Former Senator Grace Poe says her father, King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), was more than just a master storyteller, his legacy was anchored in how his characters in the movies invited moviegoers to be a hero in their own lives.
She made the statement during the interview with the esteemed panel of guests at PEP Spotlight: Sine X Cinemalaya held at EDSA Shangri-La Cinema 3 on Monday, August 10, 2026.
The event was a celebration of Philippine cinema featuring Summit Books' 100 SINE. FILM. PELIKULA: The 100+ Greatest Movies in Philippine Cinema.
It is co-authored by Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, a respected Philippine entertainment journalist and editor, in collaboration with Dr. Joel David, a film critic and academic who holds a Ph.D in Cinema Studies at the New York University.
The SINE book touted the Ang Panday movie franchise—directed, produced, and headlined by the legendary Da King and National Artist—as his "directorial legacy" with him showing "an utter lack of pretension as well as careful attention to pre-digital special affects, at the moment when local specialists' expertise was at its height."
Maglipon also mentioned in detail in her preface that Ang Panday is the "classic action movie" and that FPJ is a "master at owning the audience."
The review was spot on as Grace Poe shared some colorful anecdotes on how FPJ helmed the first Ang Panday with the intenion of wanting the moviegoers feel the Christmas spirit during the 6th Metro Manila Film Festival in 1980.
"You know, the measure they say of a great filmmaker is not so much the number of films that he creates, but the memories that he leaves behind for his viewers, and I think that's also what FPJ is about," the former senator began.
She elaborated: "Actually po, ito yung na-feature dito ay Ang Panday. Ang Panday po ay unang pinalabas noong 1980.
"Ngayon, nung mga panahon po na yon, ang film festival ay malaking-malaking event.
"Ang mga pelikula na lumabas noon [past MMFF years] ay Minsan Isang Gamu-gamo, Burlesk Queen, Insiang, I think, at maraming mga magagaling na pelikula.
"Pero naisip ni FPJ, ang Pasko ay para sa pamilya. Sana may pagkakataon na magsama hindi lang yung mga magulang kundi pati kanilang mga anak.
"So thus, Panday was born."
Read: FPJ right hand recalls how Da King turned down a blank check
GRACE POE ON THE MAKING OF ANG PANDAY
Grace went on to say that she called up the set designer of Ang Panday, as well as FPJ's former manager and close confidante Susan Tagle, to know more about some colorful anecdotes in the making of Ang Panday.
"Remember ha, palagi tayong kapos sa budget, kapos tayo sa teknolohiya.
"Ayon kay Susan Tagle, to produce Panday 4, so ibig sabihin hindi Panday 1 'to ha, Panday 4, it was about four to five million pesos at that time.
"So if you include inflation, by now it's about forty to fifty million pesos.
"But if you want it to be epic with the technology that we have now, that will be around PHP80 to PHP150 million pesos, apparently.
"So now, tinanong ko yung set designer, 'Ano yung mga hindi mo makakalimutan doon sa Panday?'
"Sabi niya, yung lumulubog si Panday sa buhangin dahil natatalo siya ng agimat ni Lizardo [Max Alvarado].
"So, papano kaya natin gagawin yan na hahawi ang buhangin ano at lulubog siya?"
It was FPJ who found a solution to make the scene cinematic and impactful.
"So, sabi niya, 'Lando, halika dito. Kumuha ka ng drum, ibaon mo sa buhangin, tapos pumasok ka doon.' Kasi payat yun, e, okay?
"'Tapos papatong ako sa balikat mo. So, habang lumulubog ako, dahan-dahan kang bumabang ganun.'
"Tapos yung bentilador, para yung buhangin, di ba, kunwari nililipad na ganyan."
Imagine how meticulous and challenging the whole process was.
"So, eto na, bumababa na si FPJ. E, kaso medyo mabigat si FPJ, di ba? Talagang, maliit lang yung ano niya. So, yung bababa na ganun... E, dapat ano siya, aahon ulit. Hindi na kaya.
"So sabi ni FPJ, 'Kumuha ka ng stuntman na medyo kasya diyan [sa drum] para siya naman yung umangat.' That's one."
Grace also recalled how FPJ got inspiration from a children's book that she read as a child for the set design for the witch's cave in Ang Panday.
The actress who played the witch for that installment was Rosemarie Gil.
"Ang isa pang ginawa niya, sabi niya kay Lando, 'Lando, gumawa ka ng kubo. Diyan titira yung aswang.'
"Nung ginawa na yung kubo, sabi niya, 'Actually, maganda yung kubo mo. Ang problema lang, parang masyadong maganda. Dapat para sa aswang, lagyan mo ng parang mga kahoy na mga patse-patse diyan, ganyan.'
"So when it was finished, not only did they have like trusses out in all directions, may mga patay na ibon na nakatusok doon."
Read: Fernando Poe Jr.'s 2004 candidacy and untimely death: A lookback
GRACE POE ON CHAMPIONING FILIPINO FILMS
Proud of her father as a filmmaking genius, Grace emphasized that he was really hands on and dedicated in mastering his craft and contributing to the film industry.
In the end, she expressed her hope that her father's works would continue to inspire Filipino filmmakers to keep championing Pelikulang Pilipino.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, here in the Philippines we have advocates like Jo-Ann [Maglipon], we have Roselle [Monteverde], and we have many others that continue to produce even with the tight budget that they have, even with the lack of technology.
"But because Filipinos love movies, we have the creativity and we have the ingenuity, but more, most of all, we have the grit to be able to complete a film.
"In FPJ's movies about Pasko, he never asked his audience to be heroes. People loved Panday because he invited each of and every one of them to be one. Thank you."
100 SINE. FILM. PELIKULA: The 100+ Greatest Movies in Philippine Cinema retails for P1,799, and is available on leading bookstores National Bookstore and Fully Booked as well as online via Shopee and Lazada.