Jackie Lou: No regrets at how career has turned out

Jackie Lou Blanco won’t likely be remembered for her singing — and she’s fine with that.

But, in the ’80s, Jackie Lou actually put out singles including a remake of You Don’t Own Me, which became a radio hit. She even got signed up one after the other by major record labels OctoArts and Blackgold. Though first recognized as the daughter of Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales, Jackie Lou was on her way to moving outside that big shadow had she wanted to.

“I realized I’m a better actress than a singer so I opted to just concentrate on the former,” she’d say about her decision some years later.

Apparently, it is not the last time Jackie Lou would have something to do with singing professionally. In the Atlantis production of In The Heights, Jackie Lou lifts her voice in songs as Camila. She’ll have a solo number and several othrs with the ensemble and Jackie Lou has taken up voice lessons to ensure she’ll be up to the task.

Being part of In The Heights has revived fond memories for Jackie Lou. She remembers listening to her mother’s records (mostly made up of Spanish songs) and watching Pilita’s shows (so much that she even memorized her spiels!).       

Jackie Lou is happy with her career. Though it would hardly lead to snagging a recording contract — not that Jackie Lou wants one to begin with — the actress is thankful that key people in the industry see her beyond the image she has inadvertently established for herself.

Asked how her role resonates in real life, Jackie Lou said that like Camila, she willingly and gladly sacrificed a lot of things for her kids. The actress recalled making a decision to hibernate from showbiz so she could concentrate on her family. She added that she reached the point when she realized that her children’s dreams are more important than hers since she already had “lived a life anyway and now it’s their turn.”

This attitude redounds to her outlook in her career. Jackie Lou said that she has embraced where she is now even as she looks forward to where tomorrow might take her. The actress has come to accept that she’ll likely not play lead roles anymore, and that in projects, she’ll always be the mother of someone or, a few years from now, the grandmother of someone.

“I’m totally happy to just have a job and one that I truly enjoy,” she quipped, smiling. “I don’t have hang-ups, no regrets, no nothing. I am accepting of anything and everything.”

Only someone who is happy and who is at peace with the world and with herself can genuinely say, “I don’t have hang-ups, no regrets…” in a business where it’s mortifying to lose your place under the addictive spotlight. Bravo, Jackie Lou.

In the Heights, with its hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music infused score by Lin-Manuel Miranda, took Broadway by storm when it opened in 2008 garnering an astounding 13 Tony Award nominations and winning four Tony awards including Best Musical. It tells the story of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition.

In the Heights will open Atlantis Productions’ 2012 season in March. The Tony Award winning musical won the Aliw Award for Best Ensemble and the repeat run will feature the original Manila cast led by Nyoy Volante, K-La Rivera, Ima Castro, Calvin Millado, Tex Ordonez, Felix Rivera, Jimmy Marquez, Bibo Reyes and Jay Glorioso (who also won an Aliw Award for her performance as Abuela Claudia).

Director Bobby Garcia said, “I am especially thrilled that the limited repeat run will also welcome In The Heights Tony Award winning composer and star on Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda to Manila. Through a special arrangement with Delta Airlines, he will be present for the show’s opening night.” 

The limited repeat run of In The Heights is from March 16-25, 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For details, visit www.atlantisproductionsinc.com.