Poe takes campaign to husband’s home province Laguna

Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe’s visit here on Friday was a mix of politics and reunion of sorts with the family of her husband Neil Llamanzares. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.net

LUMBAN, Laguna—Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe’s visit here on Friday was a mix of politics and reunion of sorts with the family of her husband Neil Llamanzares.

Poe, along with some senatorial bets Edu Manzano, Lorna Kapunan and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, began her campaign here with the usual motorcade, market visits and mini-rallies in various parts of the province.

However, she would not let this opportunity pass without visiting the ancestral home of her husband’s family in here where she met there her father and mother in-laws, Teodoro and Carol, respectively.

Poe’s in-laws and other relatives later joined her at a mini rally held in Barangay (village) Segunda Parang.

“Alam naman natin na ang Laguna ay nagmahal kay FPJ at si FPJ ay nagmamahal sa inyo. Maraming mga pelikula ang dito ginawa kaya naman noong sya ang tumakbo bilang pangulo, abot-abot ang pagsuporta sa kanya ng mga taga-Laguna kaya ang dami ring plano para sa inyo,” she said in her speech.

(We know that Laguna loved FPJ and FPJ loved you as well. Many of his movies were shot here that was when he ran for president, he received an overwhelming support from Laguna residents so he had many plans for you.)

She was referring to her adoptive father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr., who ran but lost to then President and now detained Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 2004 presidential race.

“Pero nakakabit din sa aking puso ang mga taga-Laguna sapagkat bagamat hindi ako dito pinanganak, ako naman po ay nabihag ng isang taga-Laguna,” Poe said, this time, referring to her husband.

(But Laguna residents are close to my heart because although I wasn’t born here, I was smitten by someone who hailed from Laguna.)

After the rally, she paid a courtesy call on Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Ejercito in her office at the Municipal Hall, however, media men were not allowed entry. The mayor’s husband former Laguna Governor Jeorge “ER” Ejercito later joined them in the office.

The brief meeting ended without an endorsement from the couple, who both belong to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

After all, Poe said, she did not pay a visit to get the support of the couple, especially the former governor, nephew of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who endorsed her presidential bid last Monday.

Estrada’s son with San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, is also backing Poe’s presidential bid but not the San Juan City mayor, who chose the administration’s bet former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

“Hindi, ano lang ito, courtesy call. ‘Pag pumupunta naman kami sa isang probinsya, dinadaanan namin, kung tatanggapin kami ng lokal na pamahalaan. Matagal na kaming magkakilala pero alam mo naman iba ang partido nila,” Poe said when asked about her visit with the Ejercitos.

(This is just a courtesy call. When we go to a province, we pass by the local government if they would accept us. We have known each other for a long time now but they belong to a different party.)

Asked if the couple are supporting her presidency, Poe said: “Wala namang ganoon. Siguro sila na lang ang tanungin ninyo tungkol diyan.”

(There is nothing like that. Maybe it would be better if you ask them.)

“Hindi ko naman din hiningi ‘yon sa kanila. Pero, siyempre, kami ay nagpapasalamat dahil maluwag naman kaming tinatanggap dito sa kanilang probinsya,” she said.

(I wasn’t asking for their support. But of course, we would like to thank them because we received a warm welcome in their province.)

Poe said the former governor, who is seeking to return to his post in the upcoming May elections, remains with UNA.

“And I remain independent,” she said. RAM

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