2016 talk follow Grace Poe, VP Binay at FPJ anniversary

MANILA, Philippines – Talk on the 2016 polls followed Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay at the 10th death anniversary commemoration mass for Fernando Poe Jr (FPJ) on Sunday, December 14. But the two top contenders for the presidency evaded questions about a possible tandem or face-off. 

“Right now I’m not considering any particular commitment except that I think that whatever the President has started, whoever will be the candidate, should be able to continue that,” Poe said when asked if she’s open to become the running mate of Binay.

Seated at the back during the mass was Vice President Jejomar Binay, still the frontrunner in the polls. He later joined FPJ’s family to light candles at the tomb of the man many believed to have won the 2004 presidential elections but was cheated out of it by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The “Hello, Garci” controversy that exploded a year after the 2004 polls allegedly showed how then President Arroyo called a poll commissioner to guarantee her victory. 

 

Binay, who was FPJ’s campaign manager, granted an interview to speak of his closeness to FPJ. But he walked away when reporters started asking questions about Grace Poe’s rise in the polls.

“Tumakbo ang panahon pero hindi naman kami nagbabago. Naging campaign manager ako. Ganoon kalapit kami ni FPJ,” Binay said. (Time passed but we haven’t changed. I was his campaign manager. I was that close to FPJ)

How would FPJ advice Grace Poe?

Ten years after her father’s death, FPJ’s daughter finds herself among the leading contenders to the 2016 presidential elections. (READ: Poe surges in Nov Pulse survey, Binay drops by 5%)

“Ayaw ko masyado dibdibin. Kasi ‘yaan po ay nagpapalit-palit kada 3 buwan,” Poe said. (I don’t want to take it too seriously because those numbers change every 3 months)

The neophyte senator acknowledged she may not be ready for the country’s top post but gave her supporters some hope when she expressed a little openness to the possibility of a 2016 run. (READ: Grace Poe open to 2016 run, but haunted by betrayal of FPJ)

She thinks she also knows how FPJ would advice her now that she’s faced with big decisions in relation to the 2016 polls.  

 

“Siguro ang sasabihin ng tatay ko sa akin ay maging sinsero sa anumang gagawin ko – magpakatoo, kung ito ba ay makakayanan ko. Pangalawa, ang sasabihin niya talaga, ang desisyon mo ay hindi para sa sarili mo kung hindi ang ikabubuti ng mas nakararami,” said Poe. (I think my father will advice me to be sincere about everything I plan to. I have to be honest to know if I can do this. Second, he will tell me that my decision should be based on what will benefit the majority, not just myself.)

Her mother, Susan Roces, begged off from answering questions on the 2016 polls. 

“I’d like to thank everybody who supported my daughter in the last elections. She’s trying her best to be deserving of the support that was given her. I hope she lives up to everybody’s expectations. Beyond that, I do not wish to comment,” Roces said.

’14th President of the Philippines’

The mass itself could not stay away from political talk. To FPJ’s supporters and even to the officiating priest, the man known as the “King of Philippine Cinema” –  not Gloria Arroyo – was the 14th president of the Philippines.

“Kaya tayo ay naririto sapagkat alam natin na may nasimulan ang ating minamahal na si FPJ. At ito ay itutuloy natin. Tamang-tama naman nandito ang ating Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares,” said priest Fr. Larry Faraon in his message. (We are here because we know what our dear FPJ has started. We will continue it. It is only right tht Senador Grace Poe is here.)

FPJ may be gone, the priest said, but his daugher will continue his legacy. 

Poe said she still feels her father’s presence, sharing how she thinks the songs she hears over the radio everytime she’s on her way to the cemetery are messages from him. 

“Parang yung mga kanta sa radyo ay naaangkop sa pagpunta ko dito,” Poe said. (It seems that the messages in the songs on the radio fits my visits here)  – Rappler.com