In his brief but meaningful speech praising Grace Poe-Llamanzares for her work as head of MTRCB (Movies and Television Review and Classification Board), Pres. Noynoy Aquino mentioned an impending “announcement” that kept the guests guessing you know, does it have to do with Grace’s inclusion in the Liberal Party’s senatorial slate in the 2013 elections?
The word at Milky Way (Makati City) where Grace’s 43rd birthday dinner was held on Sunday (a day before her birthday, Sept. 3) was that P-Noy is still trying to convince Grace to say “yes.”
“Nililigawan pa ni P-Noy si Ma’am Grace,” said an insider.
In answer to Funfare’s question yesterday, Grace texted back, “Hahaha! May mga consideration. Not yet final.”
If ever Grace ran (she almost did in 2007), the Poe Factor would surely work wonders for her at the polls. Here and now, I reserve my vote for her.
Besides P-Noy, showbiz’s favorite president…Erap, who else!...was also around accompanied by sons Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito. Newly-appointed DILG Secretary Mar Roxas came with wife Korina Sanchez, and so did MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and Budget Secretary Butch Abad.
TV5 was represented by Kapatid executives Bobby Barreiro and Ray Espinosa, and ABS-CBN by Kapamilya executives Cory Vidanes and Deo Endrinal. One third of the 30-plus MTRCB members was accounted for, with Gladys Reyes and Leah Navarro as hosts of the mini program. Leah obliged with a rendition of her walang-kamatayang hit Kailangan Kita.
On hand to help entertain guests (from showbiz, politics and business) were Grace’s mom Susan Roces, and Grace husband Neil Llamanzares and their children Brian (who did a martial-arts exhibition), Hanna and Nika.
Even with the presidential presence (P-Noy stayed for more than two hours), the affair was casual and informal. As in Grace’s birthday party at the MTRCB office last year, there was singing and dancing.
When P-Noy left, a guest said, “Sayang, we forgot to ask him to sign. Mahilig siyang kumanta sa ganitong okasyon, eh.”
Meanwhile, the Birthday Girl is weighing the pros and cons (as she put it, “the considerations”) before she gives her final answer.
Your guess is as good as anybody’s.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)