Susan ‘plays favorites,’ too!

The STAR is turning "sweet sixteen" (16) tomorrow, the same day Susan Roces, forever the Queen of Philippine Movies (with her husband, FPJ, as Da King) in the hearts of her loyal fans (this one included), is marking another milestone in her fulfilled life.

How old is Swanie (as she’s fondly called by close friends)? Reverse The STAr’s age and you have the answer. At "sweet sixty-one," despite the few extra poundage, Susan has retained "the Face That Refreshes," all sweetness and light, the paradigm of things bright and beautiful.

Ask Susan once and for all if FPJ is running in 2004 (for President, that is) and she’ll tell you, "Oh, but Ronnie has been running – in Antipolo. That’s his favorite workout." Which means, thank you but FPJ and she are not interested (ambitious presidential aspirants can sit back now and relax).

Susan will spend her special day quietly, as usual, just as she has been doing since she "retired" (take note, in quotation marks because an actress never really retires but simply waits for the right role to lure her back before the cameras) from showbiz, enjoying to the hilt her real-life role as Mrs. Fernando Poe, Jr.

"I told my friends that through all my 60 years," Susan said during a brief phone chat yesterday, "I have gathered more than enough friends to make a fiesta. So instead of celebrating every year, I do it every 10 years. Tomorrow, I’ll just go to church with my family and maybe eat out."

Instead of the usual glowing "tribute" to Susan on her birthday, Funfare is granting the fervent wish of Susanians to publish their idol’s list of favorites. So here’s Susan "playing favorites":

• Radio Station – DZRH. "I started acting in radio dramas on ‘RH.’ In the morning, I tune in to ‘RH’ for the news and for whatever is the latest. Then I watch a little TV and read the papers."

• TV Show – "I switch channels because my friends are (doing soaps) on both channels (ABS-CBN and GMA). Dati, nakatutok ako sa ABS-CBN, but now that Barbara (Perez, her colleague at Sampaguita Pictures) is on GMA (Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw), pinapanood ko rin siya." (Asked if she’d agree to do a soap, Susan said, "If you ask any actor, he’ll never say never. The standard answer is, ‘As long as the role is good…’ But right now, hindi na muna.").

• Hobby – "I’m into so many things. I love gardening, arranging flowers, interior designing and farming."

• Movie (of another actor) – Gone With The Wind. "I love the character, Scarlett O’Hara, played by Vivien Leigh."

• Movie (her own) – Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita? (directed by Mel Chionglo, produced by Regal Films). "I like the character I portray there, totoong tao siya; hindi goody-goody all the way." (Susan plays the wife abandoned by Eddie Gutierrez for another woman, played by Hilda Koronel. – RFL)

• Actor/Actress – "It depends on the role(s) they’re playing, the material."

• Song – "I go for inspirational songs. I love music. My favorite is You’ll Never Walk Alone." (Proceeds to sing, When you walk through the storm, put your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark…)

• Perfume – "I like men’s cologne; no specific brand."

• Flower – "I love flowers so I like all flowers, including roses."

• Dish – "I enjoy experimenting with different types of cuisine. I go for anything that appeals to my taste buds. Some days I crave for this kind of food; other days I crave for that kind of food. That’s what my family does on weekends – try all kinds of dishes. Do I cook? No, I don’t. There are too many gourmets in our families, both on my side and Ronnie’s side. I’m the food taster."

• Recipe for Ronnie – "Ronnie is not hard to please; simple lang ang gusto niya. He’s now into diet food, mostly fish and vegetables."

• Snacks – Fruits. "But I’m not really a ‘snacker’."

• Drink –Calamansi syrup

• Saint – St. Jude (Thaddeus). "I remember my mother was a devotee of St. Jude; talagang she’d pray hard to St. Jude. I’m also a devotee of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo."

• Part of the House – "Being a housewife, I spend time in every room. But my favorite spot is my garden. My friends describe my garden this way: ‘It makes you feel as if you’re in the province; you won’t believe that you’re in the middle of the city.’ There are all kinds of plants and trees around our house. I planted most of them years ago and it excites me to see the trees in bloom, bearing fruits. Do you know that I have a rambutan tree in my garden? Last week nga, nalaglag ’yung mga bunga. I have also santol, macopa, mango."

• Time of Day – Early morning. "Ronnie and I are early risers; we rise before the sun does. We also go to bed early. First thing I do, after the usual amenities, is draw the curtains and welcome the first rays of the sun. Ronnie and I wake up at about the same time. Our best conversation happens in the morning, at around 5 o’clock, before the newspapers arrive at 6 o’clock."

• Day of the Week – Sunday. "It excites me that I have to dress up and put on my make-up to go to church, with the family. And then we eat out. But then, I find every day of the week exciting, but Sunday is very special for my family."

• City – "Oh, I’ve never thought about it. I’ve gone to several cities all over the world but my favorite is still Manila."

• Book – "I can’t think of any; I don’t want to sound as if I’m an intellectual. I read anything that interests me, whether it’s a comic book or a history book."

• Color – "I love colors. I believe in color therapy. When my spirits are low, I wear red. There’s a belief that red is a lucky color. Also, pink; it has a very calming effect."

• Motto – The Golden Rule. Do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.

• Expression(s) – "I love you! Peace be with you!"