FPJ and the BEAUTY QUEENS

Me and mom are avid fans of Fernando Poe Jr. a.k.a. FPJ or "Da King", with the real name of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004).

Everytime that FPJ was on our screen we don't change the network already and we're focus on watching until the end.  We always followed and waited on his next movie. Until now even he is already gone, me and mom still an avid fan. He will forever remain in our hearts.

FPJ was admitted to Saint Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City on the evening of December 11, 2004 after complaining of dizziness at a gathering in his production studio premises.^. That time, I was on duty on the other department of the hospital and too busy to go and have a sneak to ICU to see him. After my duty it's not allowed to visit him already so didn't had the time to see him while he's there. 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. 

The 9th day wake was attended by hundreds of thousands, (including me and my mom) with organizers claiming numbers as high as two million. The funeral procession drew tens of thousands who crowded the streets of Quezon City. He was buried in his family plot along with his father and mother in North Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.

We will never forget the first and last time we saw him in person, sad to say, it was his wake on the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. So,even I have lack of sleep because of my abnormal working duties at the hospital (as a Charge Clerk) Even we wait for almost 9 hours just to fall-in-line going to the church, It's okay, we patiently wait until our turn (take note: I came from my work duty as afternoon shift 2-10pm). Yes, almost 9 hours of standing, from 10:30pm to 7:30am. It's okay, we know that it was our last chance to see him in flesh and after that we will never see him ever again. T_T

Trivia: Do you know that almost all of his leading ladies in his movies in the past and before he passed away are beauty queens/participants/runner-ups? And here is the list that I collected: 

• Miriam Jurado (1958 Ms. Press Photography of the Philippines candidate) Anak ng Bulkan (1958)

• Lily Marquez (1958 Miss PPP candidate) Apollo Robles (1961)

•  Mariquit Soliman  (real name: Violeta dela Cruz, 1958 Miss PPP first runner-up)  Mga Tigreng Taga-Bukid (1962)
  
  
• Fe Galvez (1958 Miss PPP second runner-up) Walang Pagkalupig (1962); Maginoong Tulisan (1965)

• Adorable Liwanag (1961 Miss PPP candidate) Ako Ang Katarungan (1964)

• Helen Gamboa  (1961 Miss PPP first runner-up)  Kumander Fidela (1964); Bandido Aguilar (1965); Baril sa Aking Kamay (1966); Hanggang May Buhay (1966); Dugo sa Buhangin (1966)

• Vilma Valera (real name: Vilma Johnson, 1961 Miss PPP second runner-up) Nardong Kutsero (1969)

• Imelda Ilanan (real name: Angelina dela Cueva, 1964 Miss Philippines International search  candidate; not the same contest won the same year by Gemma Cruz who became the country’s first Miss International) Ang Dayuhan (1968); Asedillo (1971); Bontoc (1979) 

• Liza Lorena (real name: Elizabeth Luciano Winsett, 1966 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up) Tierra Sangre (1970)

• Pilar Pilapil (1967 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe) Ang Alamat (1972); Dampot, Pukol, Salo (1974)

• Marilou Destreza (1969 Mutya Ng Pilipinas third runner-up) Sanctuario (1974) 

• Gloria Diaz (1969 Miss Universe) Andalucia (1975)

• Dina Bonnevie (1969 Miss Magnolia first runner-up) Batas Ng Lansangan (2002) 

• Elizabeth Oropesa (1971 Miss Republic of the Philippines first runner-up) Alupihang  Dagat (1975); Bontoc (1979)

• Marian de la Riva (1972 one of Manila’s Five Prettiest) Ang Leon at Ang Daga (1976); Tutubing Kalabaw, Tutubing Karayom (1976); Ang Lalaki, Ang Alamat, Ang Baril (1978); Peping Kaliwete (1982); Daniel Bartolo ng Sapang Bato (1982); Isang Bala Ka Lang (1983); Panday,  Ikaapat Na Yugto (1984); Isa-Isa Lang (1985); Muslim Magnum 357 (1986); Gawa Na Ang Balang Papatay Sa Iyo (1988); Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway (1991)

• Janet Bordon (1972 Bb. Pilipinas candidate) Kumander Ulupong (1978)

