Bago pa man naikabit ang mga titulong Superstar at Phenomenal kay Nora Aunor, at Star For All Seasons kay Vilma Santos, nauna nang itinawag ang mga ito kay Susan Roces noong siya'y nasa pinakarurok ng kanyang katanyagan, Dekada 60.
Breathes there a star with box office success history of Susan Roces? Isa sa ating nation's top story and magazine writers has added a new cliche to the thousand and one adjectives used to describe the most popular today ng ating pelikula, Susan. He calls her a "movie phenomenon" which ranks her among "cinerama, technicolor, zoom lenses, etc..." things na bahagi na ng motion picture industry, with their incalculable influence in its development and growth. At the rate Susan is going since 1961, mula sa hindi na mabilang na mga box office hits, winning one movie title after another, one popularity award after another, napakadaling sabihin na siya'y isang institution. Pero, tiyakang tututol dito ang millions of her fans...sa halip nito they would insist na their Susan is the best for them on the screen...her face that refreshes, her sweetness that just seems to creep into their hearts, her life and love story which simply feeds their need for vicarious and story-book existence. Susan is the fullfillment of every Walter Mitty dream: Kay Susan ang story ng isang babaing who became a national celebrity through her chosen profession, by proving herself as an actress. Pero, don't call her an institution yet please naman. Kung magkakagayun nga naman, nangangahulugan ito na her glorious days of triumph are over.
For the purposes ng artikulong ito, it is more than apt to say na Susan is a phonomenon, period. What other star can boast of her success - magmula pa sa Sampaguita Pictures na doo'y isa siyang contract star, she hit big time una nang sila'y magkatambal ni Romeo Vasquez sa pelikulang "Sino Ang Maysala." Ito ang pelikulang naglunsand sa kanilang dalawa bilang ganap na bituin. Indeed, it was a blessing in disguise for Eddie Gitierrez nang ipasya ni Bobby na maging free-lancer. Biglang-bigla, Eddie hit the big league bilang bagong screen sweetheart ni Susan, with "Eddie Loves Susie" as their biggest hit. It also heightened suspense in predicting a real life love teaming of the two most beautiful people of SPI. Kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka na nang magsimula nang nag-freelance si Susan, and Ronnie Poe entered her life, all kinds of expectations were fanned. Will the king of box office win the heart of the Queen of the box-office? Sabi ng mga fans ni Eddie Gutierrez, "We hope no." Sabi naman ng mga fans ni Susan," It will not be difficult for Susan is the answer to everyman's prayer." Singit naman ng mga tagahanga ni Ronnie, "There goes our movie idol who has never permitted any girl to come before him. Karaniwan, ang mga katambal na bituing babae ni Ronnie sa kanyang pelikula ay mga newcomers o bagong mukha.
Pero nang makatambal ni Ronnie si Susan, he shares the spotlight equally with her. That must be "love!" How rightly the FPJ fans sized up their idol. Sa daigdig na ito ng dog eats dog way of life, of calous take advantage of your neighbor, he will take advantage of you, Susan is like a whiff of fress air, na nagpipilit sa tuwina on keeping faith with principles, contracts, and high sense of values. When everyone was being tempted to free-lance, despite contract, Susan herself was being besieged with irresistibly tempting offers. She did not even struggle to say "no." Basta, she just kept shaking her head, sa pagsasabing, "There is a time and place for everything." How right she was! Susan Roces, the freelancer went from one box office hit to another. Mula nang gawin niya ang "Ang Daigdig Ko'y Ikaw" na katambal ni Ronnie Poe, she seemed to have made the trend for later Susan Rocess successes. "Bayan Ko Lumaban Ka" opposite Romeo Vasquez was another box office phenomenon. "Zamboanga" reportedly broke the records of the pre-war version, at ito'y isa pang tambalang -Susan-Ronnie. Isang bagay lang ang masasabi natin kina Susan at Ronnie, they never tried to hit saturation point of the box office sa pamamagitan ng malimit na pagtatambal. By now, it is movie history how she gave a rebirth to Romeo Vasquez movie career when they made "Maruja" together.
