The pork barrel issue is very hot right now. What does she intend to do with hers? “I will definitely use it for projects that will benefit the people. Isa sa advocacies ko ngayon is providing free lunch in public schools kasi marami talagang mga bata ang malnourished. I’ve proposed a bill about this but habang hindi pa naa-approve, I’m thinking of starting my program in selected schools on my own, in coordination with the right government agencies. When people in the provinces ask for my help, halimbawa, they want new roads, I will monitor yung projects properly to make sure the money is not being pocketed at napupunta ito talaga sa construction ng mga bagong kalye. Wala akong balak dayain ang mga taong bayan sa binabayad nilang taxes.”
She wants to strongly promote film tourism. This means making our country an ideal place where foreign film company can shoot their movies or TV shows on location. “It’ll also be nice if our film industry would be subsidized by the government, just like what they’re doing in Korea now kaya naman very active ang movie companies nila roon ngayon.”
She has yet to have her own office at the Senate. She inherited the space of Sen. Franklin Drilon who’s now senate president, but the place is still being renovated. Senate employees were so touched when she visited them all to introduce herself personally to them. She’s the only new Senator who gave them such importance so they’re very appreciative. Up to now, she continues to thank all the people who voted for her and made her number one.
“Never ko talagang inasahang magiging number one ako. Makapasok lang sa list of winners, okay na sa’kin. Limited nga ang budget ko sa kampanya. Kinukuwenta nga namin ng nanay ko (Susan Roces), lahat ng kinita niya noong talent fee sa ‘Walang Hanggan’, nabalik din sa ABS-CBN dahil sa ibinayad sa political ads ko sa kanila. The fact na number one ako says a lot about what the voters felt for my dad (FPJ) when he was cheated sa election. Obviously, they really believed he won and they’re really banking on him. At hindi ko sila bibiguin dahil wala akong intention na bigyan ng kahihiyan ang dad ko at ang mom ko na parehong may malinis na reputasyon at nirerespeto ng publiko.”
