For Senator Grace Poe, the late "King of Philippine movies", Fernando Poe, Jr., or simply "Da King", was a kind soul both on reel and in real life. 

She stated this in commemoration of the late actor's 19th death anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 14. Poe led a simple gathering at his grave at the Manila North Cemetery as well as a distribution of assistance to needy families in his home province of Pangasinan.

The Poe family began the tradition of giving to celebrate the life and legacy of the late National Artist and Philippine cinema icon.

"FPJ is a kind soul in reel and real life. There's no other way he would have wanted us to remember him than by sharing and lending a helping hand, especially to our kababayan struggling to put food on their table, especially in this Christmas season," Senator Grace Poe said.

At the Manila North Cemetery, the senator offered flowers and lit candles for FPJ and her mother, Susan Roces, who passed away on May 20, 2022.

Together with volunteers, the Poe family also shared meals with several families in the vicinity of the cemetery.  

The senator then went to select areas in Pangasinan to assist local officials in distributing Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

One of the social welfare services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, AICS provides medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance to Filipinos in need.

"Usually pag death anniversary ni FPJ, nagmimisa kami sa North Cemetery tapos dun kami namamahagi ng pamasko. Pero sabi ko ngayon dapat dun sa bayan ni FPJ dahil kung siya ay nabubuhay, magugustuhan nya talaga na ang mga kababayan nyang taga-Pangasinan ang makaramdam naman ng konting tulong at ayuda galing sa kanya (Usually, on FPJ's death anniversary, we hold a mass at the North Cemetary and we give away Christmas gifts there. But this time I figured we do it in his hometown in Pangasinan because it's something that he would have wanted to do if he was still alive)," Poe said.

Poe recalled that FPJ's death made their family and his supporters "broken hearted." 

But she said this did not stop their family from continuing FPJ's goal of alleviating the burden on the Filipino people in whatever way they can.

"Noong nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na tumakbo bilang senador at pinaalala sa akin ng aking nanay, sabi nya  kailangang pangalagaan mo ang pangalan ng tatay mo at magagawa mo lang 'yan kung patuloy ang pagtulong mo sa ating mga kababayan (When I was given the chance to run as Senator, I was reminded by my mother, that I should take care of my father's name and I can only do that if I can continuously help my countrymen)," Poe said.

The senator said a number of her bills that became laws focused on the welfare of ordinary Filipinos, including children. She cited the law that institutionalized the feeding program in schools and kids in public daycare and development centers.

Among the areas that Poe visited were Binalonan, San Carlos City, and Dagupan City.

Poe, together with her son and chief of staff Brian Poe Llamanzares, also raffled off several limited edition commemorative FPJ beep cards with credit that commuters can use when boarding the LRT-1 train.

One of the terminals of LRT-1 was renamed to FPJ Station last August.