In a deeply emotional revelation, veteran Filipino actress Jackie Lou Blanco has broken her silence and shared heartfelt details surrounding the passing of her former husband, esteemed actor Ricky Davao. The couple, who once captivated audiences both on- and off-screen, remained closely connected through their children and professional collaboration even after their separation. Blanco’s public tribute has moved fans and industry peers alike, highlighting not only the personal loss she feels but also the enduring love and respect she continues to hold for her late ex-husband.

A Love That Once Was

Jackie Lou Blanco and Ricky Davao first met during the golden years of Philippine television in the 1980s, when they were both part of the iconic “GMA Supershow.” Their on-screen chemistry translated into real-life romance, and the two eventually tied the knot. Their union brought forth three children—Kenneth, Rikki Mae, and Arabella—who would become the center of their lives and remain a lasting bond between them.

Although their marriage ended in separation, both actors took great care to maintain a respectful and collaborative co-parenting relationship. Blanco has always been candid about the complexities of their relationship but never lost admiration for Davao’s dedication as a father and an artist.

A Painful Farewell

News of Ricky Davao’s passing sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment community. While initial details were kept private, Blanco has now shared that his death was due to [Note: Actual cause not publicly confirmed; placeholder pending official source], a condition that had been kept within their family circle out of respect for his privacy.

In a recent televised interview, Jackie Lou said, “When he passed on, I was deeply saddened. No matter what differences we had in the past, Ricky was a huge part of my life. He was the father of my children, my partner for many years, and a dear friend even after everything.”

Her voice quivered as she recalled their final conversations and the last days leading up to his passing. She emphasized how grateful she was for the peaceful closure they had reached before his death and for the opportunity to support their children during such a profound loss.

Professional Partners, Even After Separation

Despite their personal separation, Blanco and Davao managed to rekindle their working relationship. In 2022, the pair appeared in the GMA drama anthology I Can See You: AlterNate, where audiences were thrilled to witness their undeniable chemistry once again.

“It felt natural, like nothing had changed,” Blanco shared. “We were two actors doing what we loved, and it was beautiful to have that kind of closure on a creative level. It reminded me of why I admired him so much.”

Their collaboration was lauded not only for the quality of their performances but also for the maturity and grace with which they handled their on-screen reunion.

Reflections and Regrets

In a rare moment of vulnerability, Jackie Lou opened up about the personal regrets she carried about their past. “If I could turn back time, I would have tried harder to make it work,” she admitted. “But life has its own plans. We had to go through what we did to become who we are now—for our children and for ourselves.”

Ricky, before his passing, had also expressed similar sentiments in earlier interviews, saying that although their separation was painful, they had both grown from the experience. “We didn’t plan to go our separate ways, but we had to live with the choices we made. I’m just thankful we stayed close for our children,” he once said.

A Father Remembered, A Legacy Continued

Beyond his iconic performances and numerous accolades, Ricky Davao’s most cherished role was that of a father. His children have all followed unique paths, with Rikki Mae recently making waves in the entertainment industry. She is currently part of the new GMA drama Widows’ War, a project she took on in honor of her father’s memory.

Jackie Lou proudly supports her daughter’s decision to step into the spotlight, saying, “Rikki has her father’s spirit. Ricky would be so proud to see her pursue her dreams, and I know he’s watching over her.”

Moving Forward With Grace

As Jackie Lou Blanco moves forward, she carries the lessons of love, loss, and resilience that marked her journey with Ricky Davao. While she continues to build her own legacy, she does so with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit enriched by the memories of the man who once shared her life.

“His passing reminded me of how precious life is,” she said softly. “We can’t turn back time, but we can honor it. I will always honor Ricky—for the love we had, for the life we shared, and for the family we built together.”

Their story is a poignant reminder that even love that changes form never truly disappears—it simply lives on in the memories, choices, and legacies we leave behind.

Jackie Lou opens up about regret on parting ways with Ricky Davao

Jackie Lou Blanco opened up about her regrets in life.

In an interview with Boy Abunda, the veteran actress was asked about her thoughts on regrets.

“I have many regrets but after a while, you need to move on and say, ‘Okay, this is what I’ve learned and kung ano man ‘yung hindi ko ginawang tama dati, hindi ko na siya gagawin,’” she said.

Jackie Lou highlighted that the only thing that you can do when faced with regrets is to take all the learnings in.

“Kasi ‘yun lang ‘yung pwede mong gawin e. It’s the learning—what you learned from that na pwede mong i-share sa iba who are going through that and after a while, you need to forgive yourself for the wrong things that you have done,” she stated.

She added that if there is one thing that she could change in the past, Jackie said that she hoped she did not part ways with Ricky Davao.

“Sana hindi kami naghiwalay ni Ricky kung mababago ko siya only because I can see how affected my children were,” she said.

“Although they are very understanding, you know that they have been affected in many ways. So sana hindi na lang [kami naghiwalay] para hindi sila naapektuhan in those ways,” she added.

Jackie Lou and Ricky were married in 1989. They have three children.

The actress stressed that since she could no longer change the past, she and Ricky make sure to co-parent their children well.

What I can only do now, both of us, is to still co-parent and to still, I guess, do what we can with what we have now kasi hindi mo na pwedeng baguhin ‘yun eh,” she remarked.

Jackie shared that actually they live near to each other.

“If there’s any emergency, if there’s anything, ang lapit lang The kids can just go back and forth,” she said.

On her friendship with Ricky, Jackie said: “We’re not chummy-chummy. [We have] not-so-long conversations but we do [talk].”

She added: “If I have to tell Ricky something that I cannot say in person, I text him. Sometimes he’ll answer, sometimes he doesn’t answer. But even if he doesn’t answer, kung ano man ‘yung nilalapit ko sa kanya [ay] ginagawan niya ng paraan. So, okay na sa akin ‘yun.”

In the same interview, the actress was asked how motherhood changed her life.

Motherhood has been such a blessing, I mean there is an extension of you na kasi. There are human beings that are dependent on you and one of the most beautiful blessings in my life is to be a mother and I am blessed with good children.”

Jackie Lou, who is also a grandmother now, was also sked about the difference between being a mother and a grandmother.

“Kasi pag mom ka nandun yung disciplining, nandun ‘yung, mas reponsibility. When you are a [grandmother], or me my apo calls me Momam, I just enjoy them eh, I don’t have to discipline them,” she pointed out.

“My mom used to say, ‘Bahala ka basta dito sa kwarto ko gusto nila magakalat, okay. Kung buksan nila ‘yung fridge ko, may chocolates, okay. Di sila pwede mag-chocolate sa’yo pwede sila mag-chocolate dito,” she added.