The ‘freelancer’ has good manners

SUSAN Roces: Call her Kamag-anak.

Like a true celebrity of the old school, Susan Roces showed her good manners when she said she “respects” Lovi Poe as an actress and is willing to work with her in the future.

Lovi is the daughter of Susan’s late husband Fernando Poe Jr. with former commercial model Rowena Moran, with whom the action king worked with in the 1987 film “Kapag Puno na ang Salop.”

“When I was just starting as an actress, I don’t remember other artists saying they don’t like to work with me. Hindi ko gagawin ’yon sa kapwa ko artista,” Susan said during the launching of RiteMed, a medicine manufacturing company that she endorses.

Old enough

Asked to comment on Lovi’s decision to take on mature roles for TV and film, Susan said she “is old enough to make decisions. Pinangangatawanan niya ang pinasok niya sa pamamaraan na alam niyang tama.”

Susan, now 70, said she raised her own daughter, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, under the same principle that allows family members to make decisions on their own when they reach adulthood. “They are taught to be responsible for their actions. May sarili na silang pag-iisip and would know what they want to do with their lives. I don’t have the right to dictate what they can and can’t do,” she explained.

Last seen in the top-rated drama series “Babaeng Hampaslupa” on TV5, Susan has confirmed that she would be doing a TV project with ABS-CBN.

She pointed out that she’s not under an exclusive contact with one network and could very well work with any of them. “I’m a freelancer. Paminsan-minsan Kapamilya ako, Kapuso, Kapatid. Kaya sa maikling pananalita, tawagin niyo po akong Kamag-anak,” she quipped – adding that her TV5 bosses have promised her another TV project but are still fixing the schedules of her co-stars.

She accepted the offer from ABS-CBN, she said, because the material was ready and the cast complete. The project is said to be a TV adaptation of “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” starring Coco Martin. “It would be too presumptuous of me to give details. I’m not even sure of the title yet. This is scheduled for taping within the year and to be aired first quarter of next year,” she said.

Almost seven years after FPJ’s death, Susan said she’s still grieving. “I thought the pain would go away with the passing of time, but I was wrong. I may be surrounded by people because I’m an actress, pero nag-iisa ako. Alam ito ng mga katulad ko na nawalan ng kabiyak sa buhay.”

Susan said she blamed no one for what had happened to her husband, who died of stroke in December 2004, after he lost the presidential elections to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Remembering ‘Ronnie’

“There must be a reason for what happened to Ronnie [Poe]. I remember him most during special occasions like November 1st, or his death anniversary or during Christmas time. However, we all must learn to make our lives pleasant, peaceful and happy,” she said.

Susan admitted to having bouts of depression over recent developments in the alleged election fraud in 2004. Some personalities have claimed to have participated in alleged cheating operations to ensure Arroyo’s victory.

“I first felt this [depression] when we went public about the cheating,” said Susan. “Nobody wanted to listen. Everybody was rushing to move on. I can’t blame them, kailangan magpatuloy ang gobyerno. Pero nakita naman natin na ’di naging maganda ang ibinunga. Tama na ’yong dayaan, pang-iisa at panlalamang sa kapwa natin.”