It might as well be asked since we’re talking about Senator Grace Poe’s past as a foundling.

Who knows if the age-old rumor whispered in political corridors that she’s the daughter of the late president Ferdinand Marcos and former Sampaguita Pictures actress Rosemarie Sonora (sister of Poe’s mother Susan Roces) could dismiss doubts about her Filipino citizenship. (READ: Grace Poe: I’m a natural born Filipino citizen)

Looking amused, Poe swore to Senate reporters it’s not true. “Alam mo, unang-una, tinanong ko [ang] nanay ko. Ang nanay ko, hindi naman magsisinungaling.” (You know, first of all, I asked my mother. My mother won’t lie.)

“Hindi talaga totoo ‘yun. Ngayon kung may magpapatunay na iba sa showbiz, bahala sila pero pinapaniwalaan ko ang aking nanay,” Poe added. (It’s really not true. If someone in showbiz could prove otherwise, that’s up to them. But I believe my mother.)

Poe, as widely known, was a foundling in Iloilo. She was later adopted by actors Fernando Poe Jr and Susan Roces, both showbiz celebrities. 

But the loose talk about Marcos and Rosemarie Sonora persisted. And decades later, the story still makes for a great joke between Poe herself and Marcos’ only son and namesake, fellow Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Sabi ko, ‘Senator Bongbong, hindi kita pupuwedeng bigyan ng special consideration sa Mamasapano na hahabaan ko ang time mo ng pagtatanong dahil baka mamaya, mas maniwala pa sila na magkapatid tayo, eh hindi naman totoo yun.’”

(I told him, ‘Senator Bongbong, I can’t give you any special consideration to extend your time for questions during the Mamasapano probe because they might believe we’re siblings, which isn’t true.)

But just to be sure, is she willing to take a DNA test? “I’d rather not and I just hope that the people will accept the truth that I am stating,” she said. 

This story will likely go around for a little while longer. – Mara Cepeda/Rappler.com