FPJ promises happy ending for RP

Taking a swipe at his rivals who belittle his show business background, presidential contender Fernando Poe Jr. promised a happy ending to all Filipinos, just like in the movies, amid the present deluge of problems facing the country.

In a massive campaign rally at the boundary of Caloocan and Malabon Wednesday night, the movie action hero turned presidential aspirant compared the similarity between the current situation in the country with that of plots in his movies where the poor are oppressed by powerful enemies until a hero of humble beginnings finds the courage to save them from the tyrants.

"They (referring to his rivals and critics) said this (presidency) is not the movies but real life," Poe bellowed in Filipino before the lustily cheering crowd of about 35,000 people. "But why does it seem that it (current situation in the country) is like the start of the movies where businesses are collapsing and factories are shutting down?"

"Our (Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino) goal will also be like in the movies — there will be a happy ending," Poe said in Filipino. "With my party mates, we will have a very happy ending with no more problems."

Poe is known as "Da King" of Philippine action movies for his countless portrayals of a simple man who, once pushed to the wall, rises to become the savior of the masses. And he gets the girl.

The most popular character Poe has played in the movies is "panday" (blacksmith). Poe is the bosom buddy of ousted President Joseph Estrada, himself a former action star.

Poe told his supporters in the gathering that the talents of many young Filipinos are hardly tapped because they find no employment opportunities in the country and thus prefer to leave for abroad in search of livelihood.

Poe, a high school dropout with no political experience, cited the rising prices of prime commodities and the growing number of Filipinos, especially women, children, disabled and elderly, who are being deprived of basic services such as education, health and housing.

Poe is wading through economics textbooks in a bid to reassure voters wary of his lack of experience in business and politics, one of his 19 economic advisers said.

Prominent free market economist Bernardo Villegas said he had given Poe a reading list and a speech by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Filipino industrialists to help him fine-tune his aptitude for business.

Poe, revered as the closest thing the Philippines has to John Wayne, is leading US-trained economist President Arroyo in public opinion polls ahead of the May 10 elections.

But with the country tackling a weak currency, jittery stock markets and a recent credit rating downgrade, Poe’s lack of experience in public office is believed to have left some voters unimpressed, notably the business sector.

Villegas said Poe was proving a good student: "It was easy for him to absorb what I told him."

Villegas, a Harvard-trained economics professor, said he was not part of the team drafting Poe’s economic policy. He added he had warned the front-running presidential bet that economists may give him conflicting advice.

Poe however said he was used to dealing with screenwriters, largely because he owns the movie outfit FPJ Productions, and said he was aware that decisions would be up to him.

Poe vowed to his supporters that he will restore the faith and trust of the Filipino people in the government. He also promised transparency, taking a hit at the Arroyo administration which he said has been engaged in graft and corruption.

Poe also reiterated that he is a natural-born Filipino as he lashed at former archives chief Ricardo Manapat for forging documents to prove that he is not a natural-born citizen.

"Take away fame and wealth from me but I will remain a Filipino," Poe said. "I was born here, I will be buried here."

During the four-hour rally that was marked by some women fainting and small trees collapsing under the weight of people, KNP senatorial candidates Ernesto Maceda and Francisco Tatad urged the crowd not to allow Poe to be disqualified from the presidential race on questions over his citizenship. — With AFP