Grace Poe says she is 'grateful, humbled' for FPJ Avenue
Senator Grace Poe on Thursday said she is grateful and humbled by the enactment of law renaming an avenue after her father Fernando Poe Jr. or also known as “FPJ.”
This, after President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11608 renaming Roosevelt Avenue in the first legislative district of Quezon City to Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.
Poe said this would be a chance to remember her father’s legacy.
"My family and I are grateful and humbled by this legislation. FPJ Avenue gives my father's works and legacy a sense of place in our nation's history," Poe said in a statement.
“For every Filipino, every 'probinsyano' who will pass along this avenue, we hope this serves as a physical reminder that no dream is too big and no goal is ever out of reach,” she further said.
The senator abstained during the Senate voting on the bill, citing conflict of interest.
Nevertheless, she thanked her colleagues from the Senate and the House of Representatives who pushed for the measure that described FPJ as a cultural icon and champion of the masses.
The late National Artist has been feted for starring in over 300 movies, including those that he produced in his 46 years in the Philippine entertainment industry.
This earned FPJ the title of King of Philippine movies.
Roosevelt Avenue hosts the ancestral home of FPJ where he spent most of his childhood years. The 2.9-kilometer road runs between Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) to the north and Quezon Avenue to the south.
The senator’s mother, Susan Roces, also welcomed the enactment of the bill into law.
“Maraming salamat sa inyong pagkilala at pagpapahalaga sa aking kabiyak sa pagpapangalan sa kanya ng FPJ Avenue (thank you for recognizing and giving importance to my husband’s legacy by naming this road after him as FPJ Avenue),” Roces said.
“Maging inspirasyon sana ang kababaang-loob, malasakit sa kapwa, at pagmamahal sa sining ni FPJ sa bawat daraan sa abenidang ito (I hope the people traversing this road be inspired by FPJ’s humility, love for others, and his love for the arts),” the veteran actress also said.