Her real name is Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe-Llamanzares. But here in the Philippines,
we all know her as Senator Grace Poe. Thank you so much, Senator. Thank you also for guesting me. The last time I was here in FPJ Studios was 2004 for your dad's movie, Pakners. Yes of course, I remember that. Were you just eighteen that time? I was I think eighteen or nineteen when I visited this - studio.
- Was that in 2003? - 2003, 2004.
- Okay. I read your life story and
it's as if it's straight out of a telenovela. A woman found you in a holy water font. Correct. And then the parish priest, he named you Grace because for him, it's the grace of God
that led to finding you. That was the story. There was an announcement from the church if anyone wanted to claim the baby. Yes, yes. - In Iloilo.
- Iloilo. They had to publish because the municipal office needed it. Yes. The published announcement said there's a kid for adoption, nobody was claiming the baby. So the one who saw me, Nay Sayong, she took care of me for a few months until one couple from Bacolod, came forth
and wanted to have a child, so they visited Sayong and they took me in. There was this single woman... - Tessie Valencia?
- Yes. - She owned a huge piece of land.
- Yes. She was my mother's fan. So when she visits my mom in Manila, she'd take me. So when I was with my mother, FPJ saw me. So, it was FPJ who really insisted to take me in. Really? How old were you then? I was still a baby. I was just months old when my mother brought me there and then when I was about to turn two,
that's when I started to live with them. This whole history of yours, when did you find out about it? I think I was in first or second grade. Because I had a lot of classmates who were teasing me. I had one classmate who kept on fighting and picking on me, that classmate would always tell me, "You're just adopted. Those are not your real parents--" I couldn't understand it. What does that mean? And it kept happening. Finally, I couldn't help but ask my mother already. Then she told me everything. But she always says, "You were given to me by God." She said that, right? When she said that yes, you did not come from her womb, but you came from her heart. Yes. Of course as a child, that's the time that
you'd get a realization that that's why I don't look like Susan Roces. She looks so fair, right? She was so beautiful and then-- So that's why during that time, I grew closer to my father because I felt like I became more boyish when I was growing up. - You were boyish when you were young?
- Yes. And we had the same complexion. Something like that. But of course, my mom always-- So that's why during that time, they said it wasn't important because they
love me anyway. The usual. But of course, as an adopted child, you'd always think if you are enough or not. I don't really ask why I was given away. More like, "Who could my parents be?" My question would be, "Am I enough for my parents? Do I deserve their love?" "Will I grow up to be someone they can be proud of." Because as I was growing up, a lot of people say, "FPJ is so great. Susan Roces is amazing," - King and queen.
- "I'm such a fan." So it was hard that my parents were reputable people. So you didn't want them to have a reason
to be ashamed of you? When I grew older, I didn't want to be involved in showbiz because I feel like I will never achieve what they did. I will always be compared to them. What was your dream as a kid? When I was very young, I would play the role of an extra in my father's films. That makes me so happy. But my dad, maybe he knew I really had no unique talent. You know potential when you see it in a kid, right? I was always the daughter of the villain or some goon. I would play Paquito Diaz's daughter, and the likes. He knew I wasn't good in acting. The adventure to me is when my father's in a film shooting, in Bataan or Ilocos maybe, there would be water streams or beautiful beaches they'd be shooting in. Ever since, FPJ has been promoting
the beauty of the Philippines. Untouched islands, beautiful forests, mountains, I was able to go there as a kid. That's why I act a certain why, because there are no beautiful hotels there, right? Just the simple ones. Sometimes, you would even be crashing someone's home. That's what I grew up with. An inexpensive trip touring the whole country. And when we eat, my mother would put a table in the middle of a creek, the small river streams. We would use our hands to eat. Boodle fight? Yes, like a boodle fight. And then you take off your clothes, and wash it there too. The life of a movie star wasn't easy too. You know that, too, right? Most of the time, you would be waiting. My father, when he's on break or not yet shooting,
he'll be writing scripts. And at one point, I saw how producers work. You know, my dad, he has a lot of movies, right? Before you could collect the earnings
from the cinema owners, - it takes a while.
- Yes. A year. Months or years. Years. But of course, you have to pay the crew, stuntmen, all of the people who work daily. And when you don't have any film that's grinding, you still pay for the crew. Right? It was hard to earn as a producer and as the actor. To a point where my parents would pawn what they have. - So they could give salaries?
