This is part of Coconuts Manila’s quickie thinkpiece series on the presidentiables.
A rookie senator, Grace Poe was an early favorite in the presidential race. Compared to other candidates, she is the youngest and the one with less experience.
But while her opponents and critics slammed her for being a newbie in a hurry, Poe countered by saying that her status also ensures that she is not one of the much-hated traditional politicians or “trapos.”
A former University of the Philippines-Manila student and a Political Science graduate of Boston College, Poe has already shown that she has the capacity to be a formidable lawmaker. Pundits say, though, that she needs a little bit more time to become a force to reckon with.
Poe has always admitted that she got into politics because she felt a need to vindicate her father, actor Fernando Poe Jr., who ran for President and lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004. It was believed that FPJ was cheated. He died of a heart attack shortly after his ill-fated presidential run.
When she announced her presidential run, Poe revealed her 20-Point Agenda for the Philippines. It showed how she was genuinely earnest about fixing or replacing what was broken in the system.
As committed as she is to her programs for the country, Poe’s allegiance to the Philippines itself has been questioned. At one point in her life, she had renounced her Filipino citizenship so she could be an American.
Still, Poe rallied on and supporters have kept the faith. In the speech where she declared her candidacy for president, she had told them, “I hope you will join me in crafting a bright and meaningful future for our motherland, the Philippines.”
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