Hindi makakalimutan ni Ricky Belmonte and pangyayaring siya'y a virtual unknown... a Tirso Cruz member of the family, but just that, until he was given his first picture - a the leading man of Susan in "Si Sianang at ang 7 Tsikiting." Then, he started hittign it big. May nagsasabi na Eddie Gutierrez seems to lack for good roles nowadays. Sa malas, movie fans any other way except as Susan Roces leading man. Gayunman, this article was inspired by the success that was "Kulay Rosas Ang Pag-ibig." Ito ang kasaysayan taht established Susan the phenomenon that she is, of the local motion pictures today. Made in 12 shooting days, in Eastmancolor, "Kulay..." is reportedly the first venture ni Susan bilang prodyuser. Pero, sinasabi ni Susan na it is not fair to call her the producer. Why I don't know. Pero the fact is, the movie was ready for screening after 15 days and it was shown in the first class Ever Theatre. It has even proved to be a complete hit, na masasabing a big break for a new leading man of Susan, namely Ramil Rodriguez, Susan, the box office star is a starmaker in her own right, don't you think so? Kaya naman no wonder that this writer who has made many box office hits for movie stars, from the time of Tita Duran to Fred Montilla down to Joseph Estrada, feels justified in making this observation tungkol kay Susan.
She is a phenomenom, at maaaring star na may pinaka-mahabang reign as a movie queen, na pinatutunayan ng maraming titles & trophies na kanyang natamo, at higit sa lahat sa napakarami niyang box office successes. Hindi nakapagtataka na sime movie fans wrote in that they couldn't care less na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakapagtatamo si Susan ng FAMAS acting award. The time will come, they are sure. For how come that is convincing to her millions of fans, at hindi to a handful of movie reviewers? It should happen anytime now, these Susan Roces fans predict. Sang-ayon ba kayo? -
Teena Cruzet, Tin-Edyers Songs & Shows, June 27, 1968 (
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Jesusa Purificación Sonora (born July 28, 1941), better known as Susan Rocés, is a Filipina actress and widow of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. Following the death of her husband in 2004, Rocés became a rallying point for the political opposition...Born to a French American mother and a Filipino father of Spanish and Chinese descent, Rocés is a member of one of the country’s biggest clans, the Locsin family of Negros Occidental. Their forebear Wo Sin Lok, a peddler from Amoy, had himself baptised into the Catholic Church as Agustín Locsin and married Cecilia Sayson of Molo. Rocés's sister, Rosemarie Sonora, and niece Sheryl Cruz are also actresses. Rocés married Fernando Poe, Jr. and they have an adopted daughter, incumbent MTRCB Chairman Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares. - Wikipedia (READ MORE)
One rainy Friday night in August, 1990, all roads led to the Metropolitan Theater where the top-rating and the most awarded musical-variety TV show Vilma! would air one of its most-watched episodes, ever. Vilma Santos, who would turn 37 that year, was on cloud nine. She was the toast of the town, in both movies and television. Her Lino Brocka directed movie "Hahamakin Lahat" was a commercial and critical success. Come hell or high water (there was a tropical storm), fans queued at the SRO theaters and saw her out and out Cruella Deville role as Gabby Concepcion’s paramour. Some like her bad. Vilma, the versatile actress scored again. Earlier, she won her first of six Star PMPC and her fourth Urian best actress awards for her ’best’ performance in years in "Pahiram ng Isang Umaga," which was directed by Ishmael Bernal. She also just finished "Kapag Langit ang Humatol" with Laurice Guillen at the helm. At the PMPC Star Awards for TV, Vilma’s show harvested the biggest awards. And on that particular rainy night at the jam packed Metropolitan Theater, Vilma Santos was paying tribute to a Movie Queen she loved dearly and who reciprocated that love. Amalia Fuentes was the special guest, who just turned 50. Vilma! was giving her a tribute, with special appearances of former Sampaguita Productions ’stars.’ Everybody knew that despite the infamous Romeo Vasquez/Vilma Santos le affair Amalia and Vilma remained the best of friends. With a sincere, charismatic and humble La Vilma, who could resist her charm? Yes, the original Taray Queen, forceful and outspoken former queen of Philippine movies, she with a strong personality but with the most beautiful face in Philippine cinema, acquiesced to her friend’s request to grace the most watched TV show. Love begets love. Respect begets respect.
