50 Shades of Grace

In her message to Sen. Grace Poe, Susan Roces (above, left) said, ‘Ronnie and I are truly blessed having you as our daughter. You have brought so much joy, love, honor and pride to our family. Thank you, Grace. God bless you. Continue your hard work and be happy. I wish you the very best in the coming years. I love you.’

Actually, there are as many sides to as well as many shades of Sen. Grace Llamanzares-Poe whom you can also paint in many colors. Like a chameleon, Grace changes colors depending on the kind of crowd she’s with — business, showbiz, academe or politics.

...and with husband Neil and kids Brian, Hanna and Nika.

As a nod to her recent 50th birthday (Sept. 3), Funfare asked Grace to make a list of the “50 Significant Moments” in her life and she begged off, “Ang dami naman! Puede ba by the decade na lang?”

Sure, why not?

Here are what Grace called her “Five Significant Milestones”:

When I was found in Jaro Church;

When I was officially adopted by my parents;

The birthday celebrator with Parokya ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda...

Marrying my husband Neil;

The birth of my children Brian, Hanna and Nika; and

First stint in government, having been appointed to the MTRCB.

“All these events,” she stressed, “led to what I am today.”

...and with Martin Nievera.

(Trivia: Grace’s dad, Fernando “Da King” Poe Jr., gave a hint of Grace’s origin in Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko, FPJ’s 1998 movie with Judy Ann Santos. In one scene, Robert Arevalo as the biological father of Juday’s character, reveals to FPJ that he (Robert) left the infant Juday at the font of a cathedral, wrapped in immaculate white blanket. It was a scene taken from real life, an idea that came from FPJ himself. Years later, in 2013 when Grace first ran for senator, her being adopted was made a big issue to put her down... in vain!)

Like an adopted daughter of the showbiz industry, Grace celebrated her 50th birthday in the company of some of the country’s big stars in an intimate gathering in Makati City.

Lovi Poe with nephew Brian

They have come to embrace her as one of their own. After all, she is the only child of Da King and Susan Roces.

Ang Probinsyano lead character Coco Martin sat with the celebrator and her mom who stars in the long-running series. Former Sen. Lito Lapid and son Mark, who are also in the cast, were also spotted at the party, and so were Charo Santos, Albert Martinez, Eric Quizon, and Zoren Legaspi and wife Carmina Villarroel.

Lovi Poe, captivating in a red, off-shoulder dress, had touching moments with her sister Grace.

Lovi and Heart Evangelista

“While to everyone else she may be Sen. Grace, to me she is Ate Grace, my sister... ” said Lovi.

Martin Nievera sang You Take My Breath Away to kick off the evening of music.

Neil shared with the audience their “young love, sweet love” tale, which was followed by a moving number from Ogie Alcasid and wife Regine Velasquez. Rico J. Puno sang Together Forever to capture the love story of Neil and Grace.

From left: Donboy Espiritu, Albert Martinez, Coco Martin, Deo Endrinal, Lito Lapid and son Mark Lapid, Biboy Arboleda and Dolor Guevarra

In a loving message for her daughter, Susan said, “Ronnie and I are truly blessed having you as our daughter. You have brought so much joy, love, honor and pride to our family. Thank you, Grace. God bless you. Continue your hard work and be happy. I wish you the very best in the coming years. I love you.”

Everyone held on to every word as Grace gave her impromptu message.

From left: Public Works Sec. Mark Villar with daughter Emma Therese, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Vicky Ramos-Antonino and Joanne Rae Ramirez who was Grace’s teacher in Assumption Convent

“It’s really tricky to thank all the people that you should thank in the 50 years of your life, but it’s even trickier to admit that you’re 50,” she said. “But anyway, here we are today. Think of five decades, that’s a lot of days and a lot of hours and you are here today because you are part of my 50 years,” thanking her mom, saying, “without her, I don’t think I would have stood a chance anywhere. She was the one who really taught me the foundations of what I believe in, of what I should do, how I should act. Thank you, Mom, for your courage. Thank you for showing me by example that you should always be compassionate but you should also be wise.”

Addressing Lovi, Grace said, “Thank you so much. You know Lovi... I was really touched when she cried after noticing that I have lost a lot of weight during the campaign... I’d like to tell you that I was happy when I lost that much weight.”

Standing, from left: Dolor Guevarra, Grace and Shirley Kuan; seated, from left: Helen Gamboa, Susan and Coco Martin

Friends from different sectors and former schoolmates took time out to celebrate with Grace. Tourism Sec. Berna Romulo and Public Works Sec. Mark Villar were also spotted.

Colleagues from the Senate were there, too, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and wife Helen Gamboa, Sen. Chiz Escudero and wife Heart Evangelista, Sen. Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy, Sen. Migz Zubiri and wife Audrey, Sen. Joel Villanueva and wife Gladys, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Koko Pimentel, Sen. Nancy Binay and husband Jose Benjamin Angeles, Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Gringo Honasan, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. JV Ejercito, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Bam Aquino and Sen. Sonny Trillanes.

(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)

From left: Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Paul Cabral, Ogie Alcasid, Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi