Life story, movie star father lift Poe in Philippines’ race

Popular policies, humble beginning make her favourite for May 9 vote

manila (Philippines) — Her life story could have come straight out of a soap opera. As a newborn, Grace Poe was abandoned in a Catholic church and adopted by movie star parents, giving her a powerful narrative and name that have helped catapult her to frontrunner in the Philippine presidential race.

A political newcomer, elected to the Senate just three years ago, Poe has promised to cut taxes, fight crime and offer free kindergartento-college education for the poor. But it is the popularity of her late father, regarded as the king of Philippine movies, and her humble beginnings that appeal to the masses in this country where presidents have traditionally come from the landed gentry and political elite.

The 47-year-old candidate’s campaign speeches are peppered with dialogues from the movies of her late father Fernando Poe Jr., popularly known as FPJ, who often played roles of an underdog battling powerful opponents to champion the poor and oppressed.

He too ran for president in 2004 but lost amid allegations he was cheated in an election many viewed as marked by fraud. He died months later, unable to carry out his battles off the screen.

His daughter is pledging to fight real-life poverty and despair — and her father’s public image is a huge asset in her campaign.

“I like her because Fernando Poe is my idol,” said Eliza Oledan, a laundrywoman with nine children, after hearing Poe a rally in Manila. “I also like her platform of government, especially that she will make college education free.” One of her children had to stop schooling due to lack of money, Oledan said.

Poe’s compelling life story nearly cost her her candidacy, however, when opponents claimed that because she was a foundling, it wasn’t