‘Susan Roces Prepared Family For Her Passing’

Philippine cinema’s queen, Susan Roces, prepared her family and loved ones for her passing, reminding them in her final days to help those in need and never back down from challenges, Sen. Grace Poe said of her mother.

The interment of the multi-awarded actress, who passed away last Friday, May 20, at the age of 80, will be this Wednesday, May 25, at Manila North Cemetery.

Her remains will be laid beside the tomb of her husband, the late action star and director known as the “King of Philippine Movies,” Fernando Poe Jr. or “FPJ,” who died in 2004.

“I just want to say ‘thank you’ to her that she prepared all of us for life without her,” Sen. Poe said as she recalled the last days of her mother, Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe in real life.

“For the longest time when we were orphaned by FPJ, even before that, when I was still young, she brought me up to be content with whatever I have, and not to forget that we have a mission in life – to help, whenever we can,” Poe added in Filipino as reporters visited the wake at Heritage Park in Taguig City last Saturday night, May 21.

She said her mother taught her and her family not to be reckless in their actions and remain calm in the face of challenges, but not allow themselves to be persecuted.

“That’s why Ma, it’s as if I lost support but as you always say: ‘Grace, you can do it. Don’t let me down.’ So, we’ll carry on and we know you’re always there,” she said.

The senator also said that Roces kept reminding them about renovating their house in Baguio City so that her grandchildren could spend their vacations there.

Poe said Roces, who died of cardiac arrest after suffering from many complications amid her failing health, remained uncomplaining until the end.

She noted some signs – including loss of appetite – that her mother was in the terminal stage and they felt they should already let her go after all that Roces had done for others.

Poe said she believes her mother felt the absence of FPJ more so during the pandemic when she had less work and more time for introspection.

The last two weeks saw her mother, who was up-to-date on political events and activities of her daughter, easily fatigued. Poe noted that their daily phone calls that usually lasted more than an hour had shortened to only 10 minutes.

Last Tuesday, May 16, before being taken to the hospital, Roces even called her up and was excited over the enactment of the Foundling Recognition on Protection Act into law.

Poe, herself a foundling, said they congratulated each other for the enactment of the law and were both happy.

“And after that (conversation), things became different (for her health). It’s as if she just waited for that law (to be passed),” Poe said.

Meanwhile, the Senate is set to pass a resolution expressing the profound sympathy of the chamber to the family of Roces.

Filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, it honors Roces for her achievements in the Philippine entertainment industry.

In the three-page resolution, Sotto described Roces as a “movie icon, a true Filipina, and a national treasure.”

“The passing away of a legendary movie star whose invaluable contribution to Philippine cinema is beyond compare and whose sincerity, warmth, guidance and kindness had truly touched the hearts of her fellow workers in the film industry sector, particularly the young actors and actresses who have just begun their movie careers, will be mourned by the Filipino people and the nation,” Sotto said.