Poe: I channeled no one else but FPJ during first PiliPinas debate

BAGUIO CITY - Senator Grace Poe said that contrary to Malacañang’s belief, she channeled no one else but her late father, actor Fernando Poe Jr., when she faced off with her rivals for president in the first PiliPinas 2016 presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro City last Sunday.

During her sortie in the City of Pines Tuesday, Poe dismissed a Palace official’s remark that she channeled the personality of her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, during the event.

“Hindi iyan inner kung sino pa man, kundi inner FPJ,” Poe told reporters, referring to her father’s initials.

“Alam ninyo kung meron kaming pareho ni Senator Chiz, pareho kaming nanonood ng mga pelikula ni FPJ. Noong ako ay lumalaki, palagi ang tatay ko kino-correct talaga iyong Tagalog ko at ang iyong manner by which I deliver it na kailangan parang may emphasis dito at ganiyan,”she added.

As a child, Poe said she regularly quoted lines from her father’s movies.

“Panoorin ninyo ang mga pelikula ni FPJ, noon pa man palagi ko kino-quote, ‘marami ka pang bigas na kakainin,’” she said.

Poe, a foundling, was adopted by the late action star and his wife, Susan Roces, when she was five years old.

On Monday, Presidential Communications and Strategic Development Office (PCDSPO) Undersecretary Manuel L. Quezon III said many people appeared to have been impressed with Poe’s performance during the debate held at Capitol University because she “channel[ed] her inner Escudero to answer the questions.”

Poe, however, said she prepared for the debate well by analyzing data on the national issues that were expected to be asked to all presidential contenders.

“Ang dami kong gustong sabihin. At yung mga datos na yan, pinag-aaralan kong mabuti. Hindi lamang sinasaulo kundi sinasapuso. Kaya nga anytime, ready talaga kami dyan,” she said.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had praised Poe for being “very articulate [and a] fast talker” during the debate.

Although some sparks flew when all presidential contenders faced off on stage, the senator said she was happy that she and her rivals were cordial with one another.

“Marami naman kaming mga naging kwentuhan doon habang naghihintay,” she said. — BM, GMA News