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IT
WAS NOT a scene in any picture, and those present just couldn’t seem to believe
what they saw. Susan Roces, the queen of
Philippines movies, playing piko! But there she was, deeply concentrated on
the game, unmindful of the eyes watching her.
It was a sight to see Susan in rugged attire (white sweatshirt, faded
jeans, rubber shoes, hair uncombed), and yet still so much of a lady. All of a sudden, she was so young at heart,
playing a child’s game, but with all the seriousness and determination of an
adult to hurdle a major test.
It all started when she arrived on the
set so early, she sat on the steps of the stairs of a house near her shooting
location watching the kids enjoying themselves.
In an instant, she went to join them, smilingly asked, “Puede bang sumali?”
The children, of course, knew she was
Susan Roces, the movie star, but they welcomed her as another player, another
competition. And Susan, with her innate
sincerity, forgot her stature in the celebrated world she moves in, and took
advantage of the few moments when she could relive the life of an ordinary girl
who is so much young at heart.
Source: Screen Stardom, Vol. V, No. 6 (1969)
From the magazine collection courtesy of Teena L.A.
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