Born On August 20, 1939 in Manila with his Filipino father, which is an actor, Fernando Poe (Sr. Note: he used his father's name and added as his junior) and an American mother, Bessie Kelley. Ronnie (his nickname) , lost his father at an early age due to rabies, which lead him to stop school and support his family. He started to work as a messenger in a movie production, where he was discovered. His first film was "Anak ni Palaris" (The son of Palaris), then a box office hit film, "Low-Waist Gang" with his colleagues Paquito Diaz, Berting Labra, and others.
He become popular with his blows and punches as his trade mark. He is also a director and writer of some of his movie classics like Tatak ng Tundo, Alupihang Dagat, Ang Padrino, the Panday series, and his 2002 film, Alamat ng Lawin. He got married to Susan Roces (Ma. Jesusa Sonora) on Christmas day, 1968. Although barren, they adopted Mary Grace as their daughter. Recently in his interview with GMA-7's Jessica Soho, he admit that he has a son with Anna Marin, his name is Ronian.
On November 26, 2003, after all the speculations regarding the 2004 Presidential Elections, FPJ decided to run as president, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decides to run the same position; he chose Loren Legarda as his running mate. There were few problems that FPJ encountered, a disqualification case against him filed by Atty. Victorino X. Fonier. It questions his (Poe's) citizenship as a Filipino because his father is married with Paulita Gomez, which he was defended by his colleagues in Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP). After all that the Supreme Court declares that FPJ was a Filipino citzen. After the elections, some say that he lost against President Arroyo, others say that he was cheated, on July, 2004, both Poe and Legarda filed an electoral protest in the supreme court.
On December 11, 2004 at 11:30 P.M. he suffered a serious stroke during their Christmas party in his own studio. He was rushed in St. Luke's Medical Center by his friends, he has to be observed by three days or 72 hours. FPJ has been in coma until his condition got worse. On December 14, 2004 at 12:01 midnight, he finally passed away. The people had spoken that he was the real president, he has a very kind heart by helping the needy, but most of all he love the people; His funeral on December 22 was a massive the population gathered about 2 - 3 million, it reached up to Manila North Cemetery, where he laid to rest.
Ronnie will never forget in every Filipinos' hearts and minds forever.
