Susan Roces

Jesusa Purificación Levy Sonora-Poe (July 28, 1941 – May 20, 2022), known professionally as Susan Roces (), was a Filipino actress. She was the wife of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, better known as Fernando Poe Jr. Roces was regarded as the "Queen of Philippine Movies" and starred in over 130 films and television programs. 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. In 2005, Roces was one of the first inductees on Eastwood City Walk of Fame. She played the character "Lola Flora" on the ABS-CBN television series '' FPJ'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.

Early life and education

Jesusa Purificación Levy Sonora was born in Bacolod, Negros Occidental on July 28, 1941. She was the daughter of Jesús Tonggoy Sonora and Purificación Levy. Her sister, Rosa María “Rosemarie” Sonora, is also an actress, as is the latter’s daughter Sheryl Cruz. Roces and her sister have Jewish ancestry through their mother’s grandfather, Adolphe Blum Levy, who had emigrated from Marckolsheim in the Alsace region of France to Iloilo.

Roces finished her high school studies at La Consolación College (LCC) in Bacolod in 1956. 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 for public speaking and acting, and advised her to take the same course as hers in tertiary education. After graduating high school, Roces went to Manila to follow her mentor's advice.

Personal life

Roces married Fernando Poe, Jr. on December 25, 1968, at Santuario de San José Parish in Greenhills, Mandaluyong. They have an adopted daughter, former MTRCB Chairperson and now Senator Grace Poe. Roces 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 was convinced President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo won through electoral fraud at her husband's expense, and demanded Arroyo resign in June 2005.

On September 29, 2007, the ABS-CBN Corporation acquired exclusive rights to the movie library of Fernando Poe, Jr. after Roces signed the contract. Then-ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio López III, Cory Vidanes, Senior Vice President of TVP Production, and Poe's daughter Grace, were also present.

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 to the feature on their married life. A 38-minute music video also showed various scenes from several of Poe's movies, a project Poe himself had just finished before his death.

In addition to English and Tagalog, Roces also spoke Hiligaynon.

Career

Roces began her film career as a child actress debuting in the 1952 film '' Mga Bituin ng Kinabukasan'' at age 11. 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''. 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). She has also garnered five FAMAS Awards; two of which are Best Actress awards. 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.

She appeared in two episodes of the long-running drama anthology series ''Maalaala 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. ''Walang Hanggan'' was a phenomenal success and the role earned her a PMPC Star Awards for TV nomination for Best Drama Actress. Roces worked again with Montes in '' Muling Buksan ang Puso'' (2013) and with Martin in a 2013 Christmas episode of fantasy anthology series ''Wansapanataym''. 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.

Death and memorial

Roces died on May 20, 2022, at the age of 80, due to cardiopulmonary arrest. A day earlier, she was rushed to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City near where her parents lived, after some chest pains and difficulty in breathing. Her daughter Grace Poe had also said "My mother is already old." The official cause of her death was listed as heart failure. The Senate and the House of Representatives passed resolutions to honor her legacy. ACT-CIS Partylist proposed to posthumously induct Roces into the Order of National Artists of the Philippines for her contributions to the entertainment industry. Roces was buried next to her late husband in the Manila North Cemetery.

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roces, Susan
1941 births
2022 deaths
20th-century Filipino actresses
21st-century Filipino actresses
Filipino television actresses
Filipino child actresses
Filipino women comedians
Filipino film actresses
Filipino philanthropists
Filipino television personalities
Actresses from Bacolod
Susan
Hiligaynon people
Visayan people
Comedians from Bacolod