- So they can produce another film and give the crew their salaries because it'd be a long wait. That's why they would say, "You are well-off anyway." They don't know that the money was being rationed. So when I grew up, my mother taught me the importance of having financial stability. Because my mother-- You know what she was able to save up for
when she was young? Because she was an actress, right? During that era, children were so obedient to their parents. So my mother would save everything. She doesn't wear designer clothes. She keeps putting the money in the bank, or buying a piece of land or buying jewelry. It was like that before, right? When she married my father, sometimes, when they don't have money
to produce FPJ films, she would pawn her land, same with my father. That's why they were able to
keep making films for decades, because they help each other out. The banks before, no offense to bank owners these days, but it wasn't easy to loan money to small businesses. He was already FPJ that time, right? But maybe, they just thought, "That's just showbiz." Sometimes, they wouldn't even take a look at it, right? But FPJ was one of the first independent filmmakers. It was really him, right? After he left Premiere Films, he produced. We used to call him, "manager." Yes, manager. Because he always gives. And when I worked with him, I remember, a month after the film shoot, he would still send food to our house. - Really?
- Yes. In Taytay. And they'd say, "This is from manager." We already knew it was from FPJ. - He's so thoughtful, right?
- Yes. You know what, I grew up He's the one who'd write down what snacks I would eat. His specialty is the refried adobo and gambas. He can be domesticated too. People don't know that about him. But what is one thing that your father would say that you will never forget? My father always say that there should be
humility in victory. He always tells us that because a lot of people would adulate and flatter him and say that he's their idol and
he's so great at what he does. But he said, "You always have to be humble." And then, "You always have to help,
if you have the means to help." He said, "It will eventually come back to you." Actually, my mother was the one
who'd say that it will come back, but my dad, he just gives and gives without asking
for anything in return. One of the best ones would be when people would say, "FPJ, it's almost my birthday..." "Maybe you could send us a case of beer?" Because he advertises... - San Miguel, right?
- Yes, before. "Just trying our luck," they'd say. They would write, "Just trying our luck." So he sent it? Oh my god, my father was so happy to know that there are people who could be that honest. He sent out a truck of beer to the barangay and a roasted pig. I mean, he loves to indulge people that way. Maybe because he lost his father when he was so young. Nobody would spoil him. Since he was young, about twelve years old, he already became the head of the household. So he started off as an extra,
then became a stuntman, right? He was able to work his way up until later on, when he got a bit famous, he was able to save up a little, and then he produced his films. And his first star was Dolphy. How old were you then when you decided to go to America? And why did you go there? Okay, I got married at a young age. Twenty-two and married. During that time, maybe you were just about to be born, 1980's, - right?
- Yes, 1980's. 1980's... after finishing high school,
I had an opportunity to study abroad and what I wanted was not to be known as the daughter of FPJ or Susan Roces, so I could break free a little. Because it seems hard to do it here, right? You are the daughter of the king and queen. All eyes on you. My dad is like this, there was one time, I was with my high school and they wanted to go on an excursion. "Let's go to Quiapo and Luneta." So we went on our own. And you know what? The police in Manila called my dad and said to my father, "Do you know your daughter's here?" - So they report to him?
- They do. Plus, when I do something, for example,
when you're in high school or college, of course, there'd be get-togethers with friends. So it's embarrassing when other people
see me and they go, "Oh, FPJ's daughter acts this way?" Right? So I was so happy that I was able to leave. Sometimes, even as a kid, they'd say, "Really? You're Susan Roces' daughter?" The ones who are spiteful. "Why do you like that then?" Really. Anyway, I was able to overcome those things. I was able to find what my interests and passions are. So that's the reason why you went to the States? - So you can live your life?
- Initially, to study. So I can live my life and experience also a normal, anonymous life there. When you asked permission from your parents
to go to America, they allowed you right away? My father was heartbroken that I had to leave. That's why sometimes he would even call, Isn't long distance phone calls expensive before? That was the only way. - Yes.
- He would call, evidently drunk, then he'd sing, "How are you..." He would sing to you on the phone? - He'd let out a dramatic speech?
- Yes. Usually, I'd look like this on the telephone. My American roommates, whenever he sings, they're used to it already. He's sweet, isn't he? When I was in high school, the nuns punished me, because I was late everyday. Why were you late? No huge reason, really. - Late for about two minutes.
