Portrait of my love susan roces biography

Susan Roces

Filipino actress (1941–2022)

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Levi, the birth surname or paternal family name is Sonora, and the marital name is Poe.

Susan Roces

Susan in a postage stamp of the PhilPost

Born

Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora


(1941-07-28)July 28, 1941

Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Commonwealth of the Philippines

DiedMay 20, 2022(2022-05-20) (aged 80)

San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines

Resting placeManila North Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines
OccupationActress
Years active1952–2022
Spouse

Fernando Poe Jr.

​

​

(m. 1968; died 2004)​
ChildrenGrace Poe (adopted daughter)
RelativesRosemarie Sonora (sister)
Sheryl Cruz (niece)

Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe (July 28, 1941 – May 20, 2022), known professionally as Susan Roces (Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈɾɔsɛs]), was a Filipino actress. She was the wife of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, better known as Fernando Poe Jr.[1] Roces was regarded as the "Queen of Philippine Movies" and starred in more than 130 films and television programs.[2] She won five FAMAS Awards, including two Best Actress wins. Luna Awards honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her long-standing career and contribution to Philippine cinema.[3] In 2005, Roces was one of the first inductees on Eastwood City Walk of Fame.[4] She played the character "Lola Flora" on the ABS-CBNtelevision seriesFPJ's Ang Probinsyano since the pilot episode in 2015. Months prior to her death in 2022, Roces was honored by The Philippine Post Office with a commemorative stamp.[5]

Early life and education

Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora was born[6] in Bacolod, Negros Occidental on July 28, 1941.[7] She was the daughter of Jesus Tonggoy Sonora and Purificacion Levy.[8]

Roces finished her high school studies at the La Consolacion College (LCC) in Bacolod in 1956.[9] It was during her stay at LCC that she committed to pursue a career in acting. Her third year high school teacher Luisa Medel recognized her talent in public speaking and acting and advised her to take the same course as her for her tertiary education. After graduating from high school, Roces went to Manila to follow her mentor's advice.[8]

Personal life

Susan Roces married Fernando Poe, Jr. on December 25, 1968, at the Santuario de San José in Greenhills, San Juan del Monte.[10] They have an adopted daughter, former MTRCB Chairperson and now Senator Grace Poe. She is the sister of Rosemarie Sonora.

She was an advocate for her husband, who ran for president in the 2004 Philippine presidential election, and later died of stroke in December 2004. Roces convinced that PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo won the election through electoral fraud at her husband's expense, demanded Arroyo to resign in June 2005.[11]

On September 29, 2007, ABS-CBN Corporation acquired the exclusive rights for the movielibrary of Fernando Poe Jr. after Roces signed the contract. ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III, Cory Vidanes, Senior Vice Presidentof TVP Production, and Poe's daughter Grace Poe, were present.[12]

On the night of December 23, 2007, ABS-CBN Channel 2 aired Alay ni Da King: a Fernando Poe Jr. Special, hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Roces contributed on the feature of their married life. A 38-minute music video was also shown featuring various scenes from several Poe's movies, a project Poe himself had just finished working on before he died.[13]

She also spoke Hiligaynon language.[9]

Career

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2022)

Roces began her film career as a child actress debuting in the 1952 film Mga Bituin ng Kinabukasan at age 11.[10] In 1956, Roces went to Sampaguita Pictures' office in Quezon City to meet her idol Gloria Romero. Jose Perez, founder and head of the film studio, offered Roces a contract on the spot leading to her first starring role in Boksingera.[2] Roces also starred in several Philippine feature films including Ang Daigdig Ko'y Ikaw (1965), Gumising Ka Maruja (1967), Patayin Mo Sa Sindak Si Barbara (1974), Maligno and Mano Po 2: My Home (2003).[14] She has also garnered five FAMAS Awards; two of which are Best Actress awards.[10] During her career as a celebrity endorser, she appeared in various brands including Coca-Cola, Lux, Blend 45, and Lavoris, as well as on TV commercials of RiteMed and Champion Detergent.[10]

She appeared in two episodes of the long-running drama anthology seriesMaalaala Mo Kaya. In Sineserye Presents: The Susan Roces Cinema Collection (2008–2009), she played the character "Amanda" in the TV adaptation of Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara, and also served as a host in Maligno and Florinda. Roces was cast as "Lola Aura" in Iisa Pa Lamang (2008), and later guest-starred on episodes of May Bukas Pa (2009) and 100 Days to Heaven (2011). She was also part of the TV5 drama series Babaeng Hampaslupa in the main role of "Helena".

Roces became recognized to new audiences as "Lola Henya" in Walang Hanggan (2012), where she shared credits with Coco Martin, Julia Montes, Helen Gamboa, Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez, among many others.[15]Walang Hanggan was a phenomenal success and the role earned her a PMPC Star Awards for TV nomination for Best Drama Actress.[16] Roces worked again with Montes in Muling Buksan ang Puso (2013) and with Martin in a 2013 Christmas episode of fantasy anthology series Wansapanataym.[17][18] She later co-starred in Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon (2014) as "Ruth".

Her final television assignment FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2015), an adaptation of her late husband's of the same name which would go on to be the longest-running Philippine drama series of all time. Again co-starring with Coco Martin, she portrayed the key character "Lola Flora", grandmother of the series' protagonists Ador de Leon and Cardo Dalisay. Her long-standing participation in the series lasted for six years, until her untimely death in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic era.[19]

Death and memorial

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2022)

Roces died on May 20, 2022, at the age of 80, due to cardiopulmonary arrest. A day earlier, she was rushed to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, Metro Manila because of chest pain and difficulty in breathing.[14][20][21] Her daughter Grace Poe had also said "My mother is already old." The cause of her death was listed as heart failure.[22] The Senate and the House of Representatives passed resolutions to honor her legacy.[23] The ACT-CIS Partylist proposed to posthumously award Roces the National Artist of the Philippines Award for her contributions to the entertainment industry.[24] She was buried next to her late husband in the Manila North Cemetery.

