“Kilala mo ba si Grace, ’yung anak ni FPJ?”
It was a question often asked of me by my mom’s friends in the show-biz industry while I was growing up. Since I had not met her at that time, the question would be followed by: “Ay, dapat mag-meet kayo, pwede kayong magkapatid!”
Although we were both children of showbiz, and our parents were good friends, Grace and I never had the opportunity to formally meet until we were both in our 40s. I had the privilege of working closely with her for two years when she chaired the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), where she was a much-loved leader.
There was no dry eye, including hers, on the day of her despedida, when we had to send her off as she pursued a higher goal. MTRCB’s loss became the Senate’s, and in a way the country’s, gain.
Grace is grace under pressure. She has steely nerves, but she rules with kindness and compassion. At the MTRCB she took time to know each and every person, not just the board members but her staff as well.
To this day, ma’am Grace is always regarded with reverence and affection.
Effective leader
She was a very effective leader. Board member and lawyer Tony Veloso describes her as someone who “…prepares, studies, works hard and gets things done. She is inspiring and gets people to perform their tasks and meet their goals.”
Because she was such a diligent and hard worker, you couldn’t slack off, too. Not that she demanded it, but it was imperative that you did your share of the work and contributed to the discussions, especially during board meetings.
Grace is sharp and keen, and is collaborative, but listens to her heart and her intuition. She is, as MTRCB chair Toto Villareal describes, “empowering as a leader,” and she observes collegiality, but these do not prevent her from being decisive on her own. “Senator Grace has the rare ability to reduce into simple and understandable terms what are normally complicated problems or issues, and this enables her to come up with practical yet ethical solutions. In the process, she never fails to consider the plight of the lowly or disadvantaged,” says Villareal.
This is perhaps something she learned from her mother and father. Her father Fernando Poe Jr. had always been known to protect, and care for, the underdog on and off the screen.
Maybe it also grew from her personal experience of having been bullied as a child in elementary school. Such experiences shape you and help you remember what it feels like to be oppressed.
Her good friend, MTRCB board member and film editor Manet Dayrit, describes Grace as “genuine.”
Although she grew up in the world of make-believe, she is not at all, to use the term, “show biz.” Transparency is of prime importance to her, whether professionally or as a friend.
She will support you, but when she sees that something is off, she will, in a kind manner, also call your attention. With Grace, what you see is what you get.
True friend
She is a true friend with a good sense of humor and wonderful wit.
It’s easy to open up to Grace and unburden your cares, knowing she will listen to you with full attention. Long-time board member Tessie Villarama describes Grace as having a peaceful spirit, and one who is trustworthy. As her friend, you can safely spill your guts out to her, knowing that there is no fear of being judged or betrayed.
Despite a backbreaking schedule, Grace remains a devoted mother, always hands-on with her children. There were a few times, when the opportunity allowed, we would talk about our teenagers; you could see that she truly knew her children’s hearts well.
When you meet Grace for the first time, you will be struck by her smile and modest dressing style. There is nothing flashy about her, from her choice of colors, her obvious preference for white, and simple, timeless pieces.
Even her choice of jewelry is simple—usually a pair of classic pearl earrings or studs and a silver watch, once in a while a bracelet and a simple necklace.
Beneath the seemingly shy exterior is a sharp, intuitive mind, a quiet, unassuming spirit, and a kind heart—a rare combination that has served her quite well.
I have not seen Grace since she made it to the Senate, but we stay in touch every now and then. I often tell her how proud her father must be of all that she has achieved, and she tells me that it is a thought that always warms her heart.
Grace is quiet, never wanting to call attention to herself, doing the work set out for her as best as she can. Very prayerful, she always seeks wisdom at crucial points of her journey, and by most accounts, it is a faithfulness that has served her well.
As her name suggests, we can only hope that the rest of her journey, wherever it may lead, will be just as she is—filled with grace.
E-mail the author at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @cathybabao.
