Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), known professionally as Fernando Poe Jr., and often referred to by his initials FPJ, was a Filipino actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and politician. His long and successful career as an action star earned him the nickname "Da King" (i.e. the "King of Philippine movies").[1] He also wrote, directed, and produced several of the films he starred in—under the pseudonyms Ronwaldo Reyes and D'Lanor.[2]
Poe ran for president of the Philippines in the 2004 election. He lost to re-electionist Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by just over one million votes (3.48%)—the closest margin between the winner and runner-up in the history of Philippine presidential elections. Seven months after the elections, Poe died of a stroke; hundreds of thousands attended his wake and funeral.[9][10]
Poe was married to actress Susan Roces, who played his onscreen love interest in 17 films.[2] Senator Grace Poe and actress Lovi Poe are his daughters.
Early life and education
Ronald Allan Kelley Poe was the son of Filipino actor and director Fernando Poe Sr. (born Allan Fernando Poe y Reyes; 1916–1951) from San Carlos, Pangasinan and Elizabeth "Bessie" Kelley (1918–1999). He was born in Manila on August 20, 1939. He was known as "Ronnie" to his family.
His parents, at the time of his birth, were not legally married until 1940. In 2004, Poe's political opponents tried to derail his bid for the 2004 Philippine presidency when they sought to disqualify him as an illegitimate son of a non-Filipino mother.
He was the second among six siblings, including Andy (born Fernando Kelley Poe Jr.; 1943–1995),[11] whose given name was used by Poe as his own professional name to bank on the popularity of his father who was a top actor in his time. Conrad Poe was Poe's half-brother, the illegitimate son of Fernando Poe Sr. and actress Patricia Mijares.
The original spelling of the family surname was Pou, from his paternal grandfather, playwright Lorenzo Pou, a Catalan migrant from Mallorca, Spain who ventured into mining and business in the Philippines.
When his father died from rabies at age 34, Poe became the family's breadwinner. In order to support his family, he dropped out of the University of the East during his sophomore year.[12]
Film career
Poe dropped out of college to work in the Philippine film industry as a messenger boy, and was given acting roles in subsequent years.[13] Starting as a stuntman for Everlasting Pictures, he was given a starring role in the film Anak ni Palaris (Son of Palaris) at the age of 14. The film, however, was not a big hit. In 1956, the film Lo' Waist Gang made him popular,[13] and the film was such a hit that low-waist pants became a fad.
Also known as 'FPJ' from his initials, Poe acted in a number of films which depicted him as the champion of the poor and downtrodden. He also directed films under the pseudonyms D'Lanor and Ronwaldo Reyes. Reyes originated from the surname of his paternal grandmother, Martha.
He established FPJ Productions in 1961 and later organized other film companies. In 1963, he testified against criminal gangs, known as the Big Four, who extorted money from the film industry. In 1965, he shared the lead in The Ravagers (in the Philippines this is titled Only the Brave Know Hell), a film depicting the United States and the Philippines working together against Japanese war time occupation. The film is considered one of the most influential Filipino films.
Poe won the most best actor awards at the FAMAS.[citation needed] Among the films that received awards were Mga Alabok sa Lupa (1967), Asedillo (1971), Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979), Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko (1983), and Muslim .357 (1986).
Poe was one of the highest paid film actors in the Philippines in the 1980s (alongside Dolphy and Vilma Santos), with his salary reaching over one million pesos per film.[14] In 1988, Poe partnered with San Miguel Corporation in a near ₱27 million promotional deal for San Miguel Beer,[15] his first endorsement of a product in his entire film career, with the first television commercial airing on January 20.[16]
In mid-1993, Poe was then set to star in a film produced by Viva Films and directed by Pablo Santiago titled Tulak ng Bibig, Kabig ng Dibdib, with Alice Dixson cast as the female lead, though it did not come to fruition.[17]
Poe married actress Susan Roces, the professional name of Jesusa Sonora, in a civil wedding in December 1968. They later married in a religious service and among their primary sponsors were then-PresidentFerdinand Marcos and First LadyImelda. Poe and Roces adopted a daughter, Grace Poe, who became a senator.
Poe was very reclusive about his personal life. However, in February 2004, during the presidential campaign, Poe admitted to having fathered two children out of wedlock.[19] He had an affair with actress Anna Marin and had one son, Ronian and with former actress Rowena Moran and had a daughter, Lourdes Virginia.
