Senator Grace Poe and other family members of the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) were in full force at the Manila North Cemetery on Monday to commemorate his passing 11 years ago. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.net
Senator Grace Poe became emotional again when she spoke during the commemoration of the 11th death anniversary of her late father Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) held at the Manila North Cemetery on Monday.
READ: Susan Roces, Grace Poe’s family commemorate FPJ’s death anniversary
In her short speech after the mass, Poe’s voice cracked when she said that her only regret was that she was not able to express gratitude to her father before he died.
“Ang aking pinagsisisihan lamang bago siya namayapa, hindi man lang ako nakapagpasalamat sa kanya,” Poe said. “Kaya ang buhay ko ngayon ay pasasalamat kay FPJ.”
(The only thing I regret is I was not able to thank him. That’s why my life now is all thanks to FPJ.)
Asked in a text message what she wanted to thank her father for, Poe said: “Magpapasalamat sana ako sa Dad ko bago sya namayapa ang sabi ko kanina. Syempre iba pa rin na naulit ko sana sa kanya na kung hindi dahil sa kanya hindi ko mararamdaman ang tunay na pagmamahal, pag aruga at proteksyon ng isang mabait na ama.”
(I would have wanted to thank my Dad before he died as I said earlier. Of course it would have been a good thing to reiterate my gratitude to him because it if were not for him, I wouldn’t have felt the true love, care and protection of a kind father.)
FPJ died months after he lost to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 presidential race.
“Sya po ay matapang pero magalang. Pag ako po’y nahihirapan, ang palagi kong pinagdadasal sa Panginoon ay ito: Na ako’y magkaroon ng lakas ng na loob na gawin ang nararapat hindi lamang para sa aking sarili kundi lalong-lalo na para sa inyo,” Poe said.
(He was brave but respectful. When I had difficulties, I always pray this to God: That I may have the courage to do what is right not only for myself but most especially for all of you.)
“At pag ito ang inyong panalangin, mas madali pong tanggapin kung ano man ang kahihinatnan ng inyong lakbay).”
(And if this is your prayer, it will be easier to accept whatever the destination of our journey may be.)
And now that she is running for president and is facing various disqualification cases over her citizenship, Poe recalled her father’s advice to her not to give up if she is fighting for what is right and not only for her own interest.
READ: Election lawyer: Comelec 1st division vote vs Poe’s citizenship ‘unanimous’
“Sa ating pinagdadaraanan ngayon, naalala ko ang turo ng aking tatay. Huwag kang susuko kapag ang pinaglalaban mo ay tama, huwag kang susuko kung ang pinaglalaban mo ay para sayong prinsipyo at higit sa lahat huwag kang susuko kung ang pinaglalaban mo ay para sa iba, at hindi sayong sarili lang.”
(In what we are undergoing, I remember what my father taught me. “Don’t give up if you know that what you are fighting for is right, don’t give up when you are fighting for your principle and most especially, don’t give up when you are fighting for others and not only for your own interest.)
Poe said she also learned from her mother, veteran actress Susan Roces, that FPJ’s movie “Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay ko” was based on her life.
“Kaya siguro ngayon madalas ay napapansin ko sa aking sarili na nagbubulong at nagsusumbong ako sa kanya na sana ay tulungan nya akong manalangin para kung ano ang nararapat na gawin ay magawa ko,” she further said.
(Maybe that’s why I notice myself whispering and squealing to him to help me pray so that I can do the right thing.) RAM
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