Press Release
April 24, 2016

POE PROMISES A PHILIPPINES THAT IS FOR EVERY FILIPINO

Saying the Philippines should be for every Filipino, Sen. Grace Poe promised to build a country that is not just for the rich few but for all members of society who are striving for better lives.

In her closing speech at the final PiliPinas Presidential Debate, Poe said that like millions of Filipinos, she wants to have a country that she would be proud of--a place where parents would be glad to raise their children.

"Ginagawa ko ito para sa inyo, ginagawa ko ito para din sa aking mga anak," said Poe, a mother of three, as she recalled the experience of her late father, movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. who is believed to have been cheated out of the presidency in 2004.

Poe is running as an independent under the banner of "Gobyernong may Puso" and promises genuine inclusive growth, global competitiveness and transparency in government.

"Sabay-sabay po tayo sa kinabukasan na maipagmamalaki natin, sa isang bansang maipagmamalaki natin. Sa isang bansa kung saan hindi lamang iilan ang mayaman, kung saan hindi lamang iilan ang maliligaya--kung saan lahat tayo ay sama-sama," Poe said.

The lone independent presidential candidate said she could not stomach the injustices and poverty she has seen as she campaigned all over the country.

"Bilang isang babae, bilang isang nanay, matitiis mo ba na malaman na milyun-milyong mga bata pa rin ang hindi makakain sa ating bansa? Matitiis mo bang malaman na ang pera na dapat mapunta sa pagpapagaling ng ating mga maysakit ay nabubulsa pa lamang o nasasayang sa hindi tamang paggastos?" Poe said.

She said she could not bear to think that Filipinos have a government that cannot give food to farmers who do the back-breaking work of providing food for the rest of the country, and that underpaid Filipino teachers choose to work as domestic helpers abroad for better pay.

"Ang daming pwedeng gawin para sa ating bayan. Maaaring ako, maaaring hindi ako. Pero dapat kung mabigyan ng pagkakataon ay sumubok sapagkat tayo'y Pilipino, mahal natin ang ating bansa," she said.

Poe said the country's problems were nothing new but they require new perspectives and new initiatives to be addressed.

"Gusto natin ng bagong bayan, bagong pag-asa at bagong Pilipinas, kung saan ang bawat bata sa public elementary school ay pwedeng kumain ng libreng pananghalian; na pwedeng makatapos ang anak ng mahihirap; na ang ating magsasaka ay magkakaroon ng libreng irigasyon; na maraming magkakagustong mamuhunan sa ating bansa sapagkat lalabanan natin ang korapsyon," the senator said.

Poe said the chance to be the leader who can usher in a new Philippines has kept her going through the tough campaign period.

"Sa ating mga kababayan sa buong Pilipinas, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ako naririto. Napakaraming pagsubok ang aking pinagdaanan sa kampanyang ito. Subalit 'pag minsan nag-iisip ako, binabalikan ko lang ang tunay na layunin kung bakit ako tumakbo," she said.

Poe has vowed to be a unifying leader if she wins.

"Puti ka man, pula, dilaw o kung anumang kulay. Pagkatapos ng halalan tayo ay iisa. Pilipinong nagmamahal sa bansa," she said.

News Latest News Feed