If she becomes President, Poe will take oath in front of Jaro church

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Sen. Grace Poe, a presidential candidate, finds solace at Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Iloilo City, where 47 years ago she was left as a newborn, with her biological parents unknown to this day. Detractors have filed disqualification cases against her on grounds that as a foundling she is not a natural-born Filipino and thus barred from running for President. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ILOILO, Philippines—If elected President in May, Senator Grace Poe said she would return in this province and take her oath right in front of the church in Jaro where she was found abandoned as an infant.

“Pag ginusto ng Dyos at ginusto ng ating mga kababayan at ako ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon na maging pangulo sa ating bansa, ako ay babalik dito sa Jaro, sa harapan ng Cathedral at manunumpa dito bilang Pangulo ninyo sa Iloilo,” Poe said when she spoke before her Partido Galing at Puso rally held at the Jaro Plaza Tuesday night.

The venue of the rally was just across the church where she was found. Poe was later adopted by popular actors, Susan Roces and the late Fernando Poe Jr.

“Pangulo ako para sa buong bansa pero hindi natin makakalimutan ang ating pinanggalingan at kung hindi dahil sa inyo, wala ako dito kaya muli maraming salamat sa pangtanggap at pagmamahal,” said the senator.

Poe said she always becomes emotional whenever she returns to her known birthplace.

“Alam na ninyo ang story ng buhay ko. Tuwing bumabalik ako dito sa Iloilo, naiiyak ako sapagkat napakadami na rin ng pinagdaanan ng aming pamilya sa lakbay na ito at kung hindi dahil sa pag- aalaga sa akin ng mga mababait na taga-Jaro, hindi ko mararating ang aking kinatatayuan ngayon ,” she said.

The senator also thanked the thousands of people who attended the rally despite her opponents’ claim that the province is supporting other candidates.

Poe was apparently referring to Senate President Franklin Drilon’s earlier claim that administration’s standard-bearer, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and running mate, Leni Robredo, “will carry Iloilo.”

READ: LP stalwart pooh poohs Grace Poe’s roots in Iloilo

“Inulan tayo pero hindi kayo umalis,” she told the crowd, who stayed despite the rains. TVJ
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