REMEMBERING ‘DA KING’ A volunteer ties a ribbon below a tarpaulin poster of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan province, in preparation for Poe’s 76th birthday today. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
DAGUPAN CITY—Yellow, blue and white ribbons have been tied to trees and electric posts and hung using bamboo sticks in several areas in Pangasinan to commemorate the 76th birth anniversary of the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. today.
Poe, known as “Da King” of Philippine movies, was born in Manila but considered Pangasinan his home province. His father, Fernando Sr., was born in the village of Caoayan Kiling in San Carlos City in Pangasinan.
“We wanted to remember FPJ (Poe) through this simple act of tying ribbons around trees and electrical posts. It will also remind Pangasinenses of the person who almost became the president of the country,” said former Dagupan City Councilor Dada Reyna, a volunteer for Sen. Grace Poe, the late action star’s daughter.
Senator Poe used yellow, blue and white as her campaign colors when she ran for senator in 2013.
Poe ran but lost in the 2004 presidential election to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in what was widely perceived to be a rigged political exercise.
Poe, who died in December 2014, won by almost 50,000 votes over Arroyo in Pangasinan, also Arroyo’s maternal home province. Her late mother, Eva Macaraeg Macapagal, was from Binalonan town.
Large tarpaulin posters with Poe’s photograph and the Philippine flag as backdrop were also displayed in different town and city centers. The posters had the words, “FPJ 76th Birthday, Aug. 20, 2015” and “Ang Bagong Bayan Poe.”
The tarpaulins were prepared by volunteers for Senator Poe, said Abe Samson of San Carlos.
Businessman Rosendo So, chair of the party-list group Abono, said the ribbons were meant to show Pangasinan residents’ support for Senator Poe, who is scheduled to visit Pangasinan on Aug. 26.
“Those who hung these ribbons were volunteers, fans and supporters of FPJ. They wanted to show their support for Senator Grace’s presidential candidacy when she finally makes her decision,” So said.
As a tribute, some radio stations have started playing songs sung by Poe, such as “Kumusta Ka?” a duet with actress Sharon Cuneta. Poe and Cuneta starred in the 1990 hit, “Kahit Konting Pagtingin.”
Also getting airtime is Poe’s cover of the Nonoy Zuñiga song, “Doon Lang.”
In June, Senator Poe visited San Carlos and met with her relatives there. She said she was happy to visit her father’s hometown, especially Caoayan Kiling, which “will always be close to my heart.”
The younger Poe topped the senatorial race in Pangasinan in 2013.