Senator Grace Poe says FPJ, Susan Roces went through “hurdles” for her adoption
Senator Grace Poe has always been proud of being Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces’ adopted child. She would often talk highly of her parents for raising her endearingly as their own.
Unknown to many, the late action star and his wife also had to conquer “hurdles” for the senator’s adoption. She revealed it in an Instagram post today, Dec. 10.
Her caption read, “Each time I speak about adoption, I am reminded of the hurdles my parents had to go through in order to legally call me their own.”
“We pushed for the Administrative Adoption Act in order to make [processing] easier for more families. With this bill, it is my hope that more Filipinos will be able to adopt children; because every child deserves a good home, a family, and a future,” Poe added.
In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Magandang Buhay in August 2019, the 52-year-old senator admitted that like most teenagers, she would sometimes fear her father when she needs to ask permission to go out with her friends.
“Noong bata ako, siya talaga iyong kalaro ko, masaya magkaroon ng ganon,” Poe said. “Pero ‘pag teenager ka na, ang hirap magpaalam sa kaniya. Parati kong tinatawag ang nanay ko. Kasi ang nanay ko, syempre babae rin, nakakaintindi. Siya palaging nagsasabing, ‘Payagan mo na.’ Lagi may ganun”
But her fear was later replaced with concern after an instance when she came home in the wee hours of the night.
The senator continued, “Pero minsan naawa ako sa kanya. Kasi isang beses ginabi ako, ‘tapos pagdating ko sa kuwarto, kakaidlip lang niya. Sabi ng nanay ko, ‘Alam mo, ngayon lang natulog ‘yan, noong narinig niyang nagbukas ‘yung pinto, pumasok ka.’ At naisip ko, parang kawawa naman ‘yung tatay ko kasi kinabukasan, may maagang shooting.”
She added, “Pero ganun ano, parang isipin mo na popular na siya, marami na siyang nagawa, pero hindi niya kinalimutan ang pagiging tatay niya. Kaya nga, alam mo [kahit] in-adopt ako, bakit parang ang kumpansya ko ay ganoon nalang? Sapagkat itrinato niya talaga akong anak na hindi niya pinabayaan. Kaya abot-abot ang utang na loob ko sa kanilang dalawa.”
Driven by the desire to grant all adopted children the same joyous childhood as she had, Poe pushed for the passing of the Administrative Adoption Act, otherwise known as Republic Act 11222 or the Simulated Birth Rectification Act.
The law seeks to provide for simpler and less costly administrative adoption proceedings that will apply to children who have been living for at least three years with foster parents. It was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 21, 2019.
Photos from Senator Grace Poe on Instagram.