Loved ones, supporters commemorate FPJ’s 11th death anniversary

White-clad loved ones and supporters of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. gathered at his flower-adorned mausoleum at the Manila North Cemetery Monday morning to commemorate his 11th death anniversary.

Supporters arrived as early as 5:30 a.m.

Actress Susan Roces, wife of the late Poe, arrived past 7:45 a.m. followed by her daughter Sen. Grace Poe, husband Niel, and their children Brian and Hannah.

A mass was held at 8 a.m. celebrated by Fr. Larry Faraon.

Fr. Faraon, in his homily, said the mass could also be used by the senator's supporters to tell God and the late Poe the recent happenings.

"Pwede ninyo ring isumbong kay Lord at kay Da King ang mga nangyayari. Alam niyo na 'yun; hindi ko na kailangang banggitin," he said.

Two divisions of the Commission on Elections recently ruled against Poe and canceled her certificate of candidacy for president.

After the Mass, family members laid a wreath while performers Cookie Chua and Bayang Barrios sang “Kumusta Ka," a song identified with the late Poe.

Senator Grace Poe then delivered a short message and the song “Bagong Umaga," used by her father during the 2004 presidential elections, was performed by Chua and Barrios.

Poe regrets she was not able to thank FPJ before he died

Senator Grace Poe became emotional when she recalled the life of her late father.

In her speech, Poe said her biggest regret was she was not able to thank her father before he died.

Senator Grace Poe pays tribute to her father Fernando Poe Jr. during the late actor's 11th death anniversary at the Manila North Cemetery on Monday, December 14. Mariz Umali

"Ang aking pinagsisisihan lamang bago siya namayapa, hindi man lang ako nakapagpasalamat sa kanya. Kaya ang buhay ko ngayon ay pasasalamat kay FPJ," the senator said, her voice cracking.

The late Poe succumbed to heart attack on December 14, 2004 while in the midst of an electoral protest he filed against then reelectionist President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Asked to clarify her statement, Poe, in a text message, said she would have wanted to reiterate her gratitude to her father.

“Siyempre iba pa rin na naulit ko sana sa kanya na kung hindi dahil sa kanya hindi ko mararamdaman ang tunay na pagmamahal, pag-aruga, at proteksyon ng isang mabait na ama,” she said.

Poe, in her speech, thanked the people for their unending support.

“Pagtitipon ito ng pamilya at mga nagmamahal kay FPJ. Pagkakataon ito muli na sabihin sa inyo na maraming salamat, na sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ay hindi kayo sumusuko sa inyong pagmamahal,” she said.

She said amid the trials she is facing now, she always remembers the lesson her father taught her: Never give up.

“Sa ating pinagdaraanan ngayon, naalala ko ang turo ng aking tatay: 'Huwag kang susuko kapag ang pinaglalaban mo ay tama. Huwag kang susuko kapag ang pinaglalaban mo ay para sa iyong prinsipyo. Higit sa lahat, huwag kang susuko kapag ang pinaglalaban mo ay para sa iba at hindi para sa iyong sarili lamang,'” she said.

Poe admitted that she is always talking to her father now to help her in her hardships.

“Sa ngayon, madalas ay napapansin ko sa aking sarili na nagbubulong at nagsusumbong ako sa kanya. Na sana ay tulungan niya akong manalangin, para kung ano ang nararapat naming gawin ay magawa ko,” she said.

Those present during the commemoration were Poe’s spokesperson Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian; senatorial candidates Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Valenzuela, Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, and Atty. Lorna Kapunan; and actress Bibeth Orteza, among others. —KG, GMA News