POE (RIGHT). His most popular movie as a director was Rosa del Rosario’s version of “Darna.”
Of all the pre-war directors and stars of Philippine cinema, one of the most famous was Fernando Poe Sr., FPJ’s father. He died at only age 35 after starring in 14 movies from 1936 to 1941, as well as producing and directing 14 more pictures from 1946 to 1951.
Poe must have had a premonition that he wasn’t going to live long, because he was in a “hurry” to establish himself as a man of science (he had a degree in chemistry from UP) as an actor/director, and as a nationalist.
Good looks
Because of his good looks, excellent physique and acting talent, he was tapped to co-star with Rosa del Rosario in the silent 1936 drama, “Ang Birheng Walang Dambana.”
By the time he made his second feature, “Zamboanga,” he was already a big star. In 1939, X’Otic Films paired him up with Lucita Goyena in “Punit na Bandila,” followed by “Leron, Leron Sinta,” “Hanggang Langit” (with Maria Miranda, and LVN Pictures’ “Giliw Ko,” alongside Mila del Sol and Fleur de Lis (Mona Lisa), and directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa.
Before World War II broke out, Poe made three pictures: Eduardo de Castro’s “Bayaning Buhay,” “Puting Dambana” and “Palaris,” costarring Paraluman and Mona Lisa.
During the war, the Japanese produced the propaganda film, “Dawn of Freedom,” which was very anti-American. To offset this, the actor decided to produce, direct and star in 1946’s “Dugo ng Bayan (I Remember Bataan).”
Among the other movies he helmed was Mars Ravelo’s “Darna” (starring Rosa del Rosario), his most famous film as a director. He also filmed the almost autobiographical feature, “Intramuros,” about a USAFFE officer, Roberto, who comes home after the war and finds that his girlfriend has become a nun. The film broke box-office records.
Underwater scenes
He also did “Limbas,” in which he depicted a Filipino Tarzan opposite Erlinda Cortez. Set in Mindanao and the seas surrounding Jolo, it featured unique underwater scenes, swashbuckling pirate raids and ceremonial dances. As the Manila Times then noted, “A whole village was burned for authenticity.”
“Walang Kapantay,” starring Carmen Rosales and Jose Padilla Jr., completed his dramas about motherly love, which began with 1947’s “Palaboy ng Tadhana” (about war veterans), and “Anak-Pawis.”
In 1950, the first Maria Clara Award for Best Child Star was won by Mila Nimfa for Poe’s “Nanay Ko,” starring Carmen Rosales and Danilo Montes. Poe Sr.’s other films: “Awit ni Palaris,” “Hagibis,” “Milyonaryong Hampaslupa,” “Pamela, Ang Mutya ng Palengke,” “Ali Mudin,” and “Basag na Manika,” his last film (1951).
Fernando Poe Sr. was married to an American, Bessie Kelly, who bore him six children: Elizabeth, Ronald Allan, Andy, Frederick, Jennifer and Evangeline. His eldest son, who later decided to use the screen name, Fernando Poe Jr., was only 12 years old when Poe Sr. died from rabies.