Grace Poe win a vindication of FJP

No one, not even Grace Poe probably, would have imagined or dreamed that she would  be at the top of the senatorial race.

In a radio interview a day after the 2013 midterm elections, the soft-spoken lady said, she never thought she would be number one. The daughter of the late action star Fernando Poe, Jr. and former chair of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board is currently leading the count based on the partial and unofficial tally from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Grace said she prayed that she would not put her father to shame, that she would not land on the 11th or 12th slot. She added that her surprise and gratitude knows no bounds.

As of 9:21 a.m. of Tuesday, with 67 percent of the clustered precincts tallied (52,409 of 78,166), Grace had 14, 424, 177 votes.

She was followed by Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Escudero, all reelectionists.

Her ranking is a vindication of sorts for her father, who ran and lost against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections, widely believed to have been rigged against him. Many believed that the true winner of the 2004 presidential polls was FPJ. He died on December of that year.

Grace is one of the 13 senators that Regal Films matriarch Lily Monteverde supported in the elections. Mother Lily must be proud that Grace, whom she treats like her own daughter, is leading the count as of the latest tally.

Grace said like President Benigno Aquino III, she has no qualms banking on her pedigree.

“Hindi namin dudungisan ang pangalan namin... ang perception ng tao ay kami ay tapat at hindi kurakot (We do not dishonor our names … people’s perception is we are trustworthy and not corrupt),” she said.

Grace has the support of the entertainment industry which she served as chair of the MTRCB. It was her good run at the MTRCB which prompted President Aquino to tap her to run for a senate seat. MTRCB’s loss is the Senate’s gain.

On another note, Mother Lily must be proud that majority of the13 senatoriables that she supported are in the winners’ circle – Grace, Loren, Chiz, Alan Peter, Nancy Binay as well as Bam Aquino, Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes, Cynthia Villar and Gregorio Honasan. Others whom Mother Lily supported but are not in the top 12 are Dick Gordon and Risa Hontiveros.

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The PhilPop 2013 welcomes the latest addition to the final 12. Returning finalist Kennard Faraon finds himself with this opportunity to showcase his song “Time Machine” - an easy medium beat love song whose lyrics speak of a longing for a former lover and a wish for a time machine so he can go back to her.

Faraon, in his early twenties, is a skateboarder and a master of homebrewed acoustic and electropop music. He replaces Marion Aunor who could not continue in the competition for personal reasons. Philpop wishes her well. This is a great opportunity for Faraon whose song was consistently on the top list as well based on the 4-stage adjudication process.

The final 12 are:

Paul Armesin – “Segundo”

Marlon Barnuevo – “Araw, Ulap, Langit”

Jungee Marcelo – “Pansamantagal”

Johnoy Danao – “Kung ‘di Man”

Raffy Calicdan – “Space”

Gani Brown – “Askal”

Myrus Apacible – “Sana Pinatay Mo Nalang Ako”

Adrienne Sarmiento–Buenaventura and Antonino Regalado – “Sometimes That Happens”

Thyro Alfaro And Yumi Lacsamana – “Dati”

Lara Maigue – “Sayo Nalang Ako”

Joey Ayala – “Papel”

Kennard Faraon – “Time Machine”

PhilPOP is supported by Maynilad, Smart, Meralco, PLDT, TV5, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, NLEX, Sun Cellular, the First Pacific Leadership Academy, KBP, and Philex.