Press Release
April 20, 2016

POE ADMITS CAMPAIGN IS TIRING BUT PEOPLE KEEP HER GOING

Going into the last two weeks of the presidential campaign, independent candidate Sen. Grace Poe continues to draw strength from the people who embrace her in their hometowns and encourage her to keep going.

In a visit to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Poe admitted that the grueling campaign can take a toll on her emotionally and physically, but she is reminded of her reason for running whenever she is welcomed by Filipino families in every city and municipality.

"Alam niyo nakakapagod na rin talaga... Nakakapagod ang kampanya. Pero 'pag nakikita kayo nakakapawi ng pagod. Kayo ang aming inspirasyon. Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit naririto ako at tumatakbo," Poe said, as she thanked supporters who had made their own posters expressing support for her.

Bulacan, one of the most progressive provinces near Metro Manila, has 1.64 million registered voters. Poe's supporters turned up for the Tuesday evening rally with their own banners.

Poe said small things like these that people do to support her candidacy remind her of her own responsibility to them and the lessons she learned from her father, late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).

"Itinuro sa akin ng aking tatay na 'pag meron kang pagkakataon, dapat unahin mong tulungan ang mga mahihirap at nangangailangan," she said.

Poe, the first foundling to run for president, had to overcome legal obstacles lodged by her rivals to disqualify her from the presidential race. She has also had to fend off attacks and lies being spread about her family.

She said her adoptive parents, FPJ and actress Susan Roces, had taught her to fight for the right things.

"Maraming-maraming salamat po, hindi kayo bumitiw sa aming pamilya," Poe told the crowd in Bulacan.

"Mga kababayan, lahat tayo nangangarap na mapabuti ang buhay natin, hindi ba? Ang ating kinabukasan ay mahalaga, ang ating mga anak ay mahalaga, pero marami sa ating mga anak hindi nakakapasok sa paaralan o kaya 'pag pumapasok, gutom, hindi natututo-hindi ba?" she said.

If she becomes president, Poe promised to issue an executive order that would institutionalize free lunch in all public daycare and elementary schools across the country. Her advocacy for public school feeding has gotten the Senate Finance Committee to allocate P3.2 billion to feed some two million malnourished children.

"Kaya mga kababayan, 'pag ako ay naging pangulo, sisiguraduhin ko una, lahat ng mga bata sa public schools libre na ang pananghalian. Pangalawa, 'yung mga sinasasabi nila na hindi natin itutuloy ang 4Ps, hindi po totoo 'yan. Itutuloy natin at gagawin nating 5Ps," she said.

"Marami ang matutulungan natin. Lahat ng anak ng mahihirap na hindi kayang magbayad ng college, libre na sa state universities at colleges," she said, laying down the plans of her "Gobyernong may Puso" to fight poverty.

Poe also urged Filipino voters to try someone like her, who is new in politics, because she would bring fresh perspectives and a greater commitment to solving the country's problems.

"Luma na ang mga problema natin pero ang solusyon na kanilang ibinibigay ay ganoon pa rin. Subukan naman natin ang bago, bago na may paninindigan, mabilis kumilos at siguradong tututukan ang inyong pangangailangan," she said.

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