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards and nominations

This list is complete and up to date as of January 2024.

Award-giving body Year Category Nominated Work(s) Result
FAMAS Awards1959 Dr. Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award— Won
1966 Best Actress Ana-RobertaNominated
1968 MarujaNominated
1969 To Susan with loveNominated
1971 Divina GraciaNominated
1973 Bilangguang pusoNominated
1974 Hanggang sa Kabila ng daigdig: The Tony Maiquez StoryNominated
1975 Patayin mo sa Sindak si BarbaraNominated
1978 MalignoWon
1979 Gumising ka MarujaWon
1987 Nasaan ka ng kailangan kitaNominated
1988 Paano Kung wala ka naNominated
1990 Ang lahat ng Ito pati na ang langitNominated
1998 Isinakdal ko ang aking inaNominated
2003 Lifetime Achievement Award— Won
2004 Huwarang Bituin— Won
22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television2008 Best Single Performance by an Actress Maalaala Mo Kaya: BasuraNominated
Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival2009 Cinema One Legend Award— Won
PMPC Star Awards for Movies2011 Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award— Won
26th PMPC Star Awards for Television2012 Best Drama Actress Walang HangganNominated
27th PMPC Star Awards for Television2013 Best Drama Supporting Actress Walang HangganNominated
FAMAS Awards2015 Iconic Movie Queen of Philippine Cinema— Won
30th PMPC Star Awards for Television2016 Drama Supporting Actress Ang ProbinsyanoNominated
FAMAS Awards2017 Lifetime Achievement Award— Won
31st PMPC Star Awards for Television2017 Best Drama Supporting Actress Ang ProbinsyanoNominated
32nd PMPC Star Awards for Television2018 Ang ProbinsyanoNominated
PMPC Star Awards for Movies2019 Outstanding Star of the Century (Natatanging bituin ng siglo) — Won
33rd PMPC Star Awards for Television2019 Best Drama Supporting Actress Ang ProbinsyanoNominated
Entertainment Editors Choice Awards2022 Posthumous Award— Won

References

  1. ^Lu, Monet (August 3, 2012). "Susan Roces: The True Queen of Philippine Movies". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  2. ^ ab"Susan Roces: Queen of RP Movies". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  3. ^"Absent ang mga major winner ng FAP" [Major winners of FAP absent]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  4. ^"Eastwood City Walk of Fame". Vigattin Tourism (ARTICLES) – Philippines. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  5. ^"Post Office stamps 'immortalize' 10 outstanding Filipinos". Philippine News Agency. February 28, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  6. ^Lara, Tanya (May 9, 2021). "Grace Poe, Injap Sia, Rex Gatchalian: Lessons my mother taught me". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  7. ^Co, Adrian (May 21, 2022). "Bacolodnon 'movie queen' Susan Roces passes away". Panay News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  8. ^ abGomez, Carla (May 21, 2022). "A look back at Susan Roces' beginnings in Bacolod". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  9. ^ ab"Susan Roces to grace alma mater's centennial celebration in Bacolod". Sunstar. March 5, 2019. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  10. ^ abcd"Susan Roces: The Face that Refreshes". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  11. ^Mendez, Christina. "Susan ready to replace GMA". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  12. ^Mario Dumaumal "ABS-CBN acquires right to 'Da King's' movie library"Archived April 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, 29 September 2009.
  13. ^‘Alay ni Da King: An FPJ Special’ encores tomorrowArchived May 21, 2022, at the Wayback Machine. mb.com.ph, 22 December 2007.
  14. ^ ab"Veteran actress Susan Roces dies at 80". Rappler. May 20, 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  15. ^"Susan Roces glad to be part of 'Walang Hanggan'". ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  16. ^"'Walang Hanggan' gets 7 nominations in Star Awards". ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  17. ^"Susan Roces has not sealed her heart". Inquirer Entertainment. July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  18. ^"Coco Martin, Susan Roces reunite in 'Wansapanataym'". ABS-CBN News. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  19. ^"'Andiyan lang sila': Susan Roces' final scene in 'Ang Probinsyano' about departed loved ones". ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). May 21, 2022. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  20. ^Cruz, Marinel (May 22, 2022). "Susan Roces, 80: Iconic in film, low key in charity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  21. ^Nemes, Adrian III (May 23, 2022). "Negrenses mourn death of Susan Roces". Sunstar. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  22. ^"Veteran actress Susan Roces dies at 80". Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  23. ^Ramos-Araneta, Macon; Cruz, Maricel (May 24, 2022). "Senate, House honor Susan Roces". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  24. ^"Paggawad ng National Artist award kay Susan Roces isusulong ng asawa ni Raffy Tulfo; ano'ng reaksyon ni Grace Poe?" [Conferrment of the National Artist award to Susan Roces to be pushed by Raffy Tulfo's wife; what's the reaction of Grace Poe?]. Bandera (in Filipino). Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  25. ^"Susan Roces 'short' set for showing". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. November 9, 1959.
  26. ^"Comedy addicts have field day in riotous Sampaguita offering". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. November 16, 1959. p. 5-B.
  27. ^"...Why Sampaguita Pictures quit the FAMAS". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. March 1960.

External links