Senate President Vicente Sotto III is set to file a resolution expressing the Senate profound sympathy and sincere condolences to the death of Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe, popularly known as Susan Roces, who was named the Queen of Philippine Movies.
Sotto stated in the still unnumbered Senate resolution that Roces is a “movie icon, a true Filipina and a national treasure.
Roces, wife of the late Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, who is also more popularly known as Fernando Poe, Jr. ,or FPJ, the King of Philippine Movies, passed away on Friday, May 20, 2022 at the age of 80 due to cardiopulmonary arrest.
As one of the nation’s acknowledged power couples in the entertainment industry, having both produced movies under their own production outfits, Rosas Productions and FPJ Productions, Sotto said Roces and her husband exhibited sincere concern over the plight of the workforce in the movie industry.
Sotto said they broke the long-time tradition of unequal treatment of stars and ordinary workers and implemented an equal opportunity system among the cast and crew, thus, earning the respect and admiration of the people they had worked with.
The Senate leader also cited Roces for her exemplary performances as an actress, as she has been a recipient of various awards, such as the Star Awards For Movies “Outstanding Star of the Century Special Award (Natatanging Bituin ng Siglo)” (2019), the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), the FAMAS Special Award “Iconic Movie Queen of Philippine Cinema” (2015), the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival “Cinema One Legend Award” (2009), the FAMAS Huwarang Bituin Award (2004), the Film Academy of the Philippines “Lifetime Achievement Award” (2003), the FAMAS Best Actress Award for the movie “Gumising ka, Maruja” (1979), and the FAMAS Best Actress Award for the movie “Maligno” (1978).
He also described Roces as a “refreshing beauty” and hailed her “sweet personality” and commended her for being a “loving wife and mother.”
“She wholeheartedly supported the political endeavor of her husband, who unfortunately died on December 14, 2004, and her daughter, who has now become a respectable legislator and one of the leading lawmakers of the country,” Sotto stressed.
Last Feb. 25, 2022, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) honored Roces through the Living Legends Commemorative Stamps, along with other achievers in showbiz, sports, the arts, and other fields who represented the best in their generations and who extolled their lifetime values of hard work, patience, perseverance and passion, the lawmaker noted.
“Whereas the passing away of a legendary movie star whose invaluable contribution to Philippine cinema is beyond compare and whose sincerity, warmth, guidance, and kindness had truly touched the hearts of her fellow workers in the film industry sector, particularly the young actors and actresses who have just began their movie careers, will be mourned by the Filipino people and the nation,” Sotto said in the resolution.
“Now, therefore, be it; resolved by the Senate of the Philippines, to express, as it hereby expresses, its profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe, popularly known as ‘Susan Roces’,” Sotto further stated.