A bill seeking to rename Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City after the late movie legend Fernando Poe Jr. was approved by Senate on third and final reading on Monday, September 13.
With 22 affirmative votes and one abstention, the chamber approved House Bill 7499. The measure aims to rename Roosevelt Avenue—situated in the first legislative district of Quezon City between EDSA and Quezon Avenue—to Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.
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The measure initially sought to rename Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City, where FPJ Productions is located, after the late action star. Senate President Vicente Sotto III made an amendment before the second reading to rename Roosevelt Avenue instead. Sotto was campaign spokesman to Poe when he ran for president in 2004.
"It has come to our attention that there was really a strong clamor from the people there and also from the religious sector that there is a very historical reason for having Del Monte Avenue called Del Monte Avenue," Sotto said.
"As a matter of fact, Roosevelt Avenue as we know it now is really the residence of Fernando Poe Sr. and that is where Fernando Poe Jr. grew up," he added.
Senator Grace Poe, the adoptive daughter of the late actor, abstained from voting on the measure citing conflict of interest. "But in my heart I am so happy that this has passed. So thank you very much," she added.
Poe earned the honorific title of "Da King" in the Philippine film industry, with a colorful career as an action film hero spanning from the '50s to the late '90s. He ran for president in the May 2004 elections but lost to former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He passed away in December the same year.
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