Filipinos fondly remember the love team of longtime on-screen partners Eddie Gutierrez and Susan Roces as one of the most iconic and remarkable ones in the history of Philippine entertainment, but what most fans do not know is the deep, genuine friendship that grew between the two—which lasted for decades and lived even up to the last moments of the well-loved Queen of Philippine Movies’ life.
In tears, Eddie recalled his last phone call with Susan during her birthday last year, “Noong birthday niya, tinawagan ko siya. Sabi ko: 80! ‘Oo nga, 80 na ako,’ sabi niya. Nag-usap kami almost an hour. Sabi niya, ‘Eddie, wala na ‘yong mga kasama natin. Si Bobby [Romeo Vasquez], si Amalia [Fuentes], si Jose Mari [Gonzales], si Liberty [Ilagan], si Lito Legaspi. Tayo na lang dalawa.’”
“All of a sudden naging malungkot siya tapos nagpaalam na kami. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Take care.’ Sabi ko, ‘Ikaw din, take care. Mahal na mahal kita, Susan.’ Sabi niya, ‘Ikaw din, mahal kita.’ So ‘yon, ‘yon ang ending namin,” the emotional actor shared, expressing sadness and grief as he recalled his longtime friendship with his former leading lady.
Eddie and Susan were on-screen partners in the movies they did for Sampaguita Pictures back in the 1960s and for Regal Films in the 1980s. Despite not having any romantic bond with each other, their friendship remained strong and stood the test of time for over 60 years.
“Naging kaibigan ko siya for 60 years, baka more, at lahat nakukuwento ko sa kanya [at lahat] kinukuwento niya sa’kin. Naging very, very close kami. Sabi ng ibang fans, ‘Eddie, hindi mo ba naging girlfriend si Susan?’ Sabi ko, hindi, never kong niligawan si Susan. We were just partners, ‘ka ko,” he said.
Moving everyone to tears, Eddie gave Susan his last words, “I miss you and you’ll always be a part of my life. See you in heaven.”
Farewell, Queen
Susan passed away on Friday, May 20, 2022, at the age of 80, ending her seven-decade long career in the Philippine movie industry.
On Facebook, Senator Grace announced the sad news, breaking thousands of hearts online.
“With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jesusa Sonora Poe, whom many of you know as Susan Roces. She passed away peacefully on a Friday evening, May 20, 2022, surrounded by love and warmth, with her daughter Grace, her nephews Joseph and Jeffrey and many of her family and close friends,” read the senator’s social media post.
Continuing her statement, the lady politician honored the name of her late father, the late King of Philippine Movies Fernando “FPJ” Poe, Jr., who passed away in 2004, saying her mother is now with Lord and her “beloved Ronnie”.
“She lived life fully and gracefully. Remember her in her beauty, warmth and kindess. She is now with the Lord and her beloved Ronnie—FPJ. We will miss her sorely but we celebrate a life well lived. Susan Roces—daughter, mother, grandmother, a true Filipina and a national treasure,” she expressed.
Some of Susan’s most popular films are Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara (1974), Maligno (1977), and Gumising ka, Maruja (1978).
The iconic star also received numerous awards and recognitions including the Dr. Cirio Santiago Memorial Award in 1959, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Film Academy of the Philippines in 2003, and the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
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