Presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe poses with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada after her endorsement during a proclamation rally at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. LEO M. SABANGAN II
SENATOR Grace Poe thanked her godfather, former President and reelectionist Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, for endorsing her presidential bid Monday night, saying it was not an easy decision.
Estrada is a known ally of one of Poe’s closest rivals in the May 2016 presidential race, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“Ninong, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong pag-endorso sa akin, nakakataba po talaga ng puso. Alam ko ito ay isang desisyon na pinag-isipan ninyong mabuti. Alam kong mahal mo ang aking ama, pero alam ko na ang mga desisyon na ganito ay para rin sa bayan,” Poe said when she accepted Estrada’s endorsement during the latter’s proclamation rally at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
Her father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr., was Estrada’s best friend.
“At gusto lang kita tanungin, Ninong, kaya mo ba ako inendorso ay dahil natatakot kang multuhin ka? Kasi ‘yan ang palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin e: ‘Baka ‘pag hindi kita inendorso ay multuhin ako ng best friend ko,” the senator said in jest.
“Pero, Ninong, sinabi ko na kay Papa na huwag ka namang multuhin kung sakaling iba ang maging desisyon mo. Ang para sa akin, isang karangalan ang magkaroon ng pagsuporta ng isang mahal ng masa at nagmamahal sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.
Poe described Estrada as a leader who represents the ordinary people, and is sensitive to their needs.
“Bilang inyong mga pinuno ang mga isusulong namin ay pareho rin. Nais namin magkaroon ng libreng pananghalian sa lahat ng public schools. Nais natin na ang anak ng mahihirap ay makapagtapos ng kolehiyo na hindi na kailangan pang intindihin ang pambayad. Dapat patas ang laban sa ating bayan, hindi pwedeng iilan lamang ang namamayagpag.”
The senator ended her speech again thanking Estrada for making a difficult decision of choosing her.
“Muli, sa aking minamahal na Ninong, maraming salamat sa inyong pagpili sa akin—alam ko hindi naging madali—at dasal ko na hindi ko kayo papahiyain, na gagawin ko ang lahat para naman maitaas ang alaala ng aking ama, at matulungan ang masang Pilipino. Maraming salamat po,” Poe further said.
With Estrada’s endorsement, Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, expressed confidence that more leaders from different political spectrum would soon consolidate behind her.
“Senator Poe is very grateful to President and Manila Mayor Erap Estrada for endorsing her candidacy for the Presidency. Mayor Erap’s endorsement speaks of the characters ingrained in Senator Grace Poe – trustworthy, honest and upright. These very traits are the same virtues our voters see in Senator Poe,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“We are confident that in the coming days more leaders from different sides of the political spectrum will consolidate behind Senator Poe. This endorsement brings to full circle the relationship between the Estradas and Poes that spans decades,” the spokesman added.