Grace Poe: ‘your next president'

"Ako po si Grace Poe. Pilipino. Anak, asawa at ina, at sa tulong ng Mahal na Diyos ay inaalay ko sa inyong lahat ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan bilang inyong Pangulo."

-- Conclusion of Grace Poe's speech, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, Sept. 17, 2015

THE senator who wants to be president of the country didn't say "I'm your president," which a broadsheet headlined, quotation marks and all, for its story of Grace Poe's entry into the 2016 race.

She said she offered herself to serve as president, which isn't the same as saying "I'm your president." Even in campaign rallies, it's someone else who calls the aspirant "our next president." Saying "I'm your president" when she's not yet one is being immodest and presumptuous, out of synch with Poe's image of humility and modesty.

Besides, she didn't say that. Not even the effect of what she said, her offer being couched with a plea for divine help.

Is this quibbling? Not if you're a Poe supporter bothered by display of arrogance or you're trying to pick an alternative choice to corruption-shrouded Jojo Binay.

Five times as many readers, marketing guru David Ogilvy noted, scan only the headline as those who read the body text as well. Former U.S. president George W. Bush glanced at headlines "to get the flavor of what's going on," relying later on aides for substance of the story.

Most likely though, Grace Poe won't complain: the bold headline might even sink into voters' subconscious and influence their choice.

'Tuwid na Daan'

She griped about any person or group that holds a "monopoly" on "Tuwid na Daan," PNoy's rallying cry in the fight against corruption.

No franchise on that slogan but Grace Poe's camp has to think of its own to tag the anti-graft plank in her 20-point platform. Or she'd be a copycat, unintentionally pushing the LP brand.