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FPJ's family accepts his posthumous National Artist Award
The family of the late Fernando Poe, Jr. formally accepted the action star’s posthumous National Artist Award on Thursday, six years after he was conferred the title and after the family rejected the honor.
In an awarding ceremony in Malacañang Palace’s Rizal Hall, Poe’s widow Susan Roces and his daughter, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chair Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, accepted the award on behalf of Poe’s family.
"Ilang taon man ang lumipas, mas matamis ang tagupay na ito dahil hinintay natin ang karapat-dapat na panahon," Llamanzares said. 
President Benigno Aquino III confers the Order of National Artist for Cinema (Posthumous) to the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. who is represented by his wife Susan Reyes at Malacañang on Thursday. At right is FPJ's daughter and MTRCB chief Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares. Jay Morales
Roces said that the selection process of the National Artist Award is important, and said that if FPJ were present at the awarding ceremonies, he would be happy.
“Pasasalamatan niya si Pangulong Aquino sa pagkumpirma sa kanya. Tulad ng sinabi ni Mary Grace, it’s worth waiting for na makumpirma ka ng tunay na halal na Pangulo,” Roces said.
President Benigno Aquino III said Poe’s contribution to Philippine cinema as writer, actor, producer, and director was indisputable.
“Sino po bang Pilipino ang hindi nakakakilala kay FPJ?” Aquino said in his speech after the National Artist award was presented.
On July 20, President Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 435 affirming Poe's stature as a National Artist. This proclamation was a confirmation of Proclamation No. 1069 dated May 23, 2006, which was the original announcement of the posthumous National Artist Award for Poe.
Poe, born Ronald Allan Kelly Poe before his FPJ moniker, died in December 2004 from a stroke, and was conferred a posthumous National Artist award in 2006 by former President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo, who is now a congresswoman representing Pampanga's second district in the House of Representatives.
However, Roces refused to attend the awarding ceremonies due to a grudge against the Arroyo, who defeated Poe in the 2004 presidential elections. The late action star claimed he was cheated by Arroyo, who has been involved in issues regarding poll fraud.
The rejection of the posthumous award by Poe’s family was reportedly the first instance.
In November 2010, Poe’s family decided it was willing to accept the National Artist award under the Aquino administration. –KG, GMA News
