As the Supreme Court allows Sen. Grace Poe to run for President, PeopleAsia invites you to an insightful interview with the woman who might just be your next president. Here is Grace Poe as PeopleAsia’s Woman of Style& Substance.
Text by KRISTEL DACUMOS-LAGORZA |Â Photography by SHAIRA LUNA
When Grace Poe topped the senatorial race with 20.3 million votes, her supporters rejoiced in their shared victory. And while the name “Poeâ€Â gave a gentle push
at the start of the campaign, it was her genuine “Grace†that landed her the top spot. Yes, she bears her father’s last name, but it is how she has lived up to her first (name) that has earned her their vote of confidence.
On July 1, 2013, Mary Grace Sonora Poe joined the youngest batch of neophyte senators as they walked the storied halls of the Senate for the first time. With Bam Aquino, Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito, among others (whose ages average a young 46 years old), these legislators usher in renewed hope and fresh ideas, and hopefully some much needed perspective.
This roster of leaders also boasts having the most number of women senators since 1947. Completing the lineup of strong female leaders in the chamber are Senators Loren Legarda (a two-time topnotcher); Pia Cayetano and the feisty Miriam Defensor-Santiago;Â as well as newcomers Nancy Binay and Cynthia Villar.
It is an eclectic mix, and the dynamics have the Filipinos excited – awaiting with bated breath how the next chapter of the country’s turbulent, albeit highly interesting political history will unfold.
Without false humility and coyness, Grace admits that this had always been a dream of hers, though it did not necessarily specify or limit itself to the Senate. She definitely wanted to be in public service. This was the same passion that perhaps (subconsciously) pushed her to lead the debate team at the Assumption Convent, and prompted her to pursue a Political Science degree at Boston College. “I had always wanted to do this, but how many of us believed that our dream would actually come true?†she laughs.
Today, her efforts (paired with a lifetime of experience and preparation) have led her to this victory. It has molded her into, what she believes, the public servant the country needs. “And what exactly do we need?†this writer asks.
“Do you know that song by Gloc 9?†Grace asks earnestly. “Kayo po na nakaupo, subukan n’yo namang tumayo. At baka matanaw ninyo ang tunay na kalagayan ko (Those who are in power should try and rise to the occasion. And then you’ll see the real state of the people).â€
Grace’s lyrical rap successfully elicits a chuckle from the table. It also strikes a powerful chord. The famous Pinoy rapper is spot on in calling out the “trapos†(traditional politicians) who sit comfortably in their places of power, making gilded thrones of their seats in government. These are the politicians Grace says she has no intention of becoming. Grace is, as she has tried to consistently communicate through her programs and personal decisions, a public servant intent on serving the people. She is not a politician bent on playing the game.
“A lot of time is wasted on playing politics,†Grace says matter-of-factly, stern but looking fresh and rested in her salmon colored dress suit. “Legislators and leaders need to set goals,†Grace continues. “(We should be thinking,) dapat by the end of my term, I should have accomplished this and have done that. Aside from sincerity (which is essential in every politician), discipline and organization are really important — as well as being a results-oriented leader,†Grace adds.
Her team knows this of her and describes Grace’s leadership style as very “forward, firm and efficient, but still very approachable.†Her personal style is reflective of this directive — with her hair neatly pulled back, clean, manicured nails, a no-fuss crisp white shirt that can be substituted with an equally flattering but not ostentatious working dress. She looks prim, proper and well-mannered, always focused on the work at hand.
Malu Gamboa, a close friend of Grace since their high school freshman year at the Assumption Convent, confirms this, adding, “Grace has the gift of being able to read people, and is able to see many sides of an issue right away. Unlike many who are easily swayed by emotions, she is able to be fair and just in her opinions.â€
Known for her diligence and exuding grace under pressure, the newly minted senator takes her pragmatism and goes beyond just “empathizing†with the plight of the common folk. She intends to address the national issues in the most efficient manner – emotions and politics aside, of course. “Serge (Osmeña, a mentor and confidante during the campaign) taught me to view things more objectively, to look at the numbers. And I need that balance because coming from the showbiz industry, we’re more emotional. We need to be more scientific in our approach,†says the former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman.
In her first days as a legislator, she has already filed the first of her bills which include measures focusing on institutionalizing healthy and free food to school children in public schools, film tourism, overseas Filipino workers and coconut farmers.
Grace: Blessings abound
Grace stands victorious and on top of the world, with success, love and loyalty having found their way to her. But blessed as she is now, this was not the case some four decades ago when she was abandoned by her birth mother inside the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Iloilo.
On an ordinary night (which was of course more cinematically portrayed in true telenovela style in Maalala Mo Kaya’s “Sanggol†), Grace was found by an angel by the name of Sayong, who discovered the newborn swaddled in a thin blanket. Sayong brought the crying infant to the parish priest who then bequeathed the bundle of joy, the gift from God, with a befitting name — Grace.
