Analysts see different reasons why Grace Poe took the number one spot among the senatorial candidates for this year’s Elections.
Grace Poe, the former Movie and Television Review Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson never risen above third place in surveys, but has surely gotten the people’s votes as she leads the top 12 senators to take the seats in the upper house.
She is known as the daughter of the late Fernando Poe Jr., a National Artist and a Presidential candidate in the 2004 Elections, more popularly called as FPJ, and the veteran actress Susan Roces.
According to analysts, much of Poe’s success can be attributed to her maiden surname, dropping her married name Llamanzares, and using Poe, which is linked to the surname of the great action star, her father, FPJ.
They say that it was a vindication of what happened to her father in the 2004 Presidential Elections.
FPJ, a newbie in the political scene that year run for president. The so-called ‘FPJ magic’ brought him at a close margin to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who took the highest seat that year.
But FPJ contested Arroyo’s win, claiming he was robbed of his victory. He died in December 14, 2004 but his wife, Roces pursued the electoral protest the following year.
Poe’s campaign ads focused on her relationship with FPJ, and remain consistent with it, which brought to her advantage.
Moreover, Poe created a name of her own, by standing up to issues and participating in public debates to show she has what it takes to serve as a senator.
Also, Poe as a common candidate of both the Team PNoy and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) benefitted her in this race.
Meanwhile, Poe herself was surprised with the results, and thankful for being in that position.
