Image: screengrab from Facebook/Grace Poe
Coco Martin and Julia Montes were among those who remembered the late “Queen of Philippine Movies” Susan Roces as they attended a Mass said at the Manila North Cemetery for her first death anniversary.
Martin and Montes were seated beside Roces’ daughter, Sen. Grace Poe, and ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes, as seen in a livestream shown on Poe’s Facebook page on Saturday, May 20.
“Ako po ay isang tunay na apo na rin ni Ms. Susan Roces dahil nakakaranas din po ako ng kanyang mga konting tampo, konting sermon at punong-punong pagpapaalala para sa aking buhay, sa aking trabaho at sa komunidad na nangyayari sa buong Pilipinas,” Martin said after the Mass.
The “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” star expressed his longing for Roces as he recalled the wisdom she shared to him and which he vowed to always keep with him.
“Sa mundo ng showbiz, sa sobrang popularidad, sa sobrang lakas ng palakpakan at paggiliw sa ‘yo ng tao, minsan nakakalimot ka pero si Tita Susan ang magpapaalala para maging grounded ka,” he spoke of Roces. “Lagi niyang pinapaalala sa amin na ingatan namin ang aming pagkatao dahil maraming tao ang nakatingin, sumusubaybay at humahanga sa amin.”
“Kaya sa totoo po, takot na takot ako sa obligasyon na kanyang pinamana sa akin,” he admitted. “Kaya sa abot po ng aking makakaya at ipinapanalangin ko rin palagi na hindi ako magkamali o madapa.”
Poe then thanked Martin as well as Montes for being present at Roces’ death anniversary, with the senator noting how the late veteran actress had always been fond of the younger actress.
“Alam mo Julia, sana napaaga ang dating mo [dahil] miss na miss ka talaga ng mom ko,” Poe told Montes. “Marami siyang kine-kwento sa akin—tuwang-tuwang talaga siya sa ‘yo. I guess because ‘pag nagke-kwentuhan kayo, nakikinig ka talaga sa kanya.”
Roces passed away in 2022 at the age of 80. She is laid next to her husband, “Da King” Fernando Poe Jr. /ra