Susan Roces preferred not to go to the hospital or consult a doctor before passing away because she was “ready” for her time, according to her daughter, Sen. Grace Poe.

Poe mentioned her mother’s desire in her eulogy on the final night of the wake, as shown on Poe’s Facebook page yesterday, May 25.

“Nung malapit na siyang mamayapa, hindi pa namin alam din pero kinausap ko siya (Before she passed away, we do not know at the time but I talked to her),” Poe recalled.

“Sabi ko (I said), ‘Ma, can you please see the doctor or go to the hospital? If not for yourself, at least for us.’ Ang sabi niya, ‘I’ve been considering — I’ve been putting the feelings of other people before my own ever since. I’m already 80 years old, I’m ready. This time, I will think of me,’ and I really think she deserves that.”

Poe also said how her mother warned her not to get involved in politics. The senator then emphasized that Roces taught her to fight for the truth by following in the footsteps of Poe’s late father, the “King of Philippine Movies,” Fernando Poe Jr.

“Ang sinasabi niya, ‘Ayokong magkaroon ng anak na bayani dahil ang mga bayani bantayog na lang at estatwa. Hindi ko sila makakasama,’” she said.

“Pero ma, ang mga tinuro mo sa akin ay katangian ng bayani. Hindi ko kaya palagi pero ‘yun ‘yung tinuro mo sa akin.”

She said, “I do not want my child to be a hero because heroes become monuments and statues. I cannot be with them.” But mom, what you taught me are characteristics of heroes. I may not live up to it all the time but that is what you taught me.