By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

I’M making this piece on December 14, four days before my 77^th birthday, or 11 days before Christmas. This date is so memorable to me because it recollects the death of our friend, our province mate, the famous handsome actor Fernando Poe, Jr. popularly known as “FPJ”. Considered as “King of Philippine Movies” born in barrio Caoayan-Kiling, San Carlos, Pangasinan, many said he died because of stress after his defeat in the 2004 presidential elections. Millions of his avid followers say that he lost because of fraud and manipulation. But one of his relatives (I forgot her name) when interviewed on television last August 20 during FPJ’s 82^nd birthday, she claimed FPJ died because of multiple organs failure. Well, I’ll give what his relative said a benefit of the doubt but I maintian ‘stress’ was the real culprit. Remember, science says “stress kills.” I agree.

My memories of him remain vivid. One brought me back to the last Sunday of March 1961 when I first had a glance at the gorgeous San Carlean hombre in person. He was with his movie sidekick the late Dencio Padilla during Mapandan’s town fiesta celebration. I was just a 15-year-old kid that time and my addiction to the field of cycling as sport had just started. My friend and neighbor, the late German Bautista, was with me and we both heard a conversation between the late Mapandan chief executive Alejandro Cerame and FPJ at the back of the town’s auditorium. San Carlos was just a big town then of Pangasinan and not yet a city but have the same fiesta dates with Mapandan celebration at that time. His town mates say that FPJ had a habit of visiting San Carlos yearly during its town fiesta celebration and coincidentally, it was during that year when his rumored girlfriend co-movie personality the well-known Miss Charito Solis was the crowning guest of Miss Mapandan. I believe that was the main reason why FPJ unexpectedly visited Mapandan sans the knowledge of the Mapandanians. Yes, it was to secretly watch Miss Solis crown the Miss Mapandan. However, German and I saw FPJ and Padilla went back to San Carlos without meeting Miss Solis.

My second memory of FPJ was during a basketball exhibition match between his team, FPJ Productions, against the Clark Field Diplomats composed of U.S. servicemen stationed at Clark, Pampanga. The event was held at Marikina City Sports Center Basketball Arena sometime summer in 1970. Leading the FPJ quintet was himself as the point-guard, his brother Andy Poe, the brothers Paquito and Romy Diaz, Robert Talabis, Jumbo Salvador, Vic Vargas, and Victor Bravo, to name some. Bravo was from barrio Magtaking in Bugallon, Pangasinan. The best I could recall, FPJ’s team lost by five points but I forgot the real score.

The last time I met him was on the third week of June 2004 when he visited St. John Cathedral in Dagupan City to talk to Archbishop Oscar Cruz which I believe was for spiritual advice. It was the first time I talked to him personally with some Pangasinan media celebrities like my colleague Leonardo “Ding” Micua, Violy Valdez Ferrer, Yolanda Sotelo, to mention some, and we had some pictures taken with him.

And now he’s gone, gone for good, but his memory particularly his movies will last forever. In fact, the well-known Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City was officially renamed after him with former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signing the law (Republic Act 11608). Fernando Poe Jr. was just his screen name and his real name was Ronald Allan Kelly Poe. His brother, co-actor the late Andy Poe was the real Fernando Poe Jr.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” EXODUS 20: 7

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