The retired and reclusive Amalia Fuentes could not say no to the current darling of Philippine movies. To recall, the senior and junior movie queens appeared in these movies: Bulaklak at Paru-paro (1970), Mga Reynang Walang Trono (1976) and Asawa Ko, Huwag Mong Agawin (1986). Amalia directed Vilma’s episode in Mga Reyna and agreed to second billing to Vilma in Asawa Ko. No doubt about it, Amalia Muhlach Sumilang Fuentes, is a Vilmanian. To seal their sisterhood and camaraderie, Vilma is Ninang to Liezl Martinez and to the latter’s son Alfonso. Why, Liezl even sang a song ’’Wind Beneath My Wings’ to her surprised mother that night which drove the strong-willed and still beautiful Amalia to tears. A Kodak moment, indeed. Priceless! While interviewing the three Muhlach generations, Fuentes, Liezl and young daughter Aliyanna, Amalia revealed to Vilma that she is protective of her ’unica hija’ Liezl. "Ay naku, I think I also have become like my Mom, I’m also very protective of my children," Liezl remarks. Ex-Sampaguita stars Luis Gonzales and German Moreno served as Vilma’s co-hosts who provided comic relief as they recalled their Sampaguita days with Amalia Fuentes. Debonair Eddie Gutierrez also came to greet Amalia a Happy Birthday. Then Daisy Romualdez, Amalia’s contemporary and best friend danced the mambo/cha-cha with dancing queen Vilma, along with Kuya Germs and Luis Gonzalez. "I messed up that dance number," Daisy gamely confesses, "wala kasing practice." On her friend Nena (Amalia), Daisy admires her colleague for being frank and outspoken like her. "Nagkasundo kami kaagad dahil pareho kaming prangka ni Nena, hindi kami plastik," she bemuses. The highlight of the evening was when Vilma introduced another special guest, the other Queen of Philippine movies, Amalia’s rival, Ms. Susan Roces. Radiant and regal in her Susan Roces hairdo and dark, glossy gown, Ms. Roces was polite and generous with her comments on her kumarerival. Vilma, obviously starstruck, throws a question to Susan: "What can you say about Ate Nena as being mataray and you Ate Susan as soft-spoken?" Susan: "I’d like to make a correction Vi, Amalia is not mataray, she is just outspoken, pero nasa lugar, so there’s a difference there." Applause from the audience. "Alam mo ba Vi na my mother dotes on Amalia dahil pareho silang prangka? Sabi ng Mommy ko, iyang si Susan hindi pumaris kay Amalia, prangka at di iyakin." Amalia on Susan: "I want to be like Susan dahil she is so sweet and soft-spoken. Doon nga sa weekly sessions namin, sabi ni Doctor Perez, why don’t you be like Susan, matiyaga sa fans, ikaw, sumakit lang ang ulo mo, ayaw mo nang harapin ang fans." Guffaws and chuckles. The conversation turns serious. Vilma: "How did you handle the competition? Did the intrigues get in your way, affected you?" Susan, smiling sweetly, with a politically correct comment: "Hindi naman. We were in the same movie company and we were treated fairly. We’re like one big family.
In your case with Nora, and Gloria Romero and Nida Blanca, it’s different. Magka-iba kayo ng movie companies." Vilma: "Ay ang sarap, sana, one of these days magksama rin kami ni Nora Aunor like this one, Ate Susan and Ate Nena, together." Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces and Vilma Santos. Isang Gabi, Tatlong Reyna. Susan, a movie queen, honoring a rival-friend movie queen Amalia on her 50th. birthday. Amalia confessed on the show and thanked Susan for throwing a surprise birthday party for her days before the Vilma show. What’s love got to do with it? In the case of Susan and Amalia, it’s love. In the case of Vilma and Amalia, it’s also love. Diva to diva. Competitors can be friends. May it also happen to Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor. Rivals on the silver screen, friends for life. After all, love conquers all. It is more permanent than fleeting fame and fortune. - Mario O. Garces, V Magazine Issue Nos 6 (READ MORE)
