Eddie Gutierrez in tears during eulogy for Susan Roces: ‘You’ll always be part of my life’

Eddie Gutierrez (Image: screengrab from Facebook/Grace Poe)

Eddie Gutierrez teared up as he recalled fond memories with his longtime screen partner, Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces, who passed away last Friday, May 20.

The veteran actor, who starred in various films with Roces, was in tears as he gave a eulogy for the actress at her wake at The Heritage Park in Taguig City, as seen on the Facebook page of Roces’ daughter Sen. Grace Poe yesterday, May 24.

“Nu’ng birthday niya, tinawagan ko siya. Sabi ko, ’80!’ ‘Oo nga, 80 na ako,’ sabi niya. Nag-usap kami almost an hour,” he narrated. “Sabi niya, ‘Eddie, wala na yung mga kasama natin. Si Bobby (Romeo Vasquez), si Amalia (Fuentes), si Jose Mari (Gonzales), si Liberty (Ilagan), si Lito Legaspi. Tayo na lang dalawa.'”

(During her last birthday, I called her. I told her, “80!” “Yes, I am now 80,” she said. We talked for almost an hour. She told me, “Eddie, our old colleagues are gone now. [Romeo Vasquez], Amalia Fuentes, Jose Mari Gonzales, Liberty Ilagan, Lito Legaspi. We are the only ones left.)

“Parang all of a sudden, naging malungkot siya. Nagpaalam na kami. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Take care.’ Sabi ko, ‘Ikaw rin, take care. Mahal na mahal kita, Susan.’ ‘Ikaw rin,’ sabi niya, ‘Mahal kita,’” he recalled.

(It was like all of a sudden, she got sad. We said our goodbyes. She told me, “Take care.” I said, “You too, take care. I love you very much, Susan.” “You too,” she told me, “I love you.”)

Aside from this, Gutierrez looked back at the time Roces contacted him after he figured in an accident. He also recounted the projects he had with Roces under the production company Regal Entertainment.

“Lahat ‘yun naging box office at talagang naging kaibigan ko siya for 60 years, baka more… Naging very close kami,” he said. “Sabi ng ibang fans, ‘Eddie, hindi mo ba naging girlfriend si Susan?’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi. Never kong niligawan si Susan. We were just partners.'”

(All of those were [hits in the] box office and we were really friends for 60 years, maybe more… We were very close. Fans would ask me, “Eddie, did Susan ever become your girlfriend?” I told them, “No. I never courted Susan. We were just partners.”)

“I miss you. You will always be a part of my life. See you in heaven!” he told the departed actress while sobbing.

Gutierrez also told a story about him and Roces waiting at a coffee shop in a hotel abroad to meet with Elvis Presley. They were with actress Rosemarie Sonora and a cameraman during the said encounter with the King of Rock and Roll, and they got to take a photo with Presley as well.

“Nung kukunan na ng picture, sabi ni Susan, ‘Wait! Wait!’ Hinawakan niya (Susan Roces) si Rosemarie, ibinalibag! Tumabi siya ngayon kay Elvis,” Gutierrez recalled, laughing. (When our picture was being taken, Susan said, “Wait! Wait! Susan held on to Rosemarie, shoved her. She then stood next to Elvis.)

They did not get to spend much time with Presley as he had other commitments that day, though he promised that he would send them their photo together. Roces had the original copy of the said photo, as Gutierrez told her that she could keep it.

“Nung umuwi na kami ng Pilipinas, after three or four days, may dumating na picture namin. Ipina-photocopy pala ni Susan. Iniregalo sa akin, naka-frame. So, ‘yun ang memories ko kay Susan,” he recalled. “Alam naman ng lahat na si Susan, hindi lang maganda kundi pati puso niya maganda so I will really miss her.”

(When we returned to the Philippines, after three or four days, a copy of our photo came. Susan had it photocopied. She gifted it to me, framed. So those are my memories with Susan. Everyone knows that Susan is not just beautiful but also has a beautiful heart, so I will really miss her.)

Fellow celebrities who also paid tribute to Roces at her wake included Boots Anson-Roa, Pilita Corrales, Nova Villa, Regine Velasquez, Ruffa Gutierrez and Maricel Soriano, among others.

Roces’ passing was announced by Poe last Friday. The senator stated that the veteran actress passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and close friends.  /ra

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