Susan Roces to play active role in Grace Poe’s campaign

LA PAZ, Iloilo — Despite her age, actress Susan Roces plans to take an active role in the presidential campaign of her daughter, Senator Grace Poe, so she could promote her advocacy of empowering senior citizens.

In a brief interview before heading to the Central public market on Tuesday morning, Roces said she wants to help out as much as she can in her daughter’s campaign.

“[I’ll try to be active] as much as possible,” she told reporters when asked on how involved she will be on the campaign trail.

By being visible in her daughter's sortie, the 74-year-old actress said she wants to show to her fellow senior citizens that they could still be active.

Addressing the elderly, Roces said: "'Wag [kayong] mag-give up."

Poe's mother said Iloilo is close to their family not only because her daughter was discovered there as a foundling, but also because her ancestors hail from there.

Roces said she traces her paternal roots to the Locsins of Molo town.

Poe's mother said she likes going to public markets because it gives her the opportunity to know the local fare in a certain area.

"Gawi ko talaga ang pumunta sa palengke kahit nasaan ako dahil dito matatagpuan kung ano ang orihinal sa isang lugar," she said.

During her visit to the La Paz public market Tuesday morning, Roces gamely sampled local delicacies such as native mangoes, suman and the town’s famous La Paz batchoy.

She also posed for photos with vendors and market goers and even struck a conversation with some of them.

While Roces made the rounds of Iloilo's public markets, Poe was at a local radio station for an interview.

The senator will hold a campaign rally in Carles town before proceeding to Barotac Viejo public market and University of Iloilo for a forum with students and faculty members.

Expected to be the highlight of Poe’s Iloilo sortie on Tuesday is her visit to the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in the afternoon. It was the church where a local churchgoer found her as an abandoned infant in 1968. —KG, GMA News