Sen. Grace Poe On Mom Susan Roces' Passing: 'Pinalaki Niya Ako Na Maging Maligaya Sa Kakaunti Na Meron'

Veteran actress Susan Roces' passed away on Friday, May 20, at 80 years old.

Her immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, according to her daughter Senator Grace Poe.

Poe, who was at Roces' wake at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City, was asked about her mother's cause of death.

"Ang kanyang ikinamatay—ito yung sinabi ng doktor: cardiopulmonary arrest. Ibig sabihin, bumigay po ang kanyang puso. Maraming dahilan yan; dahil marami na ring mga naging kumplikasyon sa kanya," Poe said.

'Ayaw niya maging pabigat sa iba'

"Pero hindi kasi siya dumadaing masyado. Kilala ko yung aking nanay. Itinatago niyang mabuti kung anuman ang nararamdaman niya; ayaw niyang maging pabigat sa iba," she added.

Poe said that two weeks before her mother's death, they noticed that Roces seemed to be having breathing difficulty and that she had lost her appetite.

"Noong nakaraang dalawang linggo, kasi kapag nag-uusap kami, minsan isang oras o isang oras at kalahati ang average niyan, parang mga 10 minuto lang, sinasabi niya, 'Sige na, sige na,' at parang nahahapo siya," she said.

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"Doon na namin talaga napagdesisyunan ng aking mga pinsan na mukhang meron nang iba dito," she added.
Roces was brought to the hospital last Tuesday, May 17, but she was still able to congratulate the senator for the passage of the measure seeking to safeguard the rights and welfare of foundlings.

Poe, who herself was abandoned by her biological parents as an infant before Roces and Poe Jr. adopted her, also congratulated her mother who fought for the rights of foundlings.

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"Yun na ang huling pag-uusap namin kaya napaka-symbolic nga, parang inintay niya," she said.

'Kasama na niya ang mga magulang niya at ang tatay ko'

"Siyempre malungkot kami pero kapag inisip namin, wala nang sakit, wala nang hirap, at higit sa lahat, kasama na niya ang mga magulang niya at saka ang tatay ko—yun talaga ang true love niya e," she added.

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo would file a measure to recommend declaring Roces a national artist like her late husband, according to Senator-elect Raffy Tulfo. Senate President Vicente Sotto III also filed a measure to honor Roces in the Senate.

Poe thanked those who expressed their condolences and sympathies to their family.

"Ang national artist dapat siya po ay magaling sa kanyang sining pero higit sa lahat siya ay dapat maging isang mabuting huwaran. Nasa kamay ang desisyon ng mga nasa posisyon kung ito ba ay maibibigay o hindi," she said.

"Pero sa puso ng marami nating mga kababayan, hindi po siya (Roces) makakalimutan bilang isang may integridad, mahinahon pero kapag hinamon ay hindi po umaatras," she added.

Roces' wake will be held until Tuesday at the Heritage Memorial Park, with the burial set to take place on Wednesday. Poe said they were considering laying her mother's remains at the Manila North Cemetery, where her late husband is also buried.

'Alam kong andiyan ka'

In an interview with PEP.ph, Poe shared lessons that she got from her mom.

“Pinalaki niya ako na maging maligaya sa kakaunti na meron, at huwag kalilimutan na meron talaga tayong misyon sa buhay na kung puwede tayong tumulong, kung meron tayong pagkakataon na tumulong, tumulong tayo.

“Huwag tayong padalus-dalos ng kilos, maging mahinahon tayo, pero huwag tayong paaapi. Pag merong kailangang sabihin, sabihin.

“Kaya, 'Ma, parang nawalan ako ng saklay pero sabi mo naman palagi, di ba, 'Gracia, kaya mo iyan. Kayanin mo iyan. Huwag mo akong papahiyain.'

“So, kakayanin naman namin at alam kong andiyan ka.”

This story originally appeared on Reportr.world. Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.