Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 11
August 22 - September 7 , 2017
Philippine Showbiz Today
Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 11
Special Feature on FPJ ( Aug . 20 , 1939 – Dec . 14 , 2004 )
Fernando Poe , Jr . would ’ ve been 78 on August 20 .
Susan Roces is one of my dearest friends . Our friendship goes back to when she was just a budding actress for Sampaguita Pictures and I was a writer . When Susan and Fernando Poe , Jr . got married , we rarely got the chance to see or speak with each other until one day she suddenly paid me a visit at my office . She was very happy to see me and she told me that she was looking for a good story that her husband could use for one of his action movies . I told her that I rarely wrote action stories but my forte was writing comedy , drama and horror stories for several comics series published in popular Tagalog magazines .
Susan said , “ Baka mayroon ka ring nagawa na action story sa komiks ?” I told her that I had some stories hidden away in my files .
I then handed over to her several copies of action stories that I had written . The following day , she called me up to say that her husband read and liked all these stories that I gave to her . I was surprised because I didn ’ t realize that I was also a writer of action stories . These stories were immediately made into movies — Ang Kampana sa Santa Quiteria , Santo Domingo and Esteban . All these movies made millions of pesos at the box office .
Several years went by before I got the chance to see or speak with Susan or Ronnie Poe . During that time , I closed the publication that I had put up after losing interest in writing after my mother passed away . But Susan and Ronnie told me not to lose hope and continue to do what I love best — writing good stories . I still had that unwavering faith and perseverance in what I was doing .
My capital was my imagination , not money . Once more , I was convinced that I had this special gift of writing good , quality stories . I began once more by writing the story for Ang Pagbabalik ng Lawin .
Ang Pagbabalik ng Lawin became a box-office hit and thousands of fans of FPJ went to see the movie and braved the floods brought about by a strong typhoon during its premiere . After the success of Ang Pagbabalik ng
Remembering FPJ : as told by Pablo S . Gomez
Lawin , FPJ would ask me to join him in location shootings of movies that I wrote for him . I also learned that not all the details that I wrote in my stories and scripts were applicable in FPJ ’ s movies and I realized he constantly revised and edited along the way . I learned that anything goes when it comes to writing stories for comics but it was a whole different ball game when it came to making movies because of the huge costs and expenditures .
These are some of the routines of FPJ that I observed whenever we would go on location in the provinces . In Mariveles , Bataan , he would wake up early in the morning and I would accompany him during his long walks up and down the mountains . Hahabol ka , hihingalin ka … pero iyon ang paraan ng kanyang exercise at pakikipag-usap sa writer niya . During our long treks , we would share ideas on how to make the movie much better like what scenes or dialogue we could add and unnecessary details that should be edited . I also observed that he had a keen eye in moviemaking and he had that uncanny gift of pleasing the public with simple but thought-provoking scenes from his movies .
FPJ has a deep respect and love for the people who work for him on the set . In return , they respect him for the way he treats them . He wants everyone to be on the set of a movie as early as possible and he hates latecomers . He firmly believes that everything should be ready , everything in its right place when shooting . When he notices something amiss or wrong on the set , he will not hesitate to postpone or stop shooting even though a lot of money has already been spent in the production .
FPJ enjoys talking with his friends and members of the film crew but he avoids talking about the faults and mistakes of others . He avoids gossip or any kind of small talk about actors and actresses in the local movie industry . He is very happy when he notices that someone , may it be a friend or an ordinary employee , becomes successful in life because of hard work and perseverance , like German Moreno who first started working as a janitor and later became a successful and respected show business manager .
FPJ is also very generous
by Jose K . Lirios PST Manila Correspondent when it comes to sharing his blessings with people who are less f o r t u n a t e — the jobless , the sick and the poor . Rudy Meyer , a close friend of FPJ , said that during C h r i s t m a s , Ronnie would pay a surprise visit to any busy intersection in Metro Manila and give away cash and gifts to our brothers in need — street children , beggars , cigarette vendors and street food hawkers .
Ronnie also believes in good luck and bad luck whenever he is making a movie . He makes sure that everybody should be at ease and comfortable with their coworkers on a set or during location shooting in the provinces . He usually begins shooting a film on a Wednesday .
Everybody seems to wonder why FPJ keeps on hiring the same actors , actresses , production staff and other people behind the scenes whenever he is making a new movie . The reason is Ronnie is a true , sincere person … like when he keeps on hiring the usual villains or bad guys in his movies . He really enjoys making movies with actors who have worked with him before because of their unique way of acting and he feels at ease with them . Whenever FPJ makes a new movie , he never forgets these people because he knows they expect to get hired and most of them need jobs so they can earn a decent living for their families .
When an employee works hard and proves his worth to the company , FPJ will not have him fired and immediately hire someone else to take his place when another project or movie comes around . Like Ka Tinay Manahan who has been Ronnie ’ s make-up artist since his early films and his favorite barber who is fetched whenever he needs a haircut , even if he is on location shooting in the province .
When FPJ was still making movies , he would visit the town of Nasugbu in the province of Batangas . Then Nasugbu Mayor Charito Apacible , would always welcome the actor with open arms . Once when FPJ was invited by Apacible to be a special guest at a special occasion held at San Miguel , Batangas , he noticed the poor , substantial state of the school facilities there .
FPJ was touched by the
plight of the local children of Bgy . Papaya that he decided to sponsor the construction of a brand-new school building for them , even though no one asked or requested him to do such a thing . He also shot and filmed his now classic San Miguel Beer commercial in Bgy . Papaya . FPJ also became a very close friend to the Apacible family and whenever he was invited to attend special occasions or fund-raising projects there , he would also bring along popular actors and actresses with him and they would play basketball with the local folk .
In the movies , many of his fans saw him save people who are in dire need of help , but rarely has there been stories told of FPJ doing any real heroic deed , like saving a stranger from a life-anddeath situation .
According to Bob Mercado , owner of Frequency Electronics at Del Monte , Q . C ., it was back in the 1980s when his younger brother almost died . Mike Mercado , who was only five years old then , was trapped in their home when the creek near their community suddenly overflowed because of heavy rains . No one dared lift a finger to help rescue
the little boy who was seen waving frantically for help because of the strong flow and deep water of the creek .
Suddenly , a black van came from nowhere and a man wearing a leather jacket stepped out of the driver ’ s seat and without hesitation and fuss , waded into the dirty water to save the boy . Slowly the man made his way to the house which was in danger of being swept away by the strong current . After he reached the window of the shack , the boy climbed on his broad shoulders and he began wading to the other side even though the water almost reached his neck .
It was only after having saved the life of the boy that the identity of the man , now covered all over with mud and grime , became apparent to the on-lookers who had gathered to watch his heroic deed . It was FPJ who , without talking to anyone or even asking the name of the boy he saved from drowning , climbed back into the black van and drove away without a word . ●