From kare-kare to karaoke: The Grace Poe we don’t know

And what you didn’t know will stun you.

She made Philippine election history by garnering the highest number of votes of more than 20 million in the May 2013 elections. In 2019, she secured a fresh mandate to serve a second term in the Senate.

But few know that the only daughter of National Artist Fernando Poe Jr. and movie queen Susan Roces can cook a mean kare-kare from scratch, has a green thumb, and loves to sing Beer by Itchyworms during karaoke gatherings.

Sen. Grace Poe recently celebrated her birthday at the Cork rooftop bar in BGC that was a gathering of friends from her grade school days to her college days in Boston. The Senate seemed to be in session that night for, after all, the senators are Grace’s officemates.

Show business was aptly represented by Grace’s “Dabarkads.”

I would say it was an “ordinary” celebration because that’s how women as young as Grace (in their splendid early golden years) usually party — by unwinding with some drinks, music, a bit of dancing and endless catching up. Chill.

Instead of asking those closest to her for their birthday wishes, I asked them to share something about Grace that people don’t know about…yet. I asked her husband of 33 years Neil Llamanzares, their son Brian, Grace’s high school classmates Malu Gamboa Lindo and Valerie Mayor Sotto, friend Rajo Laurel and her close-in staff member Myrnalyn “Minnie” Sto. Tomas to spill the beans on the Grace we don’t know. Yet.

Neil Llamanzares: Grace is a great cook. Her specialties are kare-kare, baked salmon and her dad’s recipe of gambas.

She has a green thumb, any plant that she plants thrives in our garden. To relieve stress, she clears clutter in the house, she moves around furniture and the few paintings that we have. She always says she’s a frustrated decorator!

Brian Poe Llamanzares: People probably don’t know this, but my mom is a fantastic cook! Her kare-kare is the best! I keep telling her she should start a cooking vlog, but of course, I’m biased.

Malu Gamboa Lindo: Grace is a really good homemaker. She cooks quite well, too. She can easily whip up a kare-kare from scratch. Love her youngest daughter Nika’s birthday Instagram message thanking her mom for