TEARS FALL AS JACKIE LOU BLANCO AND MAYETH MALCA MOURN THE LOSS OF RICKY DAVAO

Manila, Philippines – May 5, 2025 — The entertainment industry continues to grieve the loss of one of its most respected veterans, Ricky Davao, who passed away at the age of 63. As tributes pour in from across the country, two women closest to him — Jackie Lou Blanco, his former wife, and Mayeth Malca, his longtime partner — were seen visibly emotional during the wake, both unable to hold back their tears as they bid farewell to the man they both loved deeply in different chapters of his life.

An Emotional Reunion in Grief

In a rare and poignant moment, Jackie Lou and Mayeth — both central figures in Ricky’s personal journey — found themselves standing together in grief. Despite their complex shared history, grief brought them side by side, united in mourning a man who was more than just an actor — he was a father, partner, and friend.

Witnesses at the wake described a heavy atmosphere as Jackie Lou, dressed in all black, quietly cried while holding a framed photo of Ricky during his younger years. Moments later, Mayeth Malca arrived with red-rimmed eyes, offering a soft nod to Jackie Lou as she took her place near the casket.

“There were no words between them at first,” said one attendee. “Just silent tears and a shared pain that didn’t need to be spoken.”

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Jackie Lou: “He was a part of my soul.”

In a short but emotional interview outside the funeral chapel, Jackie Lou Blanco spoke about Ricky not just as her ex-husband, but as a friend and father of her children.

“We may have parted as husband and wife, but we never stopped being family,” she said, voice cracking. “He was a part of my soul, and losing him feels like losing a piece of my past that made me who I am today.”

She declined to go into further detail, asking for privacy as she and their children continue to grieve.

Mayeth Malca: “I lost my best friend.”

Meanwhile, Mayeth Malca, Ricky’s partner in recent years, released a brief statement through her representative:

“I lost my partner, my best friend, my home. Ricky was everything kind and decent. He fought quietly, loved deeply, and left gently. I will carry his heart with me forever.”

Friends close to Mayeth revealed that she had been Ricky’s steady companion during his final battle with cancer — staying by his side through the difficult moments and ensuring he was surrounded by love.

An Outpouring of Sympathy

Fans, colleagues, and fellow actors flooded social media with messages of love and condolences for both women.

“Jackie Lou and Mayeth — you are both strong, and Ricky loved you in his own ways,” one netizen posted.
“This isn’t about rivalry. This is about love that shaped a man’s life.”

The wake has since become a place not just of mourning, but of quiet healing — where the people closest to Ricky Davao can reflect on his life, his choices, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Ricky Davao: Remembered with Love

As one of Philippine cinema’s most respected figures, Ricky Davao touched the lives of many — not just through his films and performances, but through his integrity, kindness, and devotion to his family and craft.

And as the people who loved him weep and remember, the nation, too, bows its head — grateful for a life that gave so much to art, and to love.