Poe was admitted to St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City in the evening of December 11, 2004 after complaining of dizziness at a gathering in his production studio during a Christmas party.[20] He suffered from a stroke and slipped into a coma while being treated for a brain clot. Doctors described his condition as a cerebral thrombosis with multiple organ failure.[21] He died at the age of 65 on December 14 at 12:01 am PHT (UTC+08:00), without regaining consciousness.[21] His remains were initially transferred to the Arlington East Memorial Chapels in Pasig (now known as the Evergreen Memorial Chapels), before being transferred a day later to the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.[22][23] Organizers of the nine-day wake claimed numbers as high as two million.[24] The funeral procession drew tens of thousands who crowded the streets of Quezon City, an event which drew comparisons to the funeral processions of former Senator Ninoy Aquino in August 1983 – who also had his wake held at the Santo Domingo Church – and of actress Julie Vega in May 1985. He was buried in his family plot along with his parents in the Manila North Cemetery.
On December 14, 2012, eight years after his death, a monument to Poe was erected at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Arquiza Street in Ermita, Manila, with widow Susan Roces and daughter Grace Poe attending the unveiling.
On his 84th birth anniversary on August 20, 2023, Roosevelt station of LRT Line 1 in Quezon City was renamed Fernando Poe Jr. station and FPJ Arena, a sports arena in San Jose, Batangas also named in his honor, was inaugurated.[26][27]
In popular culture
Poe inspired a generation of television and movie impersonators, both serious and comedic. His movie role as the 'Pinoy Robin Hood' and 'People's Champion' in most of his films have repeatedly been clichéd by Filipino action films for years to come.
TV host-comedian Joey de Leon parodied Poe and his iconic film persona (most notably the character of Flavio in Ang Panday) in many cameo and starring roles. In the comedy film She-Man, Mistress of the Universe, Poe himself appeared in character (as Flavio) and made a cameo appearance to rescue "Pandoy" (De Leon's character name) against his enemies. De Leon in his Starzan character from the film of the same name made a cameo appearance in Poe's film May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi (There is one Taxi Driver) asking the latter to take him to the forest.
In 2009, Robin Padilla portrayed one of Poe's iconic characters in film in the television adaptation of Carlo J. Caparas' Totoy Bato on GMA Network.
Poe is known for his long sideburns which his iconic and signature hairstyle in the Philippines.
In 2015, his 1997 film Ang Probinsyano was remade by ABS-CBN into a TV series, starring Coco Martin as the main character to portray twins namely SPO1 Ricardo "Cardo" Dalisay and Police Sr. Insp. Dominador "Ador" de Leon together with Susan Roces, FPJ's widow.[29][30]
In 2016, Richard Gutierrez also portrayed Poe's 1980 film, Ang Panday. It was remade by TV5. Gutierrez starred as Flavio (same as Poe), Miguel, and Juro. Miguel and Juro are the modern versions played by Gutierrez.
In February 2023, Coco Martin starred in an adaptation of FPJ's movie Batang Quiapo as a TV series together with Lovi Poe, FPJ's daughter.
^Mangahas, Mahar (March 5, 1999). "Bessie Kelley Poe". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 14. Retrieved February 6, 2023. Like her father Auther (not Arthur which is wrong spelling) who died in his afternoon nap 33 years ago, and like Andy who had a heart attack in 1995, Auntie Bessie departed without warning.
^"FPJ in Beer Commercial". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. January 22, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved June 5, 2021. The San Miguel 30-seconder launched Jan.20 [sic] marks the first stint for FPJ to endorse a product in his more than 30 years in moviemaking.
^"'Kung Kailangan Mo Ako' opens Viva's mid-year blitz". Manila Bulletin. June 4, 1993. p. HC-2. Fernando Po [sic], Jr., lends prestige anew to the Viva banner with 'Tulak ng Bibig, Kabig ng Dibdib' another romantic action comedy directed by Pablo Santiago and also starring Alice Dixon [sic].
^"Remembering Da King of Pinoy Cinema". Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP). December 7, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2024. He was brought to Arlington Funeral Homes in Pasig City on the same day. His widow Susan Roces hoped to have private time at the funeral home but hundreds of people had already lined up to pay their respects. Poe was subsequently transferred to St. Domingo Church in Quezon City. People followed in droves. Within two hours, police estimated at least 5,000 people had come to see the King of Philippine Cinema for the last time.
^Diaz, Lav (September 16, 1988). "Rambol ng mga bakla". Manila Standard (in Filipino). Manila Standard News, Inc. p. 15. Retrieved January 29, 2021. Saglit na nabuhay din naman ang huling yugto sa pagsulpot ng totoong FPJ...
^"Grand Opening Today". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. May 30, 1991. p. 16. Retrieved February 12, 2020. A Super Roadshow Presentation
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