Grace Poe to son on his party-list bid: ‘Make it good and don’t disgrace us’
Sen. Grace Poe. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Thursday expressed confidence in her son Brian Poe Llamanzares’ abilities as he pursues a party-list seat in the 2025 elections.
Her belief comes amid concerns on alleged “nepotism.”
Poe was asked about her stand when she accompanied Brian in filing a certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA).
He is the first nominee of the party-list ‘FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) Panday Bayanihan.’
“Ako naman ay kumpyansa [kay Brian]. Ang mahirap kasi kapag… walang kakayanan because what makes it difficult is when… you don’t have the abilities for it,” Poe said, responding to questions.
Article continues after this advertisement(I’m confident about Brian. What is difficult is if there is no ability… because what makes it difficult is when you don’t have the abilities for it.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Ako naman, kahit naman sa ‘kin noon, sinasabing tumakbo lang ako dahil anak ako ni FPJ, at totoo naman ‘yon,” the senator recalled.
(I, myself, was told that I only ran because I was FPJ’s daughter, and that was also true.)
“Pero sabi ko sa anak ko, gaya ng sinabi ng nanay ko sa ‘kin, ‘pagbutihan mo at ‘wag mo kaming papahiyain,’” she said.
(But I told my son, just like what my mother told me, ‘make it good and don’t disgrace us.’)
Senator Grace Poe (second from left) at the Manila Hotel Tent City with son Brian Poe-Llamanzares (second from right) who is vying for a House seat through FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list. (Photo from CHARIE ABARCA / INQUIRER.net)
The senator gave her replies in an ambush interview held outside the Manila Hotel, the venue for the filing of certificates of candidacy for senators and CONAs for party-lists.
Poe also cited her son’s contribution to her own term as senator, stating that he was instrumental in the passage of several laws.
She also noted how, despite being her son, Brian chose to work the ladder from being her staff and starting as a researcher.
“Bata pa lang ‘yan, masipag na. Bata pa lang, idol na nya at naging inspirasyon nya ang aking mga magulang, lalo na si FPJ. So, alam nya na isang pribilehiyo ang magkaroon ng legasiya ni FPJ,” Poe said.
(He was still very young yet he was already hardworking. At a young age, he already idolized and saw my parents as inspirations, especially FPJ. So, he knows it’s a privilege to carry on FPJ’s legacy.)
“Para sa’kin at higit sa lahat, kailangan may puso talaga doon sa pinaka nangangailangan nating mga kababayan,” she emphasized.
(So for me and most of all, one must really have the heart for the most needy among our fellow citizens.)
Continuing mom’s legislation
Brian, for his part, said he waited for the right time before entering politics.
“Sa totoo lang, naghintay ako. Hindi talaga ako sumabay sa nanay ko. Pero patapos na ‘yung termino nya at napansin ko, may mga batas na hindi pa tapos na kailangan nating ipasa,” he told reporters.
(To be honest, I waited. I didn’t really run with my mom. But her term is coming to an end and I noticed that there are unfinished laws that we need to pass.)
These laws, according to the young aspirant, included the Department of Water Management bill, the motor–taxi bill and the ongoing issues on Public Transport Modernization Program.
“Itong mga bagay na ito, kailangang ituloy at tapusin ‘yan,” said Brian.
(These things need to be pursued and finished.)
He then shared how he first consulted several sectors, friends and supporters to assess whether or not it is finally time for the FPJ Panday Bayanihan to file a CONA for the 2025 elections.
“Para sa amin, ginagawa natin lahat ng ito para ituloy ang legasiya ni FPJ. Alam naman ng tao na si FPJ ay tumutulong sa mga tao na nagangailangan ng tulong. Kaya bumuo tayo ng party-list para ituloy natin ‘yan,” he said.
(For us, we are doing all this to continue the legacy of FPJ. People already know that FPJ helped people in need. That is why we formed a party-list to continue that.)
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“Ngayon, sa tingin ko, the best way to go about it is to pass laws that are relevant sa mga kababayan, mga batas na talagang kailangan nila, para mas maging maganda ang kanilang buhay,” the senator’s son explained.
(Now, I think the best way to go about it is to pass laws that are relevant to our countrymen, laws that we really need, so that their lives will be better.)
