Susan Roces opens her heart again after FPJ left her seven years ago

SUSAN ROCES never expected that her role as the Chinese matriarch Helena Sy in “Babaeng Hampaslupa” will be such a hit with viewers. “Helena is something I’ve never done before,” she says. “In my past soaps, I’m always poor, inaapi. Here, I’m rich, always well dressed at mataray. She’s one of the most memorable characters I’ve ever played. When we started, I don’t know what will happen to my character. All I know is three generations kami nina Alice Dixson and Alex Gonzaga. Now, I can say I don’t have to act out Helena as I am her in real life. Like her, nasa real estate din ako, I speak out my mind, hindi paaapi. I like Helena kasi totoong tao siya. And I like doing this show kasi walang problema at all set. Magaan ang atmosphere, lahat nagbibigayan, walang pataasan ng ere. The success of ‘Babaeng Hampaslupa’ is really a concerted effort, from directors Eric Quizon and Joyce Bernal to all my co-stars most of whom ngayon ko lang nakatrabaho.”

Viewers like the development of the love story between Helena and George Wong, played by Freddie Webb, who’ll get married soon in the story. “Yes, ikakasal sila. The show made me realize nga na kahit may edad na, kaya pa rin nating magmahal.” In real life, does she have a George also? “When FPJ left 7 years ago, akala ko, nalibing na ang puso ko with him, but dahil sa ‘Babaeng Hampaslupa’, binuksan ko uli ang mga lumang alaala at muling nabuhay ang puso ko.” So does she have any suitors now? “Wala. At ayoko na ring isipin yan. Pero ayokong magsalita ng patapos at baka kainin ko pa ang salita ko.”

Her rival as movie queen in the 60s, Amalia Fuentes, has signified her desire to act again. Would she welcome doing a project with her? “Aba, maganda yun. Okay ako run. Our rivalry naman never became personal. We appeared in many movies together in Sampaguita Pictures like ‘Amy, Susie and Tessie’, ‘Mga Reyna ng Vicks’, ‘The Big Broadcast’, ‘Tulisan’, ‘Cover Girls’, and others. But we should do a project na bagay sa mga edad namin ngayon.”

She feels privileged to have worked with the country’s top three networks. Is it true she has a curfew at taping? “Ang request ko, up to 12 midnight lang, but I understand kung may inaapura and I have to stay beyond that, like kung may aalis so we have to advance some episodes when Alice Dixson went home to Canada for three weeks and Jay Manalo went to tape another show in Australia.”

Will she resort to cosmetic surgery to stay looking young? “I have nothing against that but I won’t change my looks now as that’s what I’m paid for, my being old, so I am happy with what I am now.”

Will she ever retire? “Naku, nag-retire na ako noon when I got married, but I came back. So now, if I’m 100 years old and they still have a role for me, then I’d do it.”