Grace: More than the Poe Factor

Of course, the Poe Factor, plus those endearing TV endorsements from her mom Susan Roces (Still The Face That Refreshes), propelled Grace Poe to the top of the roster of senatorial winners, something Grace can’t quite believe up to now because, she said, landing on a “safe spot” among the Top 12 was good enough for her.

But more than the Poe/Susan factor, Grace actually has achievements of her own, with her sterling record as chief of MTRCB (Movie & Television Review and Classification Board) before she gave in to Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s hard-to-turn-down invitation for her to run for senator.

Again, for the sake of the uninformed, I am reprinting Grace’s credentials which should help tide her over the challenging times waiting for her at the Senate.

Here it is, furnished Funfare by Grace a few years ago when she assumed her post as MTRCB chief:

Date of Birth: September 3, 1968

Husband: Teodoro Misael Vera Llamanzares

Parents: Father — Ronald Allan Kelley Poe a.k.a. Fernando Poe Jr. Mother — Jesusa Sonora Poe a.k.a. Susan Roces

Children: Brian, Hanna and Nika

EXPERIENCE

• FPJ Productions and Film Archive, Inc.

• Vice President & Treasurer — 2005 to Present

• Supervises day-to-day company operations.

• Reviews and recommends business transactions to the board members.

• In-charge of overseeing preservation, restoration and promotion of all 200-plus FPJ produced and co-produced films.

• Facilitates sponsorships of several charitable causes advocated by the late Fernando Poe, Jr.

CSC SCIENTIFIC, INC.

• Product Manager — 2001 to 2004 (CSC Scientific is a scientific equipment manufacturing and sales company based in Fairfax, Virginia, USA)

• Expertise in Moisture Balance, Particle Size and Tension-meter Products.

• Responsibilities include technical and sales support to Fortune 500 companies such as Dupont, General Electric, Con Agra, Procter & Gamble, and Del Monte.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

• Procurement Liaison — 1998 to 1999

• Qualifier of items for purchase by the US Geological Survey.

• Items include testing materials and equipment, for laboratory and administrative offices use.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE

• Teacher — 1995-1998

• Preschool teacher of children between the ages of three to six

• Montessori method of teaching with concentration in Geography and Math.

EDUCATION

• Boston College, Chestnust Hill, Massachusetts, USA — BA Political Science, 1991

• Concentration in Government and Political Theory

• Co-Founder — Filipino Cultural Club of Boston College

• University of the Philippines, Manila — BA Development Studies, 1986-1988

• Chairman — College Freshman Assembly, 1986-1987

• Sophomore Batch Representative to the Student Council, 1987-1988

• College Scholar, 1987

• Assumption College, San Lorenzo, Makati — High School, Batch ‘86

• Organizational Head — Forensics Club of the Assumption, 1985-1986

• National Champion — Rotary Club of the Philippines Oratory Competition, 1984

• Debate Champion — La Salle Greenhills Inter-High School Debate Competition, 1985

• Extemporaneous Speech Champion — La Salle Greenhills Inter-High School Speech Competition, 1984

INTERNSHIPS

• Citibank N.A., Makati City — Treasury Department

• Governor William Weld, Boston, MA — Campaign Organization

• Riggs National Bank, Fairfax, VA — Quality Assurance Office

ADVOCACIES

• Kontra Daya — Convenor

• Engaged the COMELEC and other relevant agencies on major policies in the elections.

• Helped unite various forces opposed to electoral fraud.

• Educated voters via press releases, assemblies, and the Internet, about the vulnerabilities of the AES, keeping them vigilant and preparing them for direct action against fraud, and failure of elections.

• Helped promote aware among Filipinos on the need to protect and uphold their right to choose their own leaders in government.

• FPJ Foundation — Officer and Board Member

• Responsible for continuing the charitable causes of Fernando Poe Jr., which include support programs for victims of natural calamities; scholarships for the youth; medical assistance for the sick.

• MOWELFUND (Movie Workers Welfare Fund) — Contributor

• Advances the rights and welfare of members of the movie industry.

• Conducts continuing education and seminars that aims to keep the members of the foundation competitive in the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking.

• Provides funding to help aid movie workers in need of medical and burial assistance.

• FPJPM (Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement) Party-List — Honorary Chairman Advocates political and social programs aimed at uplifting the lives of the poor; continuing the vision of FPJ to provide food on the table for every Filipino — “Altanghap” (Almusal-Tanghalian-Hapunan). Provides free legal advice. Conducts medical missions to address the health needs of the urban poor.

More showbiz winners

And here’s the second list of winners (showbiz and showbiz-connected) in the May 13 elections:

• Congressmen: Former First Lady Imelda Marcos (First District, Ilocos Norte) and Manny Pacquiao (Sarangani) and Sol Aragones (Laguna)

• Board members: Jestoni Alarcon (First District, Rizal) and Lito Camo (Second District, Oriental Mindoro)

• Vice Governors: Jinkee Pacquiao (Sarangani) and Dingdong Avanzado (Siquijor, not QC councilor as reported yesterday)

• Mayor: Guia Gomez (San Juan City)

• Councilors: Janella Estrada (San Juan City), Roselle Nava (Second District, Parañaque City), Jericho Aguas (Geryk Genaskey, husband of Isabel Granada, Angeles City), Ryan Yllana (Second District, Parañaque City), Yul Servo (Manila), Charee Pineda (Valenzuela City), Anjo Yllana (Fifth District, Quezon City), Robert Ortega (Fifth District, Manila) and Monsour del Rosario (First District, Makati City)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)