Sen. Grace Poe recalls mom's last days, says Susan Roces missed FPJ

Susan Roces’ daughter Senator Grace Poe said her mom prepared their family for her passing.

In an interview with the press held during Roces’ wake at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City on Saturday, Poe said the late veteran actress and Queen of Philippine Movies showed signs of change during her last days.

“Nabigla rin kami pero kapag inisip namin ang kanyang mga gawain sa mga nakaraang buwan at linggo, inihanda na niya kami talaga,” she said.

(We were surprised but when we look back at how she was the past month and weeks, she really prepared us for her passing.)

According to Poe, they would always talk on the phone for an hour or more. However, Roces had been in a hurry to end their conversations the past two weeks.

“Sinasabi niya, ‘Sige na, sige na’ at parang nahahapo siya. Do’n na namin talaga napag-desisyunan ng aking mga pinsan na mukhang meron nang iba dito kasi hindi rin siya makakain. Ayaw na rin kumain," Poe said.

(She would always say bye and it seems she was getting tired. That's when we decided with my cousins that there may be something different because she could no longer eat. She did not want to eat.)

When Roces was brought to the hospital last Tuesday, Poe said her mother also left reminders for her grandchildren and complained about pains.

“Ang pinagbibilin niya (ay) yung mga apo niya na kailangan daw dalhin namin sa Baguio ang mga bata tapos ang bahay daw ng Papa ko do’n, ayusin ko raw para yung mga bata, pwede mag-bakasyon do’n.”

(She told us to bring her grandchildren to Baguio, and that I should fix the house of my Papa in Baguio so the children can stay there for vacation.)

Asked what she would like to tell her mother, Poe had this to say: “Gusto ko lang sabihin sa kanya na maraming salamat hinanda niya kami.”

(I just want to say thank you for preparing us for this.)

“‘Ma, parang nawalan ako ng saklay. Pero sabi mo naman palagi ‘di ba, ‘Grasya, kaya mo ‘yan. Kayanin mo ‘yan. Huwag mo akong papahiyain.’ So kakayanin namin at alam kong nand’yan ka.”

(Ma, it's like I lost a crutch. But you always say, 'Grasya, you can do it. You have to do it. Don't let me down.' So I will carry on knowing you are there.)

Missing husband Fernando Poe Jr.

FPJ, the King of Philippine Movies, passed away in 2004. According to Poe, Roces ended up missing him more since the pandemic began based on their conversations.

“Sa tingin ko, talagang nangulila siya sa tatay ko. Matagal na rin. Siguro walang buwan na nakalipas o madalas ‘pag nag-uusap kami, siya pa rin ang pinag-uusapan namin.”

(I think she was really still grieving over my father's death. It's been a long time. Not a month passes by or whenever we talk, our topic is still my father.)

“Syempre malungkot kami pero ‘pag inisip namin (na) wala nang sakit, hirap, at higit sa lahat, kasama na niya ang mga magulang niya at saka ang tatay ko — ‘yon talaga ang true love niya — ‘yun.”

(Of course we are sad but we are thinking there is no more pain and hardship, and most of all, she is now with her parents and my father — her true love.)

The senator also said Roces would still always have FPJ in mind while doing her projects in showbiz.

Poe said her mom will be buried beside FPJ at the North Cemetery.

Roces, born on July 28, 1941, passed away last Friday due to cardiopulmonary arrest. Her wake will be until Tuesday, May 24, 10 p.m. Public viewing will start Sunday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 10 pm.

She was nine when she appeared in her first movie “Mga Bituin ng Kinabukasan” in 1952. Known for her "refreshing beauty and sweet personality,” she made movies through decades from the 50s to the 80s.

She won best actress honors from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences for Maligno in 1977 and Gumising Ka, Maruja in 1978, among other awards she received.

READ: IN PHOTOS: Susan Roces’ timeless beauty

—KG, GMA News