A King for President?
BY ROWENA CARRANZA
Bulatlat.com
“
Wag naman!” is the usual response of those from the
middle and upper classes whenever the possibility of a
Fernando Poe Jr. presidency is mentioned. “Okay!” on
the other hand is the excited answer of drivers, vendors
and workers complete with wide grins and thumbs-up signs.
Dubbed the King of Philippine movies or “Da King,” Poe’s
name has been floated as candidate for various positions – from
mayor to president – since the 80s, especially after
Joseph Estrada successfully served as senator after being
mayor for several years.
Indeed, if Poe, or FPJ as his fans call him, finally decides
to run, he would not need to tour the regions, put up banners,
shake hands or kiss babies. He only has to announce that
he is running and the millions who watched Ang Panday (The
Blacksmith) and his many hits would rush to vote him to
Malacañang.
Behind the showbiz glitter
FPJ is Ronald Allan Kelly Poe in real life, son of actor-producer
Fernando Poe Sr. who modeled for the well-known University
of the Philippines’ Oblation statue. He was born
on Aug. 20, 1939, the second of six children.
FPJ borrowed his screen name from his brother Andy, the
real Fernando Poe Jr., and joined show business at the
age of 14 after dropping out of high school. He finished
his elementary studies at the San Beda College.
He worked his way up the showbiz ladder, from messenger
for a film company to stuntman, actor and producer. His
first movie, Anak ng Palaris (The Son of Palaris), a sequel
to his father’s hit movie, flopped. He finally made
it in 1957 with Lo Waist Gang and four years later, put
up his own FPJ Productions. He is known for playing the
role of a rapid-punching hero, slow to anger but relentless
when roused, always defeating his foes in the end.
He married the beautiful and gentle Susan Roses – Jesusa
Sonora in real life – in December 1968, with then
President Ferdinand Marcos and wife as sponsors.
Articles on FPJ inevitably mention his close friendship
with the ousted Estrada. Some call it his only sin, some
admire his “through thick and thin” posture.
It is said that it was FPJ who coined Estrada’s nickname
Erap, which when reversed is a Filipino term which means
good friend. On the other hand, a splendid log cabin in
Camp John Hay was reportedly a gift from Estrada.
Contrast
According to a commentator, one reason for President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo’s withdrawal from the 2004 presidential
elections was the snowballing campaign to draft FPJ as
the opposition candidate either for president or vice president.
For despite his avowed disinterest in politics, a signature
campaign designed to convince him to run has been launched.
It is called FPJ for President Movement, his initials standing
for Freedom, Peace and Justice. The prospect of being defeated
by FPJ must have sent a thousand Mayon volcanoes erupting
in Macapagal-Arroyo’s mind, accompanied by whatever
expletives her katarayan (razor-tongue) regularly spouts.
FPJ’s image is in fact a perfect contrast to the
president’s snobbish image – quiet, humble
and sincere. Last Christmas, he visited as requested a
sick boy in a hospital sans the media circus that Macapagal-Arroyo
usually has in tow.
Despite his closeness to Estrada, Poe to his credit has
never been involved in any controversy and reportedly did
not ask for any favor while his buddy was in Malacañang.
His movies, despite having predictable storylines and being
violence-prone, have also never exploited women, with Da
King’s scenes with women limited to romantic, never
lusty, kisses.
True courage
That the opposition is wooing him to death is no fault
of Da King. Rather, it is a cheerless symptom of the state
of Philippine politics, where candidates are considered
for their so-called “winnability” rather than
ability and sincere desire to serve the country. This is
not to say that FPJ have nor does not have all or any of
these qualities. The problem is, he is being enjoined to
run because of the many votes his showbiz glitter could
blind. Hopefully, he would show his fans the integrity
that they admired in Flavio, the blacksmith in Ang Panday,
and the valor of the rebel in Asedillo by refusing to run
and keeping as far away as possible from politics.
Bulatlat.com
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