Veteran actress Jackie Lu Blanco talked about the emotional burden that her family experiences after the recent loss of their loved ones - her mother, the legendary actress Coraless, and her late husband, actor and director Ricky Davao. "It has been really quite difficult," Blanco told reporters on Sunday during the ceremony awarding the posthumous Coraless at Malacañang, where the late singer was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit. "Ricky was sick for the last couple of months. We are trying to draw strength from each other and lean on God for help so we can get through this together." She continues to encourage her children to carry on the legacy of their beloved family members. "I told them, 'We honor your mama and your papa, being exceptional in how you do what you do, and in how you treat other people,'" she said. Blanco remains hopeful that through faith and mutual support, they will find peace amid their grief. Just over a week ago, on May 2, Davao passed away at the age of 63 after battling cancer. Blanco said it has been particularly hard for their children, who lost their father and grandmother in such a short time. "They lost their dad and their 'mama' practically at the same time," she said. "But it’s hard because the grief doesn’t stop after the burial. We are still mourning my mom, and now we are scrambling for Ricky." Coraless, known as the Coraless of Asia, passed away on April 12 at the age of 85. "Is it hard? He was definitely fighting a good fight," she said. "Yes."