Despite the news that spread throughout the town, no mother came forth to claim her, Grace was then brought to the care of Tessie Valencia, an unmarried but wealthy haciendera from Bacolod. Tessie would be the link that bridged the hearts of Grace and her legendary parents, Fernando “Da King†Poe Jr. and Susan Roces. Tessie was a close friend of the silver screen icons and often brought Grace with her during her visits to Manila. Eventually, Tessie, who despite having loved Grace dearly, decided that the little girl would be better taken care of by two parents. She asked Ronnie and Susan if they would like to adopt Grace. The two, who had no children of their own, did not hesitate for they knew that Grace was truly the child born from their very hearts.
A divine hand had, indeed, intervened. Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin, then the bishop of Jaro, convinced Sayong that the little girl with wide eyes was destined to be with the Poes. “‘Hindi, Sayong, kina Susan yan (No, Sayong, Grace is theirs),†Cardinal Sin gently assured the woman, who was at first hesitant to formally give Grace to the couple.
So it was to be in this mythic tale that a foundling from Jaro would finally find a home in the arms of the nation’s most beloved action star and Sampaguita films’ sweetheart. “It is all very providential,†Grace is often quoted as saying.
Grace: The gift to lead
Once rooted in a happy home, Grace bloomed under her parents’ love and light. Da King spent (at most) three to four months out of the year filming his movies, and as such, the rest of his time was left to be enjoyed with family.
“He was very much a homebody. He wasn’t very sociable,†remembers Grace lovingly. “The only time he would go out was to visit his friends — or pay a visit to Sta. Ana and San Lazaro.â€
“But they’re not the saints ha, “ Grace quickly points out, revealing that Sta. Ana and San Lazaro were actually the name of the popular racetracks in Manila where her father spent his leisure hours watching his favorite horses. “So you could say that he was very religious!†she laughs.
His iconic patilya may have had the bad guys shaking in their boots in films, but for Grace, they framed the face of a kind father. Grace’s fondest memories, stored in clear, nostalgic vignettes, include the same intimidating action hero standing in the garden, with the hose in hand, as he patiently filled up their inflatable kiddie pool to the excitement of his little girl. Grace ran circles around him, prompting him to chase after her with the water. She also remembers him taking her by the hand and showing her the majesty of the Paoay desert (which served as one of the locations of his Panday Films).
Her mother, the regal Susan Roces, is a woman Grace reveres for both her beauty and moral strength. Grace often gazed at her mother in admiration as she applied makeup before a fancy date or a movie premiere of her father’s (which Grace is proud to have a 100 percent attendance). By that time, Susan Roces was already a successful actress, headlining dozens of films in the ’60s and sharing the limelight with other Tinseltown legends like Eddie Gutierrez, Dolphy and Panchito. However, the “Queen of Philippine Movies†decided to put her film career on hold when she and Ronnie started their family.
The bond between mother and daughter grew from there, and Susan became Grace’s moral compass and most trusted confidante. In fact, when Grace informed her family of her plans to run for Senator, it was her mother who was quick to advise her — “Huwag mong walain ang sarili mo (Don’t lose yourself).†And in more intimidating tone, added, “Huwag mo kaming pahiyain (Don’t embarass us).â€
With two very prominent parents who were able to live a low-key life outside of Tinseltown, Grace has learned the key of balance. “They’re very public individuals but they kept certain parts of their life private. (I’ve come to believe that) public service can be like that in a way. You’re in the public eye but you’re not sosyal like a celebrity,†she reveals. But in the world of Philippine politics the lines are undoubtedly blurred, she is quick to admit. That is why she hangs on to her mother’s words dearly.
Like any other child, Grace was drawn to follow her parents’ footsteps, especially since theirs belonged on the cushioned red carpet of glitz and fame. Her father, who was also producer of his films on several occasions, was good-natured about her aspirations, allowing Grace to do a few cameos in some of his films, (mostly as the daughter of villain Paquito Diaz or a homeless child). “She can carry a tune, but can’t dance,†adds Malu. But in the end, it was clear — “I just didn’t have it,†laughs off Grace. Like a true father, FPJ’s heart was too soft and he too to kind to tell his baby girl the truth.
It was finally in high school, when she completely let go of her cinematic aspirations — “ I realized I don’t want to be like my parents, because I’m going to be forever compared to them. They would be such a difficult act to follow,†she revealed to PeopleAsia’s editor-in-chief Joanne Ramirez in a previous interview. She did, however, discover her true calling — albeit a couple of decades later — that took her from the red carpet to the daang matuwid.
Grace: Courage in waiting
Running under the banner of the Liberal Party (LP)/ Team PNoy coalition Grace was already being groomed and ushered into the political arena as early as 2008 and 2010. (Officially, she had filed as an independent candidate in the 2013 elections, but joined the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and LP coalitions during the campaign as guest candidate. She was later dropped from the UNA lineup after not appearing in their sorties.)
