Yesterday, tragedy struck: the inimitable Jaclyn Jose, at age 59, passed away. She casts a long and imposing shadow on Philippine entertainment thanks to her amazing body of work, and she will forever be missed. Here are 8 reasons why there will never be another Jaclyn Jose. 

It’s actually wrong to say she made a transition

Jaclyn was once known for more provocative roles, but if you think for a moment that she was one of the few who made a successful transition to being a serious actress, you’d be wrong – even during her start, she was already a serious actress, and her URIAN awards during this time period only reflected that.

Her distinct acting style will forever be lovingly parodied

Remember Vice Ganda’s hilarious impression of Jaclyn? Her blank yet expressive face was the kind of gravitas many actors and actresses could only dream of accomplishing. 

Even when she phones it in, she still comes up with something brilliant

True fans of Jaclyn know when she is putting something extra special into her role and when she’s just “phoning it in.” But even in the moments when she’s just coasting by on her natural talent, she still manages to command the screen like nobody else, which is a testament to how effortless all of this was to her.

She was equally as good at being the good guy and the bad guy

Like Eddie Garcia, Jaclyn’s versatility made her stand out in the industry. In a Philippine showbiz scene where being typecast into good guy or bad guy roles is actually considered a good thing, she managed to switch between both with ease.

She was a social media queen

Have you seen her Instagram? Jaclyn was witty, vivacious, full of life, and insightful, to say the least. And now we miss her even more.

She even knew how to make people laugh

Did you think someone of her gravitas was incapable of humor? You’d be wrong. Jaclyn’s talents were so prodigious that she could make you feel things on a dime, including non-stop laughter whenever she felt like it. Her turns at doing sitcoms are a living testament to that.

She represented the best that Pinoy entertainment had to offer

With her recognition both here and abroad and more acting awards, than you can fit on a single mantle, she was just a powerhouse who was absolutely in a league of her own.

She represented the best of what humanity had to offer

Anyone who knew her behind the scenes had nothing but good things to say about her, and it was clear: Jaclyn was simply a wonderful human being who was also one of the most talented actresses on the planet. And the world was that much richer for having had her in it.

Godspeed, Ms. Jaclyn Jose. You will always represent the best of us.