Fernando Poe Jr.


Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, better known as Fernando Poe Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ, Ronwaldo Reyes and Da King, was a Filipino actor, director and politician. His long career as an action film star earned him the nickname "King of Philippine Movies". During the latter part of his career, Poe was defeated by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 Philippine presidential election.
Poe was posthumously declared a National Artist of the Philippines for Film on May 23, 2006 by former President Macapagal-Arroyo. The award was confirmed by former President Benigno Aquino III on July 20, 2012, and was presented to his family on August 16.

Early life

Poe was the son of Filipino actor Fernando Poe Sr., a native from San Carlos, Pangasinan and Elizabeth "Bessie" Kelley, an Irish American mestiza. He was born in Manila on August 20, 1939.
His parents were not legally married when he was born, they were later married in 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 and it from his brother Andy, whose given name Poe used 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.
Pou is the original spelling of the family's surname from his paternal grandfather, playwright Lorenzo Pou, a Catalan migrant from Majorca, Spain, who ventured into mining and business in the Philippines.

Education

In 1953, Poe finished his primary education at San Beda College, Lepanto. For high school, he went to San Sebastian College. He continued his education at Mapua Institute of Technology and University of the East and took the course theater arts.
When his father died from rabies at age 35, Poe became the family's breadwinner. In order to support his family, he dropped out of school Of Mechanical Engineering.

Acting 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. Starting as a stuntman for Everlasting Pictures, he was given a starring role in the film Anak ni Palaris at the age of 14. The film was not a big hit. In 1956, the film Lo' Waist Gang made him popular, 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, 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. Among the movies that received awards were Mga Alabok sa Lupa, Asedillo, Durugin si Totoy Bato, Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko, and Muslim.357.
Poe was one of the highest paid film actors in the Philippines in the 1980s, with his salary over one million pesos per film. In 1988, Poe partnered with San Miguel Corporation in a near promotional deal for San Miguel Beer.
Among his roles were Flavio in the Ang Panday fantasy series, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Dito sa Pitong Gatang and Aguila. His last film, Pakners, also stars 9-ball billiards champion Efren "Bata" Reyes.

Presidential bid

Fernando Poe Jr., was the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino 's candidate for the 2004 presidential election. He accepted nomination in December 2003 and was to be the opposition candidate in the Philippines' 2004 presidential election.

Personal life

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-President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda. Poe and Roces adopted a daughter, Grace Poe, who became a senator. Poe was also partnered with Anna Marin and had one son, Ronian and with former actress Rowena Moran and had a daughter, Lourdes Virginia.
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.

Death and legacy

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. 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. He died at the age of 65 on December 14 at 12:01 am, without regaining consciousness.
Organizers of the nine-day wake claimed numbers as high as two million. The funeral procession drew tens of thousands who crowded the streets of Quezon City, an event that was reminiscent of the funeral processions of Ninoy Aquino in 1983 and matinee idol Julie Vega in 1985. He was buried in his family plot along with his father and mother in 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, with widow Susan Roces and daughter Grace Poe attending the unveiling.

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