Her father, who was the opposition’s standard bearer for the Philippines’ 2004 presidential elections, had slipped into a coma, after suffering a stroke, later that year. It was seven months after the national elections. Many thought that he died of a broken heart because until his very last breath, he believed that he was robbed of the presidency in the highly controversial elections.
So for the millions of FPJ’s supporters, the year 2010 was the fitting time for Grace to raise her father’s bandila and vindicate him. Her father’s supporters urged her to go after what was truly destined to be his. She did show interest — in the beginning. However, she withdrew from the 2010 Senate race, citing that it was not yet time for her.
If one is to be technical about it, “I could have run in 2010,†she says. “(In order to run for office) you only need to be a natural-born Filipino, be able to read or write, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the Philippines for at least a year. Those are the only requirements,†she enumerates. And obviously, she had met everything on the checklist. “But would I have the confidence to run with just those?†she asked herself. And the answer was “No.â€
It was timely then that President Noynoy Aquino appointed her to be the head of MTRCB on Oct. 10, 2010. This gave Grace a “clear public sector experience.â€Â It seemed a natural fit for her. She hailed from the home of silver screen legends and she had worked at FPJ Productions and Film Archives, Inc. after her father’s death in 2005.
It was in MTRCB where she practiced her hand in “nation-building.†Grace pushed for intelligent viewership, while at the same time, supported the growth of the film industry. In her two years of service, she was able to standardize the 12-second advisory announcement that informed the viewer of the SPG or PG classification of the show they were about to view. The feat may seem insignificant, but in the context of responsible national building, its effects are monumental, she says.
We can only suspect that the TV stations had their juvenile fits, especially when what Grace was asking them to do was spend hundreds of thousands of pesos for the 12-second advisory that needed to be shown before every show. “Thirty seconds in media is already P350,000. They were hesitant to adopt it but I said no. This is your responsibility. If you would like to have self-regulation in the future, your audience must understand what age classification means.†In her two years in MTRCB, she was able to implement significant changes, so what more could she do for the country, she thought, if she ran for higher office?
But serving MTRCB and playing in the major leagues of public service like the Senate are two very different worlds — or games, for that matter. Her father and family had lost and suffered a lot during the painful 2004 elections, so many were forced to ask her, “Why in the world, Grace, would you want to run for office? Have you not learned anything from your father’s unfortunate turn in politics?â€
It was not vindication, retribution or plain stubbornness that fueled her insistence. Grace explains, “Seeing the number of people who sympathized with our family during the funeral of my dad was phenomenal and unbelievable. After seeing all that and shunning it, and saying, ‘I’ll go back to my comfortable life (in the US),’ is not acknowledging the legacy that my dad left for us,†she reveals with sincerity.
Though not formally educated with the sophisticated ways of the Law, FPJ was, indeed, a statesman, able to unify and inspire hope in the millions, the masses. The masses believed that, like the powerful Panday in his most noted films, he would let good finally triumph over evil, the corrupt finally be punished, and the oppressed finally be liberated. “He was able to forge with most of our countrymen. The millions of them,†says Grace, with the memory of father strong in her eyes. Indeed, to simply turn away and leave the battle would be an insult to his memory.
History may have painted FPJ to be a reluctant candidate, one who was nudged into the political limelight by his best friend former President Joseph Estrada. “But he sincerely wanted to help the oppressed,†Grace shares. “That was his goal. You could really tell that because of his popularity that he had a chance of winning and he would be able to institutionalize the help that he had been extending to them from the time he was an actor.†Yes, FPJ could have relegated himself to helping his people in his own personal capacity but “even if you’re the richest individual, you can only help so much,†Grace stresses.
But explain as she might her true intentions for running and her sincere desire to serve the people; she has accepted the fact that there will by critics and there will be cynics. She discovered this early in her campaign when whispers weaved their way into the backstage conversations and friends became backbiting foes. “Of course, I got hurt. (They were saying one thing, then) all of a sudden, (after I won) they claim to have been your biggest advocates daw,†she says solemnly. But she holds no grudges. “Just the mere fact that we succeeded despite our limitations is enough of a message for them. Yes, I’m very comfortable where I am now. I didn’t throw anyone under the bus,†says Grace, exhibiting, well, grace.
And with the six years she has in her term, she intends to let her work speak for her. After all, what better way is there to prove them wrong than with actions that bear fruit?
Filipinos have always believed in the powerful effects of a name. And a name, especially in the context of Philippines politics, can either bring you to new heights or it can dangerously pull you under, especially if the burden of one’s parental legacy becomes too much. For Grace, “It’s not a burden, it’s a commitment.†In her own quiet power and gracious demeanor, Grace proves that we may inherit a name, but it is how we carry ourselves that define who we are.
