Grace Poe
A foundling who rose to become a leading Philippine senator and presidential candidate, championing welfare and transparency.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Filipino politician·Birthday: September 3·Generation X
Biography
Grace Poe's story begins with a mystery: she was found abandoned as an infant in a church, a fact that would forever shape her public identity. Adopted by cinematic royalty—movie star Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces—she grew up away from the spotlight, eventually building a family and career in the United States. Her return to the Philippines and entry into politics was swift and dramatic. Appointed to lead the movie and television review board, she demonstrated a no-nonsense approach that resonated. Elected to the Senate in 2013, she topped the national ballot by harnessing her adoptive father's populist legacy and her own platform focused on helping the poor, protecting children, and ensuring government accountability. Her 2016 presidential bid, though unsuccessful, cemented her status as a formidable political force whose personal narrative is inextricably linked to her policy drive for foundlings and the disenfranchised.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Grace was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Grace Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Grace's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Topped the senatorial race in the 2013 elections, securing the highest number of votes nationwide.
- Served as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services and Committee on Electoral Reforms.
- Authored and sponsored the Free College Tuition Law, providing free tuition in state universities.
- Was the first foundling to make a serious bid for the presidency of the Philippines.
Did You Know?
She worked for years as a grade school teacher and a product manager in the United States before entering politics.
Her citizenship was a major legal issue in her presidential campaign, ultimately settled in her favor by the Supreme Court.
She is a dual citizen of the Philippines and the United States.
Poe is an avid fan of the superhero franchise 'The Avengers'.
“I was left at the church, but I was found by the people.”
