Janice Jurado needs your prayers

Before Ruffa Mae Quinto and other sexy comediennes, there was Janice Jurado. Bursting at the seams with sex appeal, Janice was not like other female comics who capitalized on physical deformities to elicit laughter from the audience. On the contrary, she relied on her physical attributes (she was the original Miss Mt. Pinatubo – if you know what I mean) and her comic talent to develop her own following.

A standup comic at Taxco, she was discovered for television in 1980 by Channel 9 executive Luz Padua. Her first regular TV show was Duplex, which topbilled the late Ading Fernando (he was hilarious as Daddy Groovy), Marissa Delgado, Al Tantay and former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe winner Anna Lorraine Kier. (I saw her with her daughters in Megamall sometime ago and she is still lovely).

In Duplex, Janice played the bumbling maid Liweng. Liweng was dumb but lovable. She was the type of maid who had to be given step-by-step instruction on how to cook an egg – including cracking it open and removing its shell. Or how about this? She once asked Daddy Groovy what she should do next. Out of sheer exasperation, Daddy Groovy told her in his most sarcastic tone to just stand by the front yard and wait for two kangaroos to pass by and bring them to the house. What do you know? In the next scene, she did return to the house with – you would never have guessed it – two kangaroos! Janice was so effective in that role that she soon became a household name.

Her other memorable TV role was in Eh Kasi, Babae. As Candy (full name: Candelaria Tot), she was Johnny Wilson’s secretary. Johnny owned a design firm with a team headed by Gloria Diaz. Candy was no dumb blonde this time. She was streetwise and got her way around the office because, well, she was having this thing with Boss Johnny.

Aside from television, Janice also did movies, sometimes doing lead roles, but more often secondary, but meaty parts. Oh, she has done films with the top leading men – Fernando Poe, Jr., Dolphy, Lito Lapid and the late Chiquito. But she did miss out working with Joseph Estrada.

Unfortunately, there was a point in her life and career when she went wayward and turned to drugs. As expected, her life got ruined. She lost her career and practically everything she earned in show business.

Mercifully, she cleaned up her act and started picking up the pieces of her life – or what she left of it. Today, she is into the business of fire extinguishers. (Prior to this, she was into pest control). Still in shape, her two kids are both grown up now. The older one – a son – is presently the manager of Sbarro’s in Megamall. Her daughter is a housewife. And yes, Janice Jurado is now a grandmother of four.

After she did a soap opera for Channel 7 not so long ago, nothing much was heard of her – until recently when it was reported that she had been reduced to penury. The report said that she has been frequenting the Quezon City Hall to ask for financial assistance from the vice mayor, Herbert Bautista.

Last Saturday, Janice cleared the issue when she was interviewed on Startalk by Rosanna Roces. Rosanna and Janice turned out to be good friends, having appeared together in Matrikula for Premiere Entertainment a few years back. (Janice fondly calls Osang "Tisay.")

During the interview, Janice, a resident of Quezon City (she lives in the area behind the LTO), did admit that she frequents the City Hall to see Vice Mayor Bautista. However, she goes there – no, not to ask for financial help – but to ask around if she could be referred to a good doctor who can help her with her medical problem. In Startalk, Janice revealed that she might have breast cancer. In fact, she’s undergoing tests today at the St. Luke’s Medical Center for confirmation.

Actually, it seems like a sure thing already – and she’s prepared for the eventuality. But what would kill her is if the doctors decide to remove one of her breasts. It’s not really just all about vanity. It’s something all women fear. The fear of not being whole anymore.

Maybe we should just pray for Janice Jurado. She needs our prayers especially today that she is undergoing tests.

As for her fans, she need not worry about them. The doctors may decide to remove a piece of her anatomy, but the talent in there we’ve always admired will never be excised.