After all the anticipation, suspense, and cliffhangers of teleseryes that mirror her personal narrative, Senator Grace Poe has finally made it official: She is running for President.
This makes the Presidential Election in May 2016 a choice among the three candidates who have made their intent to run public and official: VP Jejomar Binay, Mar Roxas and Grace Poe.
While Poe has lorded over her political opponents in the polls, more recent independent surveys still have to reveal how her move to protect the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) over the rule of law could have affected her favorability rating. Her stand on the INC fiasco gave an impression to many that she is just as “trapo” as the old timers in politics, who would do everything to win the endorsement of big religious voting blocs.
But there is no denying that Poe, finally being in the race to Malacanang, has energized so many kababayans who have been looking for a candidate who can be an alternative to those who had been tried, tested, and somehow failed peoples’ expectations in governance.
“Ako po si Grace Poe. Pilipino. Anak, asawa at ina, at sa tulong ng Mahal na Diyos ay inaalay ko sa inyong lahat ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan bilang inyong Pangulo,” Poe declared before hundreds of supporters at the University of the Philippines (UP) Bahay ng Alumni Wednesday evening, September 16, as reported by ABS-CBN News.
“Sana po ay samahan ninyo ako sa pagpapanday ng maganda at makabuluhang hinaharap ng ating inang bayang Pilipinas,” said Poe, complete with all the necessary elements of stagecraft for maximum intensity effect among prospective voters.
Poe had an all-star cast that included her family and many other showbiz personalities from different generations who were all there to show their support for the daughter of the late King of Filipino movies Fernando Poe Jr. and the Reyna—veteran actress, Susan Roces.
The stage design optics and sounds included fans and supporters who repeatedly chanted her name, holding banners in support of Poe. Boldly written on the banners inside the UP Bahay ng Alumni were: “Sama-sama Poe tayo,” “Tuloy na Poe,” “Eto na Poe,” and “Maasahan, matapang, tapat Poe.”
And then this. As expected, she invoked the name of FPJ:”Nung ako po’y unang kumatok sa inyong mga puso, ang sabi ko gusto kong ipagpatuloy ang mga simulain ni FPJ. Simple lang ang prinsipyo ng aking ama na siya ring naging dahilan ng kanyang pagtakbo. Sinabi niya sa bulwagang ito mahigit 11 taon ang nakalipas: Importante sa isang leader ang katalinuhan pero mas importante na may tapat na pusong manilbihan upang tulungan ang mahihirap, labanan ang pang-aabuso, at pumanday ng isang lipunang masagana at makatarungan,” Poe said.
In her 25-minute speech Poe said that she draws inspiration from ordinary Filipinos—farmers, fishermen, drivers, teachers, health workers, police, soldiers, those who brave the traffic everyday, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and other people struggling to make their lives better.
“Kayong lahat ang pinaghuhugutan ko ng inspirasyon. Kayo ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas na ialay ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan sa bayan,” she said.
Poe’s promises
ABS-CBN News reported about how Poe went on to present her platform:
Pushing for inclusive growth, addressing the backlog in classrooms, creating a Standard Lunch Program in all public schools, crusading against crime and illegal drugs, and respecting the rights of everyone especially those in vulnerable sectors including senior citizens and members of the LGBT community.
She also highlighted the need of improving health services, pushing for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, and fighting for the West Philippine Sea which is also being claimed by China.
“Walang maiiwang Pilipino at walang maiiwang lugar sa Pilipinas. Sabay-sabay tayong aangat at sama-sama tayong uunlad,” Poe said.
Poe also said that no one man or group holds a monopoly on “Tuwid na Daan,” and vowed to continue the Aquino administration’s fight against corruption.
She explained, “Malaki at malayo na ang nagawa ni Pangulong Aquino kaugnay sa pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali, at ako ay personal na nagpapasalamat sa kanya sapagkat nanumbalik muli ang kumpyansa natin sa isang lider na tapat.
“Dapat lang na ituloy at paigtingin ang pagsugpo sa korapsyon. Papanagutin ko ang tiwali, kaibigan man o kaaway, subalit ‘di lamang isang tao o partido ang dapat nagsusulong nito kundi ang bawat isang Pilipino,” she added.
ABS-CBN News further reported that Poe included in her campaign promises that she will lower the tax rates and power costs in the country. She also advocates for faster Internet, quipping that “connecting should not take forever.”
Poe also stressed the need to build more roads and trains, to clean the drainage systems, and to remove colorum and illegally parked vehicles to improve the already worsening traffic situation in the country which she called “OA.”
The senator also promised to pursue peace with all groups, particularly the Muslims, saying Filipinos should no longer be fighting fellow Filipinos.
“Sa mga kapatid nating Muslim, naging inspirasyon kayo sa maraming pelikula ni FPJ, ang inyong kultura at kagitingan. Panahon na para mabigyan kayo ng patas na pagkakataon at tunay na tulong,” she said.
How will Grace Poe’s running for President change the political campaign dynamics? Who between Binay and Mar Roxas will benefit from her candidacy?
If the election is held today, who will you vote for? VP Binay? Sec. Mar Roxas? or Sen. Grace Poe?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
