Poe returns to Tondo for her final rally

Senator Grace Poe and actor Coco Martin in one of their sorties. (Photo by Willie Lomibao)

MANILA, Philippines—Senator  Grace Poe always  goes back to where  she started her campaign.

This  Friday,  Poe will hold  her miting de avance in Tondo, Manila, where she also officially kicked  off her campaign  with other re-electionist senators on February 13.

Only this time,  Poe will return  to Tondo by herself and her supporters.

“Maraming nagtatanong sa akin, bakit mo nilatag ang inyong announcement sa Tondo […] bakit hindi na lang sa mall na malamig, o sa gym na maluwag,” she said in her speech then.

“Dahil sa Tondo mo makikita ang totoo.  Sa Tondo mo makikita ang tunay na salamin ng buhay […] Hindi kailangang umikot sa lahat ng lugar para malaman lang ang pulso ng bayan dahil dito sa Tondo, magkakapit-bahay ang mga Ilocano, Cebuano, Waray, Muslim, Kapampangan, Pangasinese, Ibanag at lahat ng iba’t-ibang uri ng tao sa ating bayan.”

READ: Re-electionist senators try to drum up support in vote-rich Tondo

When she  ran for president in 2016,  Poe  began her campaign  at the historic Plaza Miranda, also in Manila.

She  also   concluded her campaign at Plaza Miranda.

READ: Plaza Miranda ‘symbolic’ choice for Poe to start, end campaign

Poe has remained   independent since she first ran for the Senate in 2013.

But even as an independent candidate,  major political groups   and prominent personalities  either in politics and showbiz have thrown their support behind her.

Among those  who have endorsed her reelection bid  for the May 13 elections are the Nationalist People’s Coalition founded by  business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco,  and the Makabayan Coalition, and her colleagues  led by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

READ: Makabayan endorses 9 poll bets for ‘independent’ Senate

In the campaign trail, Poe was often joined not only  by her own mother, veteran actress  Susan Roces but also  by  actor Coco Martin.

Martin plays Cardo Dalisay in the long-running series, “Ang Probinsyano,”  an adaptation of the 1997 movie starring Poe’s father, the late  actor Fernando Poe Jr. Roces is also part of the series.

READ: Coco Martin swears to stake his name for Grace Poe

“Alam mo ako’y nagpapasalamat at nag-eenjoy na, kasi ang tagal din naming nagtrabaho,”  she  said in an interview on Thursday.

“Ngayon, kasama ko ang mga kaibigan natin sa Senado na tumutulong, kasi wala akong partido kaya sa ating mga kababayan na tumanggap sa amin, maraming maraming salamat po,” Poe further said. /jpv