POE SAYS SHE CHANNELED 'INNER FPJ' IN DEBATE

BAGUIO CITY--If she was ever going to channel anyone, it would be her movie-actor father, Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) who was eloquent in Filipino, presidential race frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe said.

"Hindi iyan inner kung sino pa man, kundi inner FPJ," Poe said in an interview in Baguio City.

"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 said.

The senator recalled that even when she was young, she would quote lines from FPJ'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, who was abandoned by unknown parents at the Jaro Church as an infant, was adopted by FPJ and Susan Roces when she was five. Growing up with movie royalty, she initially dreamed of becoming an actor like her parents but later realized such was not for her

Poe stood out in the debate according to political observers and analysts.

For political analyst Ramon Casiple, Poe was the night's "revelation" after she came prepared with facts and proposals. He also commended the senator for being "presidential and calm." Political analyst and De La Salle University Professor Richard Heydarian added that Poe was "forceful, assertive, and displayed familiarity with issues."

For Rappler editors, Poe took rounds 2 and 3 of the debate, which focused on poverty and development and other national issues.

While the general sentiment on her performance was positive, Poe said there is still much to improve on for the next two presidential debates.

"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. Kaya nga lang kulang sa oras. Pero ang maganda doon, naging very cordial ang lahat. Marami naman kaming mga naging kwentuhan doon habang naghihintay," Poe said.