MANILA, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe officially declared her bid for the presidency on Wednesday, September 16.
"Ako po si Grace Poe, Pilipino, anak, asawa at ina...inaalay ko ang aking sarili...bilang inyong pangulo," the senator said at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni. (I am Grace Poe, a Filipino, a child, a wife, and a mother... I am offering myself as your president.)
In a speech that lasted for nearly half an hour, Poe cited one by one the areas she would like to focus on. The event, which was anticipated by many as early as 3 PM, began with some musical performances by supporters.
The announcement itself began at around 6:30 PM, opening with a video montage of the senator's childhood photos, with the late Fernando Poe Jr.'s voice in the background.
Poe is the 3rd candidate to announce her bid for presidency, following Vice President Jejomar Binay in July 1 and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in July 31.
Areas of focus
Poe rolled out plenty of promises, including those which are rarely touched by other candidates, such as support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights, hunger and nutrition, arts, and sports.
The neophyte senator pushed for faster Internet connection, saying it could improve livelihoods, businesses, and education. She also stressed the need to fix classrooms and to ensure that they have access to the Internet and digital technology.
Like other candidates, Poe pushed for fostering peace in Mindanao, creating better infrastructures, fixing the traffic situation, supporting the agriculture and health sector, increasing salaries, decreasing taxes and electricity prices, and fighting corruption, crime and drugs.
Poe also touched on complex issues like the West Philippine Seaand climate change.
Topping off her advocacies is her demand to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill into law.
'Lesser evil'
On Twitter, the hashtags #POE2016, #TraPOE, #GracePoe and #TiwalaTayo started trending as the senator was giving her speech.
Several netizens expressed their support for Poe, with some of them calling her the "lesser-evil" candidate. Some were also impressed with the senator's specific list of priorities, different from how other candidates promise blanket statements.
Parang istilo ng pangangampanya sa Amerika ang pagtitipon na ito ni Sen. Grace Poe, pero parang awards night din dahil sa dami ng artista.
— Jheng Tolentino (@jestavetole) September 16, 2015For me, mas ok sana kng mag bise president na lng c @sengracepoe with @MARoxas. for her to have better experience in leading our country ✌️✌
— grace@75 (@cherrylgrace) September 16, 2015If Grace Poe wins, I hope she would not just be a president who will just lead to live by the unfullfilled dreams of his father.
— Dei (@doobidoobidei) September 16, 2015Whoo. Nice one Grace Poe! PARA SA MABILIS NA INTERNET!!
— Ne-rekT_360_NOSCOPE (@NiericSenpai) September 16, 2015OKAY THE FACT THAT GRACE POE ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE LGBT IN HER SPEECH HAS ME IN HER CORNER. ONLY CANDIDATE TO DO SO.
— Ronald S. Lim (@tristantrakand) September 16, 2015If Duterte will not run, probably I'll go with Grace Poe as President. #HALALAN2016
— Cyril Laag (@watetiiw22) September 16, 2015Grace Poe enumerated such issues that has to be taken action immediately. Hats off.
— Ian Macasaet ©™ (@IyanokManok) September 16, 2015Since Poe promised Filipinos a lot of changes and progress, some netizens questioned whether the senator is really capable of doing all these.
I hope Sen. Grace Poe will not fail fulfilling those promises.
— Ronan B. Nepomuceno (@ronanepomuceno) September 16, 2015I like Grace Poe's speech. Hope she walks the talk if ever she wins.
— Joshua Luis Uy (@UYsiJOSH) September 16, 2015Grace Poe is running for President. I feel hopeful for this country. I'm so relieved.
— June Javelosa (@juniejav) September 16, 2015Empty promises?
Meanwhile, some netizens were not impressed by Poe's speech, calling her words nothing but wishful thinking and empty promises. Some also attacked her lack of experience, seeing her as someone who feeds off her parents' popularity.
Sen. Grace Poe speaks as if everything is as easy as ABC. #Halalan2016
— georgina cabrera (@itsjensan) September 16, 2015 The campaign season hasn't started yet, but Grace Poe's already making too many promises. Good luck keeping them. #Poe2016 #VotePH2016
— ivan angelo de lara (@IALdeLara) September 16, 2015Mukhang ok naman si Grace Poe eh though lack of experience pa pero magaling naman sya
— Febriandy Yabie (@febyabie5) September 16, 2015Grace Poe is the lesser evil among all the presidentiables in 2016. Nonetheless, she still lacks competency and assertion.
— Ver Marcelo (@theVERmarcelo) September 16, 2015{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Ayan, sige Grace Poe deliver mo pa ang iyong speech na puno ng sweet words na bibilog sa utak ng mamamayang pilipino. </p>— NOAH (@noah_meh) <a href="https://twitter.com/noah_meh/status/644101635673747456">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What is Grace Poe even talking about, FPJ did not start anything, unless she wants to star in her own movie </p>— Janelle Sentina (@janellevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/janellevine/status/644102596211281920">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Paano kaya gagawin ni Grace Poe yung mga sinasabi nya? :-/</p>— Mariah (@mrhfelice) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrhfelice/status/644102588162375680">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Sana matupad lahat ni grace poe yan haha</p>— potty (@Dwghtrdn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dwghtrdn/status/644103571990970368">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Listen to grace poe.. Her platform is flawless.. Daling sabhin yan pero mahirap gawin! Set the bar low senator. Huwag mo kaming PAASAHIN</p>— Djon Santos (@DjonSnowww) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjonSnowww/status/644103559147995136">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Nagso'SONA na ba tong si Grace Poe? Andaming sinasabe</p>— xiii (@neilescueta) <a href="https://twitter.com/neilescueta/status/644104131540480001">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Concrete plans. I wonder how many of them she can pull off. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GracePoe?src=hash">#GracePoe</a></p>— Migs Yap (@mygzyap) <a href="https://twitter.com/mygzyap/status/644104041413283841">September 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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What are your thoughts on Poe's presidential bid? Let us know, tweet us at @moveph, message us on Facebook, or email us at move.ph@rappler.com. – Rappler.com