FPJ statue unveiled

MANILA, Philippines - Main rivals for Manila City Hall in next year’s elections crossed paths yesterday during a Mass to commemorate the eighth death anniversary of actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and former President Joseph Estrada – who is gunning for a return to local government in the capital – however remained civil to each other.

They shook hands and exchanged greetings of “peace be with you” during the Mass held at Manila North Cemetery, where Poe’s remains are buried.

A monument of Poe was later unveiled at Plaza Ferguson along Roxas Blvd. in Manila.  

At the North Cemetery, Estrada and Lim joined Poe’s widow actress Susan Roces and daughter Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

Llamanzares, who resigned as Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair, is running as guest candidate for senator under the administration’s Liberal Party and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), a coalition of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and Vice President Jejomar Binay’s PDP-Laban.

“They even had a brief talk. But I was not aware of what they talked about,” said Estrada’s media staff Angel Gonong. 

Gonong brushed aside claims that the peace greeting was just for show and Estrada was just being civil to Lim in front of Poe’s relatives.

He said that Estrada was sincere when he uttered those words to Lim and offered his hand to the Manila mayor.

Gonong said that when Estrada arrived at the cemetery at around 8 a.m. he immediately greeted Lim, saying, “Pare, kamusta?”

He said Estrada was wearing a black polo and black jacket with the markings “FPJ,” the initials of Poe.

“He always wears the FPJ jacket whenever he attends events of the late actor,” said Gonong.

He said Estrada also wore his traditional wristband with “Sagisag ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas (presidential seal).”

Estrada had declared that he would run for mayor in Manila against Lim, who is seeking reelection.

In running for mayor under UNA, Estrada said he wants to regain the lost glory of Manila, which he claimed has deteriorated under Lim’s administration.

The camp of Estrada said Manila, the country’s capital, has been lagging behind nearby cities in terms of progress since the city has become bankrupt.

Lim, however, denied the allegations of Estrada’s camp and vowed to continue the delivery of basic services to Manila residents.

Estrada served as San Juan mayor for 16 years, later as senator and vice president, before he became president.

Meanwhile, Gonong said Estrada did not join the unveiling of Poe’s monument and wreath-laying ceremony because he had an appointment at his house in Greenhills, San Juan.

“He was supposed to go there to the unveiling but since the Mass started and ended late, he was not able to do so,” Gonong said.

The 30-minute Mass at the grave of Poe was followed by the unveiling of Poe’s monument.

Roces said her heart was full of gladness. She remains thankful for the recognition afforded to her late husband.

She described as “perfect” the spot for the monument chosen by Lim since it was the place where her late husband and his playmates played when Manila was declared “an open city.”

“They used to run here. This was where he got his experiences during the Japanese regime. Due to this, Mayor Lim was right (in choosing the place). His monument should be erected here,” said Roces.

At the program, singer and composer Bayang Barrios sang “May Bagong Umaga,” Poe’s campaign jingle when he ran for president in the 2004 elections, but lost to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Poe died on Dec. 14, 2004 after suffering a stroke.

In building a monument for Poe, Lim noted that the people would continue to remember the actor for his kindness in life, which continues to inspire his fans who are still very much around to show their support for him.

He said the monument is “an acknowledgement to the elected President.”

“FPJ is the true and sincere ally of the poor, unlike others who are merely pretending. We have learned that he had been helping a lot of people when he died. The National Artist award he received was long overdue. He truly deserved that award,” stressed Lim. –With Jose Rodel Clapano