- I was disobedient. I was only late for two or five minutes,
but they were very strict. They couldn't kick me out though. So finally, they made me stay in the convent for two weeks. Where? With the nuns, where they lived. That was my punishment for two weeks. My father went to me, he brought roses. I mean, he's very romantic in that way. How did you find out that day that he had passed away already? That was I remember, if I'm not mistaken, a Sunday, we were-- We just came from mass and then me, my husband, and our kids, we were having lunch. There was a cell phone already at that time. My husband took a call and said, "Grace, your dad is in the hospital." He had a stroke, something like that. Oh my god. I really felt weak in the knees, I bawled. I mean I had to run out to the parking lot, enter the car by myself, left the family while they had to settle the bill to leave. We were hours away from here. And by the time I got here apparently, by the time the plane landed, that was the time he passed away. He just knew that I had just come back. But you know, on the way home, we had a stopover in Japan. So we had to deplane for maybe an hour or two. I was beside a woman. And when we were on the way to the Philippines,
I was still beside her. It turns out, we were seatmates in the plane. She said, she was going to adopt a child in Thailand. And she said that she was also an adopted child. She's an American, by the way. And then I said, "I'm going home because my dad,
my foster father, actually died." And then she embraced me and I felt like- What a coincidence that she's also adopted and she's en route to adopt a child too. I felt like I was able to embrace my father through that, too. Is that one of the reasons why, in 2004, you decided to stay in the Philippines? Yes, because everything that FPJ left, like his films, running the studio, I had to help my mother with that. Because in 2005, you became the vice president
and treasurer of FPJ Production. For the operations that we had, I help. But it's really my cousin Jeffrey also who's helping. Another reason why I came back was because of my mother, and when FPJ died, there were a lot of rallies, right? She always gets invited to attend rallies,
but she didn't like politics. So she always tells me, "Be the one to represent and speak for us." And on top of that, I was part of the student council in UP. And I couldn't leave because I was helping her out. Those things that had to be dealt with. You also felt it in your heart, your father was cheated? Of course. Not just I felt it in my heart, - I've seen.
- You know it. I know it. And I've seen the-- I mean, evidence. It's impossible and improbable that in Pangasinan, he'd get zero as in no votes at all
in some municipalities. I'd like to think even one leader there would have voted for him, right? Even the congress from their place, they'd say zero. They say that it couldn't be because their family lives there. There should at least be five votes. So, it was really rigged. At present, would we know the final count? Never. But that's okay because the people know that he would have given
everything he could if he was blessed to serve in that position, but even if he didn't become president, he never stopped helping people that's why everywhere I'd go, I'd find myself saying, "Hey, this is the school my dad helped build." "Your father helped fix the irrigation system here." Or "Your father helped fix the roof of the church." He never tells us those things. Martin Luther King said, "You can kill the dreamer, but you cannot kill the dream." Yes. Is that the reason why noong 2016, you ran for president? You're continuing the dream of your father. Well, that's one. I really can't deny the fact that it would be nice if I had won. And there would've been a President Poe for him. But it's not to be. And I respect the people's decision. I did my best. Perhaps, it was too early for me. But during that time, we never really knew who was really running, right? And those who desired to run, I said, maybe I can offer something different. In 2013, what made you run for senator? Before that, in 2010, some people were asking me about running for the senate. But my mother said, "You'll run as senator?
You don't have any government experience." "You better not--" "Until you have some government experience." Which is quite weird because I kept thinking, how and when can I have that experience? Then I was suddenly asked, for one, I didn't lobby myself to be MTRCB chief... - You were appointed.
- Appointed, yes, because they wanted somebody who knows showbiz, but is not necessarily in showbiz. Actually, I almost spent two years in MTRCB. It was so fun. I really enjoyed the MTRCB not only because I was able to watch films but, the issues in showbiz, - I grew familiar with.
- Yes. Although I have a secret. Growing up with my dad, he would make me watch everything. All the violence. - Really?