• Evangeline Pascual (1973 Miss World first runner-up) Ang Pangalan: Mediavillo (1973)

• Connie Reyes (1974 Baron Travel Girl finalist) Ang Padrino (1974)

• Anna Marin (1974 Miss Teen World Philippines candidate) Tatak ng Tondo (1977)

•  Susan Valdez (1974 Mutya ng Pilipinas second runner-up) Ang Lalaki, Ang Alamat, Ang Baril (1978)

•  Janice Jurado (1974 Miss Teen World Philippines candidate) Manedyer si Kumander (1982)

•   Charina Alonzo (1975 Lakambini ng Filipinas) Alupihang Dagat (1975)

• Tina Monasterio (1975 Bb. Pilipinas semi-finalist) Batya’t Palu-Palo (1976); Alakdang Gubat (1976); Kumander Ulupong (1978)

•  Azenith Briones (1975 Mutya ng Pilipinas runner-up and 1976 Bb. Pilipinas semi-finalist) Patayin si Mediavillo (1977)

•  Beth Bautista (1975 Miss RP second runner-up) At Muling Ngabaga Ang Lupa (1979)

•  Charo Santos (1976 Baron travel Girl) Durugin si Totoy Bato (1976); Agila (1980); Batas sa Aking Pangarap (1987); Wanted: Pamilya Banal (1989); Lakay (1992)

•  Baby Delgado (1976 Mutya ng Pilipinas) Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko (1983)

•  Bambi Arambulo (1977 Bb. Pilipinas-Maja) Agila (1980)

•  Veronica Jones (1978 Lakambini ng Filipinas candidate) Isa Para Sa lahat, Lahat Para Sa Isa (1989)

•  Techie Agbayani (1978 Bb. Pilipinas semi-finalist and 1979Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up) Sambahin Ang Ngalan Mo (1981)

•  Jennifer Cortez (1978 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe) Daniel Bartolo ng Sapang Bato (1982)

•  Criselda “Dang” Cecilio (1979 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe) Ang Panday: Ikalawang Yugto (1982); Kapag Buhay Ang Inutang (1983)

• Lorraine Schuck (1979 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia) Kapag Lumaban Ang Api (1987)

•  Chat Silayan (1980 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and 1980 Miss Universe third runner-up) Ang Maestro (1981)

•  Rosemarie de Vera (1980 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia) Sambahin Ang Ngalan Mo (1981); Sierra Madre (1981)

•  Lampel Luis (1980 Bb. Young-Pilipinas) Daniel Bartolo ng Sapang Bato (1982)

• Wendy Villarica (1981 Bb. Pilipinas candidate) Manedyer si Kumander (1982)

•  Marilou Bendigo (1981 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia) Sigaw ng Katarungan (1984)

• Cita Capuyon (1983 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe) Sigaw ng Katarungan (1984)

• Shaleemar Alcantara (1983 Bb. Pilipinas-Young International) Partida (1985)

• Imelda Caparas (1985 Mutya ng Pilipinas and Bb. Pilipinas candidate) Panday…Ika-Apat na Yugto (1984); Partida (1985)

•  Rowena Moran (1985 Bb. Pilipinasfinalist) Kapag Puno Na Ang Salop (1988)

•  Alice Dixson (1986 Bb. Pilipinas-International) Walang Matigas na Tinapay sa Mainit na Kape (1994)

• Charlene Gonzalez  (1986 Bb. Pilipinas-International) NBI: The Epimaco Velasco Story (1994) 

•  Anjanette Abayari (1991 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, dethroned) Ang Syota Kong Balikbayan (1995); Ang Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano (1998)

•  Dindi Gallardo  (1993 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe)Probinsyano (1996)

•  Michelle Aldana  (1993 Mutya Ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific abd 1993 Miss Asia Pacific) Hindi Pa Tapos Ang Laban (1994) 

•  Ina Raymundo  (1995 Faces finalist) Eseng Ng Tondo (1997); Alamat Ng Lawin (2002)

•  Aileen "Leng" Damiles (1996 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe) Isusumbong Kita Sa Tatay Ko (1999)

copyright @ 2011 by Mojari V.