Susan Roces On Why She Allowed Coco Martin To Do A TV Version Of FPJ's 'Ang Probinsyano'

SUSAN ROCES is happy that it’s Coco Martin who’s making a remake of her late husband FPJ’s hit classic, “Ang Probinsyano”, which was such a blockbuster that it even merited a sequel, “Ang Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano”. This is the third movie of FPJ that’s made into a TV series. The first one was “Ang Panday” which starred Jericho Rosales and the other is “Totoy Bato” on GMA-7 with Robin Padilla in the title role.
“Naging malapit sa’kin si Coco mula nang gawin namin ang ‘Walang Hanggan’,” says Susan. “Kaya nang sabihin niya sa aking gusto niyang gawin sa TV ‘Ang Probinsyano’, pumayag agad ako. Siya lang ang pinapayagan kong tumawag sa akin ng matunog na matunog na Lola. Wala yung character ko as Lola Flora in the original movie, but I’m now really proud to be part of this teleserye that pays tribute to policemen. Hindi ito remake ng original movie, which just inspired the teleserye na, siempre, mas pinakapal ang story at nilagyan ng more characters dahil tatakbo ito for several months.”

Susan is very proud of her daughter Grace Poe when Grace launched her candidacy at UP Bahay ng Alumni recently. What can she say about remarks that Grace is not yet ripe for the presidency? “Those who say that don’t really know my daughter,” she replies. “Grace will not venture into something na hindi niya napaghandaan at napag-isipang mabuti. She has always been very diligent sa anumang sinusuong niya, like yung pagiging senador niya. Proof ng kanyang competence na marami ang humahanga sa kanya in her first term at the senate. They admire her decisions and even the dignified way she conducts herself during senate hearings. She’s not just grandstanding kundi very honest and sincere siya in doing her job and the people can see that, lalo na ang young voters at mga estudyante na malaki ang tiwala at sampalataya sa kanya.”

She also admires her daughter’s deep spiritual foundations. “Before she decided to run, she asked the Lord to help her in her discernment. Nangako siyang ang tanging gagawin niya ay para sa kabutihan ng bansa at ng ating mga kababayan. Wala siyang ibang personal motives at agenda kundi ang kapakanan ng kanyang kapwa Pilipino. Kaya naniniwala rin akong gagabayan siya ng ating Panginoon sa pagnanais niyang makapaglingkod sa buong sambayanan. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa lahat ng mga sumusuporta sa kanya, lalo na yung mga nagpunta sa Bahay ng Alumni. Sa sobrang dami, hindi nagkasya roon sa venue kaya sa nasa labas na lang sila. Maraming-maraming salamat sa pagbibigay nila ng lakas ng loob sa anak ko ng pasukin niya ang larangang ito.”