- All those gun fights, killing sprees, and the likes. We would always watch together. How old were you then? Oh, I don't remember. Five, six? You were watching gunfights when you were five? People's bodies were being burnt,
and the two of us would be laughing. I mean, it's different when- So my mom would always say, "Ronnie, what is that?" "Hon, this is the movie." "And then also, so that she can be careful." Right? She'd be cautious. So that was your preparation to
becoming the MTRCB chief. So my mom would always say, In 2013, were you surprised that you won with
twenty million votes, that's number one. Oh yes, that was really a surprise. What was the feeling of having twenty million vote for you? Well first of all, my friends took a photo of the TV screen, because it might change, right? So they took photos of it. And then number two is, all of those were FPJ's. That's just how it is. Of course, I had to represent myself properly but, it's also a vindication for him. Right? The people who... "Let's just give this to her, it's for her dad, too." That's how it was. I have no illusions that it's all because of me. And until now, it's because of FPJ. And you know when people say, "Oh, necropolitics." It doesn't bother me because I'm not denying that fact. Would I get here without that? Who do I think I am? There are a lot of great Filipinos that never won any national positions. That's the tragedy and the reality in our country but, I'm using that legacy of FPJ to continue to do good. He may not be here but I want the people to remember the tradition of FPJ, which is lending a helping hand. You know, my dad has this one film called Agila or "Eagle." I couldn't forget the dialogue he said there, “Don’t fool yourself in the journey…" “That you are looking for me.” “What you’re searching for is meaning and purpose.” How did I end up in... this family? There could have been other families to take me in, right? And why did my father see things that way? Even when he was a celebrity, he already saw that there were a lot of people in need. Even if we say we have universal healthcare, that's still not enough, right? So, even if his salary was barely enough for him,
he'd still give it away. That's what I love remembering even when he's been gone. People would say that at least, I, his daughter, is also helpful like him. You're continuing the legacy? Well, I'm trying my best. Do you believe in signs? Like this is the sign for me to run. This is the sign for me to do this. Do you believe in signs? I know for the first time that I ran for the senate... We went to Quiapo. I think we went around twelve noon. In 2012. There were surveys that came out before filing,
I got low scores. So, by myself, I would pray to the Nazareno. This would be embarrassing if I lost. Because we would say, FPJ won in 2004,
and his daughter couldn't even get one spot out of twelve?
That would be embarrassing. So, will I still continue? I was really crying. Before I left the church, the church was almost empty, and I wasn't really known during that time. They'd see me in the news, rallying, and so on. There was one bystander outside Quiapo church. That person came in and said, "Continue it." That was the message, which was weird. What did you feel when the bystander said that? I gained strength. I really gained strength because I felt like, wow it couldn't get
more literal than that, right? So in 2013, you got twenty million votes. 2019 when you ran again, you got 22 million votes. Higher than in 2013. Yes. I'm grateful because of course, Toni, it's different when you run independently, right? I wasn't with the administration, and I wasn't with the opposition. So when they criticize me, both those two sides would. And when we tour, it'd just be us. The same people. It was difficult. So, thank you. Even if I wasn't the number one before, with the budget we had, that was it, I still got a high percentage of votes. And it even went higher. So I'm very grateful. I know it's the FPJ legacy. I watched the presidential debate, and they always reiterate your citizenship. - Yes.
- But you were able to keep your calm. What ticks you off? You know what, people who are too sensitive never win. Yes. It was mentioned in your interview with Ms. Charo. Yes. Overly sensitive people never win. And in showbiz, we're used to that. But what makes you mad? You know what, what makes me mad is mediocrity. As if like you're not giving your best to what you're doing. I get irritated especially when I see the potential
of some people, but they don't-- Their work is lazy. I also don't like people who are pretentious. Right? My guiding principle is you have to work for something... that's bigger than yourself. You have to dedicate something other than
for yourself because if you do things just for yourself, you will not be very successful. But if you have in mind that I'm doing this,
aside from myself, I'm doing this more because I want to keep
the legacy of my father alive. I'm doing this because I want the country
to be a better country for our children. And of course, for me, right? But it has to be a purpose higher than yourself. Otherwise, I don't think you'll succeed. You mentioned a while ago that, when you arrived in the Philippines, you weren't given a chance to see your
father alive anymore, right? If there's one thing that you wanna tell your father, what would it be? Well of course at that time, I would've said, you know, what you would expect. Thank you for everything. I love you. I'm so... I'm so blessed and grateful to have you as my dad. But even more than that... now... I wish I could say, "I hope you're proud." And I know... if he was around... he would be the first one... to cheer me on and congratulate me.
