By Robbie Pangilinan
Being mistaken for Jinkee Pacquiao, the wife of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, is already part of Janet Jamora’s day. People ask for her autograph. Fans take pictures with her. Reporters follow her for interviews. But never once did she become irritated. She finds all these amusing instead. Why all the attention? Because Janet looks exactly like Jinkee, save for the slight difference in their eyes and the hardly noticeable mole at Janet’s right cheek. Janet is Jinkee’s identical twin.
“When I tell them I’m not Jinkee, some of them sometimes say, ‘It’s ok, you look alike naman so it’s the same,’ ” Janet recalls. “There are times when people do not even believe that I’m not Jinkee. I am very proud and happy to be Jinkee’s twin sister,” Janet muses.
Of course, people close to them can always tell them apart. The People’s Champ never confused Janet for Jinkee. “It never happened kasi kabisado na niya kami,” Janet shares.
Janet and Jinkee love being twin sisters. Back when they were younger, they wore identical clothes, shoes and had the same bags. Then and now, they think alike and have the same interests. But as with all siblings, they had their little fights over little things.
“We used to fight over clothes and toys. Kasi minsan bumibili ng damit yung mom namin, sa kanya dalawa, sa akin isa lang. Kapag toys naman, sa akin maganda, sa kanya pangit. Pero maya maya lang bati na ulit kami,” Janet says.
Now that they are grown-ups, the twins do not fight anymore. They are the closest of friends, too. They shop, play badminton and watch movies together. Jinkee loves buying clothes for Janet. “Mas maganda ang taste niya sa clothes. Mas magaling siya pumili ng damit at shoes,” Janet says.
The loving, caring and thoughtful Janet says that whenever Jinkee needs her, “I’m always here for her. I am willing to do everything for her and my whole family.”
While Jinkee has become more sociable, glamorous and stylish, called for because she is already a celebrity, Janet has remained a simple and shy homebody. To keep fit and beautiful, Janet does aerobics and eats healthy foods. Being quite confident with herself and her body, Janet says she does not have plans of changing or altering anything. She also frees her life of hatred and regrets. “I don’t have regrets in life kasi ginusto ko nman ang nangyayari sa buhay ko. It’s my choice kahit hindi lahat ng outcome maganda, ok lang kasi that’s life. Wala akong pinagsisihan sa buhay ko,” the beautiful sister says.
Janet reveals that she is happy with her love life now, though she had heartbreaks, too, in the past. “May mga hindi magandang nangyari sa past love life ko pero meron ding masaya,” Janet admits. She also denies rumors that Ilocos Governor Chavit Singson courted her and that conditioning coach Alex Ariza became her boyfriend.
“Ewan ko kung saan nanggaling yung balita na nanligaw si Chavit. Nagtaka nga ako, dami din nagtanong sa akin. Sabi ko, not true. About Alex, we never became lovers. We just went out one time and that’s it. I know he has a girlfriend,” Janet clarifies.
Because Janet is the kind of person who gives everything for love, she would like to be with a man who will love her just as much. “Kapag nagmahal kasi ako, i give everything. Maalaga ako, I’ll take care of him, I’ll make him laugh,” Janet says. She is looking for a God-fearing, caring, kind and honest man who will accept and love her for who she is.
In the future, Janet would also like to settle down and take care of her own family. But for now, she is enjoying herself, her life, and being the twin sister of the most popular boxer in the world today. #
