MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe looked back on the seven-decade career of her mother, the “Queen of Philippine Cinema” Susan Roces, as the actress turned 79 on Tuesday.
In an Instagram post, the senator described her mom as a “tunay na kaibigan, mapagmahal sa pamilya, walang kupas ang ganda (a true friend, someone who loves her family, someone whose beauty never fades).”
Poe, in her post, also included snippets of Roces’ films.
“Hindi lamang siya Reyna ng Pelikulang Pilipino kundi pati na rin ng aming buhay. Happy birthday, Mama!” Poe added.
(She is not only the Queen of Philippine Cinema but the queen of our lives. Happy birthday, Mama!)
Roces, who was born in Bacolod, got her first starring role in the Sampaguita Pictures film “Boksingera” in 1956.
In 1978, Roces bagged her first FAMAS award for best actress in the 1978 film “Maligno.”
She was married to “Da King” Fernando Poe Jr. from 1968 until his death in 2004.
Roces is currently part of the long-running ABS-CBN teleserye “Ang Probinsyano” starring Coco Martin.