Susan on FPJ: I remain his one and only wife

Curtain-raisers:

• I guess it was too much for Filipino beauty enthusiasts to expect a back-to-back in this year’s pageants abroad. When Bianca Guidotti left for Japan for the 2014 Miss International pageant, everybody was betting that she would retain for the Philippines the title held by Bea Rose Santiago. Sadly, Bianca didn’t even make it to the semi-finals. Same in the case of Valerie Weigmann who kinda doused hopes that she would keep the Miss World crown from kababayan Megan Young who passed it on to Miss South Africa. What about in the Miss Supranational pageant? Same thing. Maybe it was the Goddess of Beauty Venus’ way of saying, “Enough already. Give others a chance.”

• The portion that I found most touching in yesterday’s Miss World pageant telecast was the tribute to 1994 Miss World Aishwarya Rai (of India) who, besides making a name not only in Bollywood but also in Hollywood (she was the leading lady of  Steve Martin in a Pink Panther movie), continues her advocacy of helping children around the world. If only our own beauties (in showbiz especially, and other fields) would follow Aishwarya’s example and harness their own influences in helping the needy (that is, instead of flaunting their branded/expensive personal effects on social media), I’m sure they would make a difference and could help in making this world a better, happier place to live in. If only…!

• To Boy Abunda: Thank you so much once again for helping in our annual effort in bringing cheer to residents of some depressed areas in Kamias, Quezon City, in our own little way. The distribution of little gifts is led by Mrs. Angelina T. Sevilla on her birthday (tomorrow, Dec. 17, when she turns 85). Rest assured, Boy, that we will continue to pray for your continued good health.

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Almost belatedly, Susan Roces has finally opened up about her personal life, about aspects that only those close to her (this one included) have known all along but just kept mum.

But in the recent 15th-anniversary (Dec. 2014-Jan. 2015) issue of PeopleAsia magazine, Susan in her characteristic demure manner has decided to open what may be described as the long-sealed Pandora’s Box. She’s one of the magazine’s 18 People of the Year awardees, including (at random) Albert del Rosario, Kris Aquino, Lea Salonga, Boy Abunda, Mariquita Yeung, Loida Lewis, Cary Santiago, Henry Chusuey, Hans Sy, Dr. Edgardo Cortez, Lorenzo Tan, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano, and Pope Francis as Special Awardee, and Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. and Washington SyCip as Lifetime Achievement Awardees.

In a free-wheeling interview with Greggy V. Vera Cruz titled “Bed Of Roces,” the forever Face That Refreshes didn’t mince words, saying she didn’t want to be “plastic.”

 Asked about her marriage to Da King (Fernando Poe, Jr.; they were wed on Christmas Day in 1968 when she was 27 and FPJ was 31; she was born on July 28, 1941 and he on Aug. 20, 1939), Susan told Greggy, “As far as I was concerned, we were able to adjust easily. I belong to a generation where wives were submissive to their husbands. Since I had already achieved what I wanted in the career before I got married, I was willing to take one step behind him. FPJ ruled the family. He was the King, but the rules of the Queen must stay and must be followed.”

Contrary to what many people thought, Susan and FPJ’s marriage was not a bed of roses.

Above, left: During the barkada’s Christmas party last Sunday night, Susan (with daughter Sen. Grace Poe) got personalized hangers as gift from ABS-CBN. Above: The barkada (back row, from left): Ricky Lo, Girlie Rodis, Veana Fores, Lilibeth Perez-Nakpil, Shirley Kuan, June Torrejon-Rufino ([partly hidden), Susan, Grace, Danny Dolor and Malou Choa-Fagar; and (front row, also from left) Lawrence Tan (in whose place the party was held), Marichu ‘Manay Ichu’ Maceda, Ronald Constantino, Dolor Guevarra, Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde and Pat-P Daza-Planas. Left: Lovi Poe (with friend Jerika Ejercito) during FPJ’s wake at Sto. Domingo Church in 1994.

“We are no exception,” continued Susan when the subject of FPJ’s affairs with other women came up, speaking in Filipino, “Kung ako umibig at humanga sa kanya, salamat naman at marami pala kami na umiibig at humahanga sa kanya. Kaya lang, ako lang ang asawa niya,” which Greggy translated into English, “I love and admire him; and, apparently, there were many of us who did so. But I remain his one and only wife.”

In the next breath, Susan said, “In fairness to Ronnie, I cannot apologize for him. It’s something that you don’t plan; it just happens. Thank God, I come from an old-fashioned generation. One thing I can very well say is, ‘Do not fault the children (Born out of wedlock. — RFL).’ I cannot say, ‘Fine. Congratulations for messing up my marriage. I almost ended up with a broken home.’

“It was my husband’s choice to stay with me. We were a responsible married couple. What’s done is done; it cannot be undone. Whatever was produced out of those affairs, you do not curse them because they are in pain as well. They did not want to be born in that situation. I don’t have any quarrels with anybody. All the more, you have to love them.”

Saying she is not close to Lovi and Ronian (FPJ’s children with different actress, one appeared in only a movie and a commercial both with FPJ, and the other FPJ’s leading lady in one of his action starrers), Susan nevertheless made sure that the children see their father at the wake.

“I encouraged them to visit his casket,” revealed Susan. “That was their last chance to see and be with him. During the wake, we were all together. After that, there was no reason for us to be together.”

In an exclusive STAR interview with them, Lovi and sister Sen. Grace Poe admitted that they have established a certain closeness. Lovi recalled that the Poes even offered her to ride with them in their car.

“I did not want to press myself on them,” Susan admitted without apologies. “I did not want to be ‘plastic’ with their mothers. But I gave them what was due them from their father. I never denied them; I never questioned their paternity. I did not have to resort to some DNA test; I just took in what I knew was true. I am not the kind of wife who would question my husband’s whereabouts. Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”

(Note: For the full story, buy a copy of PeopleAsia before it gets out of stock.)

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