly leaving Andi due to her pregnancy.
But as years passed by, Jake and Andi managed to reconcile and come to terms with each other, emerging as loving and attentive parents to Ellie. The same goes for Jaclyn and Jake who have found a common ground which is to love and protect Ellie.
Jake also posted a heartfelt message about Jaclyn on his Instagram account. One was a screenshot of Jaclyn's earlier texts to him, and the other one was Jake's most loving thoughts on his Tita Jaclyn.
"Of her many iconic roles, being a grandmother was one she cherished the most, especially to Ellie. I surely wouldn't have survived those early stages of fatherhood without your guidance. We rolled with the punches together—anything and everything just for Ellie," Jake wrote.
Jaclyn's earlier text to him also read, "Jake namimiss na kita sobra. Anak pa din ang turning ko sayo."
Tight hugs to Jaclyn's family and friends!
