Two hours of Grace; Duterte up close

If she were elected President, Sen. Grace Poe would wear the same simple dress she wore to her oath taking as MTRCB chief to her inauguration.

To her, it not only has sentimental value, it will also set the tone for the simplicity she wants to uphold in a Poe administration.

For the roundtable meeting with STAR reporters and editors, Grace said she can’t even remember who made the dress. For that roundtable meeting, Grace came in another simple white dress and wore nondescript jewelry — including a string bracelet from a Buddhist temple.

Though she has lost 20 pounds since the campaign season began, Grace said she has never felt better or healthier. “I feel lighter and I told my staff I can now outrun them.”

She admitted she once wanted to bow out of the grueling and sometimes cruel race for the presidency, and that was when the remains of people believed to be her relatives were exhumed just to prove that she is a Filipino.

Grace believed it violated the dignity of the deceased — and it eventually turned out that DNA tests showed they weren’t related.

Excerpts from the discussion:

What will be the role of (Neil) Llamanzares in your presidency?

Chief inspiration.

What will be his specific role?

I mean, maybe in occasions where a family member really needs to represent me, then he can go, but otherwise…Well, my husband is not a lawyer, so he really can’t advise me on legal matters. He’s IT, so maybe he can make sure that all of our files in Malacañang won’t be hacked — I don’t know — something like that.

What is the state of the country you are inheriting in July?

I think it’s a very disillusioned country that I am inheriting. People know that they want something different but they don’t even know what it is except that their life will be better. I think that people are not anymore sitting down contemplating to what degree they want change. They just want something different. That’s the state of the country that we are (in).

I think that we need a leader that will not only inspire but will actually show that it can deliver results reasonably quickly. Hindi na pwede ‘yung parang ‘pag pasensya, pasensya, masyado nang mahaba ‘yung pasensya ng mga tao. Kaya tuloy ngayon kahit na ano na lang, even if it’s a type of medicine that will actually cause more harm than good, they are willing to take it. And that will actually have more far-reaching negative effects. I don’t want to keep (my thoughts running) on that but that’s the situation.

What are the country’s biggest problems and how do you intend to address them?

I think the biggest problem now in the country is still poverty — that’s No. 1, poverty — lack of quality permanent jobs, the lack of trust in government and leadership.

How do you see the country at the end of your term?

I think that the country will be more stable and progressive economically. There will be more jobs definitely. Our growth will be — I mean, you can always say — our growth will be at about eight to 10 percent at the end of my term; meaning, there will be less poor people in the country. I think that there will be law and order. We will be friends with the international community. I think that we will be safe within the West Philippine Sea. We can build a good understanding with our neighbors in the West Philippine Sea, that they follow a Code of Conduct there. I think that there will be peace with the NDF, with CPP-NPA and also in Mindanao. I think that they can really feel development there; that definitely there will be less conflict and that terrorists will definitely not thrive.

And they would be more inspired? You said that you’d also be the “chief inspiration…”

Of course, I would want that. I want a country that is united. As I said, when I become president, it doesn’t matter if you were part of the past administration of Gloria (Arroyo) or President Noynoy, or whoever. If you can do the job very well, I will retain you. I will ask you to help out.

* * *

Oh, my, if crowd response to a candidate’s presence were any gauge, Rodrigo Duterte would be our next president. The lobby of The STAR office was packed with people chanting his name when Duterte walked in. Reminded me of when Maine Mendoza visited The STAR.

In a general press con open to all media, Duterte would curse and swear and each time he said p..t.. i..a and s...t, the audience would laugh in amusement, even cheer. Not funny.

The front driveway of The STAR was also filled with fans, a significant number from the Muslim community in Port Area.

Duterte requested for fried pusit, monggo and fried bananas to be served to him during his visit. His partner Honeylet, a nurse, served him a plateful of monggo, daing na pusit and rice. She and their daughter Kitty sat in during the forum.

During the press con, when a reporter raised his hand to ask a question, he snapped, “Don’t raise your hand, this is my time.”

He also attacked the Cojuangcos — from Danding, to former President Cory Cojuangco Aquino to President Noynoy Aquino.

Excerpts from the discussion:

“I cannot give due process to everybody.”

“I am not the tough guy I am projected to be.”

“I think Malacañang has bad vibes. I will not live there if elected.”

He says that after his presidency — if ever — he will become a monk. “Or teach.”

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