Susan Roces feels hurt whenever people call her daughter, senatoriable Grace Poe “ampon” or adopted.
While it’s true, the Queen of Philippine Movies thinks it’s unfair for Grace, or any adopted child, to be lambasted because of where he or she comes from.
“Minsan malupit din kapag sinasabi nila, ‘O, ampon ka lang. Sino ba ang tunay mong magulang?” Susan divulged in an interview after the press conference Regal matriarch Mother Lily Montevederde organized for Grace, her goddaughter.
Susan believes the derogatory word ‘lang’ should be omitted when describing adopted children. She also insists adopted children must know the truth when they’re ready for it.
The premiere actress is talking from experience. Susan recalls how a classmate approached Grace and said that the movie queen is not her real mother. That classmate must have learned the truth from the yaya, who would whisper about it when they gathered in circles during their wards’ recess time.
“Hindi raw si Susan Roces and Mama ko,” the actress recalls her then seven-year-old daughter telling her. When Susan asked Grace how she reacted, the little girl told her mom, “Kasi hindi nila alam na si Jesusa Sonora (Susan’s real) ka."
Despite her husband Fernando Poe Jr.’s protests, Susan decided to tell Grace the truth the best way she can.
“Dapat sabihin mo according to the language she understands best,” Susan cites what she learned from books.
She also thinks it’s best to tell the adopted child that he or she is “my child,” period. That way, the child will grow up strong and secure in his or her parent’s love.
Today, Grace doesn’t flinch when people tell her to her face that she is adopted. And Susan is proud of that.
“She takes it in stride. Hindi siya nagpapa-apekto sa ganong salita,” notes Susan.
This is why she is confident Grace can handle even more hurtful intrigues politics will bring her.
Susan warned her daughter it won’t be easy. Politics is worlds apart from showbiz where a star is made once his or her movie makes it big in the box-office. In politics, the rules are different, the game even more complicated.
The doting mother also told Grace the most important thing is “huwag mong walain ang sarili mo; huwag mo akong pahiyain.”
Should Grace win, Susan intends to keep a hands-off policy in Grace’s work.
“Sa MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which Grace used to head) hindi ako humingi ng passes, kahit tanungin mo sila (the staff).
Minsan lang ako pumanhik don. Minsan, nanonood ako ng sine, kung sino merong passes sa pamilya, sumasama na lang ako,” says Susan.
This, she adds, shows how much she respects Grace’s work.
Her role should Grace win, says Susan, would be to remind her daughter of the promises she made during campaign season.
The nutribuns in the feeding program for children are lacking? Susan promises to tell her daughter about it.
“Ipararating ko sa kanya anumang hinaing ang makakarating sa akin,” promises Susan.
Her main job will still be showbiz, where she has made her presence felt for 50 years now. Susan won’t name the network she is doing a teleserye for, but she assures everyone taping is scheduled to start this campaign season.
Meantime, Susan is poised to continue her palengke tours to bring her daughter closer to the people.
And what Susan learned so far?
“Napakabait ng Panginoon sa atin,” she replied. Susan saw the rows of giant tuna lined up at the General Santos City fish port, and marveled at the rich resources the Philippines has been blessed with.
She hasn’t seen the end of it. The campaign season hasn’t reached its peak, and Susan will have more sights to see, more natural resources to admire, as she hops from one palengke to the other to see her daughter’s dreams come true.
