Senator Grace Poe and her family, along with friends and supporters, gathered at the Manila North Cemetery Thursday morning to commemorate the 76th birthday of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., dubbed as “Da King” of Philippine movies.
This year’s event was marked with a Mass and a short program where Poe and former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada talked about the legacy left by the late actor.
In her speech, Poe reminisced the pieces of advice given to her by his adoptive father. She said FPJ taught her to put the interest of the public over her own.
“Alam nyo, noong ako’y bata pa, tinuturuan niya ako kung papaano mabuhay. Papaano maging isang mabuting anak, papaano maging isang mabuting tao. Ang palaging sinasabi ng tatay ko sa akin, palaging dapat meron kang layunin na higit sa iyong sarili,” Poe said.
(When I was still a child, he taught me how to live. He taught me how to be a good daughter and a good person. My father always told me that I should have a goal which is beyond myself.)
She said that her late father has taught her to care for other people, be grounded and honest in serving Filipinos.
“Ang mga natutunan ko sa kanya, sinsero kumalinga sa kapwa at tumulong, huwag magyabang at maging magpakumbaba, maging tapat sa mga ginagawa mo kahit ano pa man yan, at higit sa lahat sabi ko nga tumulong sa kapwa,” the senator added.
(I learned from him how to sincerely care and help other people, not to boast and be humble. He also taught me how to be honest in everything I do and most especially, to serve other people.)
Meanwhile, Estrada thanked FPJ for always being on his side when he ran for public office.
“Alam nyo si FPJ hindi lang mabuting kaibigan. Ibang klase siyang tumulong sa kanyang kaibigan hanggang sa kahuli-hulihan. Tumakbo akong mayor ng San Juan, kasama ko siya mag-house to house. Noong tumakbo akong senador, (kasama ko siya) sa buong Pilipinas. Tumakbo akong vice president at noong tumakbo akong pangulo, hindi na siya humiwalay sa akin,” Estrada said.
(FPJ is not just your ordinary friend. He will be your friend until the end. When I ran for mayor of San Juan, he joined me in the campaign. When I ran for the Senate, he was with me campaigning all over the country. When I ran for vice president and later on as president, he never left me.)
The mayor of the nation’s capital said that he would be forever indebted to the late actor.
“Kaya mabubuhay at mamamatay si Erap, hindi niya makakabayad ng utang na loob kay FPJ,” he added.
(Erap will live and die but he won’t be about to repay his debt of gratitude to FPJ.)
Actress Susan Roces, FPJ’s widow, as well as Poe’s husband Neil and son Brian were at the Manila North Cemetery for the commemoration.
Also present were former Commission on Elections commissioner Sixto Brillantes and former congressman Roilo Golez.
About 400 supporters and fans, some carrying flags and pins urging Poe to run for president in the 2016 elections, also attended the event. Aries Joseph Hegina