Allan Fernando Reyes Poe (November 27, 1916 – October 23, 1951) was a Filipino actor and film director during the early era of cinema in the Philippines.
Fernando Poe Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Allan Fernando Pou y Reyes November 27, 1916 |
| Died | October 23, 1951 (aged 34) Manila, Philippines |
| Resting place | Manila North Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines |
| Other names | Allan F. Poe, Fernando Reyes Poe, Fernando Poe Sr. |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines (BS) Philippine Dental College (MD) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1935–1951 |
| Spouses | Paulita Gomez (m. 1936)Elizabeth Kelley (m. 1940) |
| Children | 7, including Ronald Allan, Andy and Conrad |
| Relatives | Grace Poe ( adoptive granddaughter) Lovi Poe (granddaughter) |
Poe was the father of Fernando Poe Jr., who later became a prominent actor and film industry icon. Prior to his son's rise to fame, he was known as Fernando Poe; he was later referred to as Fernando Poe Sr. to distinguish him from his son.[1][2][3] He directed the first Darna film in 1951 before he died in the same year. As a leading man, he was often cast opposite Mona Lisa. He died because of Rabies.
Biography
editPoe was born in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, and later had six children by his second wife, Elizabeth "Bessie" Gatbonton Kelley (November 8, 1918 – March 2, 1999) of Pampanga: Elizabeth (Liz), Ronald Allan (Ronnie or FPJ), Fernando Jr. (Andy), Genevieve (Jenny), Fredrick (Freddieboy), and Evangeline (Eva). Poe and Kelly were married in 1940 after their first two children were born. Actor Conrad Poe (CP), meanwhile, was his illegitimate son by actress Patricia Mijares.
The original spelling of his surname was Pou (Catalan: ['pɔw]) via his father, playwright Lorenzo Pou, a Catalan immigrant from Majorca in the Balearic Islands. Pou established a mining business in the Philippines and married a Pangasinense woman named Marta Reyes.
Military career
editUnfortunately, World War II intervened. Twelve days after the war officially started in the Philippines, Poe Sr., who was a member of the Reserve Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was called to active duty on December 20, 1941, as 1st Lieutenant. His first assignment was as assistant Provost Marshall of the 59th Provisionary Brigade under Gen. Simeon de Jesus, from December 1941 to January 1942. He rose to become a Platoon Leader, then the Morale Officer of the Lamao Combat Team Regiment. He saw action in Bataan—where he saved residents from a house bombed by the Japanese, carrying children and the wounded to safety. He stayed in his position till Bataan fell on April 9, 1942. With the surrender of the American-Filipino forces, Lt. Poe Sr. joined the dreaded Bataan Death March. He secretly joined the Panay Guerrillas under Col. Macario Peralta Jr. He became an undercover man of the Llanes Intelligence and Information Corps. These, he revealed, during his inquisition by the post-war Loyalty Status Board. He rose to become a captain, but there came a point when he had to leave his military career.
Personal life
editPoe graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines in 1935 and the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Philippine Dental College in 1942.
Death
editPoe died on October 23, 1951 from rabies, shortly before the release of his last film Basag na Manika (in which he was the director). His wife reported that he had been bitten by a puppy in August, but did not get anti-rabies treatment in the mistaken belief that he did not have the virus. The same puppy also supposedly bit three of Poe's children, but they were all treated. However, in a later interview, his son Ronald Allan (then better known by the stage name Fernando Poe, Jr.) asserted that Poe wasn't bitten, but rather had let the puppy lick a wound to purportedly speed up the healing.[4]
Selected filmography
edit- Eseng ng Tondo (1937)
- Zamboanga (1937), also known as Fury in Paradise (UK)
- Giliw Ko (1939)
- Dawn of Freedom / Liwayway ng Kalayaan (1944)
- Dugo at Bayan (1946)
- Forbidden Women (1948)
- Darna (1951)
References
edit- ^ ...indicated that (Ronald Allan Poe's) parents are Allan F. Poe and Bessie Kelley. Archived August 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ...no available information could be found in the files of the National Archives regarding the birth of Allan F. Poe....records of birth in (the City Civil Registrar of San Carlos City, Pangasinan) during the period of from 1900 until May 1946 were totally destroyed during World War II... Archived June 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The document (Affidavit for Philippine Army Personnel, Dec. 22, 1947), signed by “Fernando R. Poe” states, among others, the names of the signatory’s children, namely Elizabeth, Ronald Allan, and Fernando II [dead link]
- ^ "Video 48: OCTOBER 23, 1951: FERNANDO POE (Sr.) DIES OF HYDROPHOBIA". Video 48. September 22, 2008.