A DAY IN THE IN THE LIFE... OF ERAP ESTRADA
[The house of former President Joseph Estrada on Polk street in North Greenhills, San Juan. MIKE AMOROSO]
MANILA, NOVEMBER 26, 2010 (STAR) By Jose Rodel Clapano - At 72, former President Joseph Estrada is the most experienced among the 10 presidential candidates running in the May 10 elections.
He had been in public service for the past 40 years, a popular movie actor before that, and he shows no signs of slowing down, despite bum knees that needed surgery a few years ago.
His work habits – or lack thereof – have been much maligned and lampooned, but Estrada stands by his record as public servant and points to his continued popularity with the masses as his greatest vindication.
Some say Estrada could no longer withstand the rigors of another nationwide campaign but, with characteristic humor, Estrada said that he is a "bionic man" for having titanium in his knees.
Estrada claimed that he has not been sick since he was a child - colds yes, but never a fever or other illness.
In an interview with The STAR, Estrada said the 1998 presidential run and the present campaign have little difference because of the same warm reception from the people in the provinces, towns and cities all over the country.
Estrada has been making the rounds through his "Lakbay Pasasalamat" caravan since October 2007, after he was pardoned following his conviction for plunder.
He had been in "rest house detention" in his Tanay, Rizal estate for six and a half years.
Estrada said that contrary to what his critics say are his bad habits, his day starts with regular exercise at 6 a.m.
After a shower, he usually has breakfast with his wife, Dr. Loi Estrada, his political adviser former ambassador Ernesto Maceda, and others.
His breakfast includes coffee, his favorite pan de sal, fried eggs, kesong puti, sometimes danggit, bacon, omelette and fried rice.
Estrada takes around eight cups of coffee a day, down from as much as 24 cups when he was an actor. "We lived on coffee because filming is usually at night and we had to stay awake," he told The STAR.
But Estrada insists he no longer drinks hard liquor. "I stopped drinking hard liquor when I became vice president. I just drink wine."
On the campaign trail, Estrada does not bring a packed lunch.
Estrada, who has consistently declared that he is very healthy based on his most recent general check-up at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City, still eats lechon (roast pig), chicharon (pork crackling) and other tasty dishes served by his hosts during his campaign sorties.
"We eat what the host provides. Usually in the provinces, we have been blessed and our hosts usually provide lechon and other delicacies. President Estrada is always grateful to eat what they have to offer," spokesperson Margaux Salcedo said.
But one thing that Estrada cannot do without is his bag where he keeps his checkered polo shirts.
A coaster carrying an ice chest filled with bottled mineral water also trails Estrada's campaign vehicle.
The coaster also serves as Estrada's refuge for catnaps between sorties.
Estrada always makes it a point to change clothes, especially after a grueling motorcade under the hot sun.
Other musts are his trademark jacket and the wristband on his right hand, which has a scar from an injury sustained years ago during the shooting of a scene of an action movie about the Japanese occupation.
Salcedo, who has accompanied Estrada since day one of his "Lakbay Pasasalamat," said that not much has changed in Estrada's daily routine.
"It's pretty much the same, although more frequently now," Salcedo said.
Estrada admitted that the campaign is tiring since he has to work double time because fund contribution is less compared to the 1998 presidential elections.
"The bad economy caused hardship among the businessmen, that is why there are few who contribute to the campaign," Estrada said.
Man with a mission
Estrada said his wife Loi is also busy campaigning for him.
"We divide our destinations. We just celebrated our golden wedding anniversary in Dec. 6 last year. We are now separated in the campaign like what we did in 1998," Estrada said.
Although the campaign takes much of his time, Estrada said Loi understands his decision to run again for president.
Estrada said it is fulfilling to see that, in his little way, he is helping the poor Filipino masses.
He has always stated in his speeches that he owes whatever he has to the poor Filipino masses.
"She knows that I have a mission. I still want to continue all my pro-poor programs which I failed to do because my term was cut short to only two years and a half. We are on the verge of progress, but I failed to continue that because of EDSA Dos. The late President Cory Aquino, Bishop Antonio Tobias and Secretary Perfecto Yasay have admitted that EDSA Dos was a mistake. That vindicates me," Estrada said.
Estrada also denied that he maintained a "midnight Cabinet" during his aborted presidency.
"The elite conspired for my ouster. They also fed lies to the public from day one of my presidency. There was no midnight Cabinet during my presidency. But it's true that we work late because we are discussing the problems of the country then," Estrada said.
Estrada insists that government prosecutors failed to prove that he had stolen even a single centavo from government coffers.
"I left Malacañang, not because of fear, but because I know that there will be bloodshed and I don't want that to happen," Estrada said.
"They have created a lot of black propaganda against me from day one of my administration because they know that their whims and caprices will not fit well under my administration because of my pro-poor programs," Estrada said.
Among the 10 presidential candidates, Estrada said he is the only "TRUE Opposition."
His rivals, Senators Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party (LP) and Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP), cannot be called opposition because they are part of EDSA Dos that worked for his ouster.
"That is why I ran, because the opposition failed to unite. They are also divided right now," Estrada said.
Apparently referring to Villar, who was Speaker when the impeachment against him was tackled in the House of Representatives, Estrada said one of the presidential bets even banged the gavel to railroad the impeachment trial against him.
Should he be given a fresh mandate, Estrada said he will prioritize three things: "achieving peace and order all over the country, food security and ending graft and corruption."
Estrada said he will not allow Mrs. Arroyo to become House speaker if she is elected congresswoman of Pampanga.
"I don't want to think about it. But I'm sure she will never become speaker. All things have limitations. She is the luckiest president that the country ever had because she has served for nine years. Pity on Filipinos if she will be allowed to become House speaker. All the surveys showed negative for her trust rating. The World Bank said we are the most corrupt country in Asia. Transparency International said we are the number one most corrupt country in the world. Enough of her," Estrada said.
Estrada said he does not also need to appoint people from his presidential rivals in the May elections.
"I am very proud of my Cabinet. They are all clean and they are still intact. They created a Task Force during my incarceration to review all the contracts entered into during my administration, but they have not found any anomalous transactions," Estrada said.
He said some presidential candidates have offered to reimburse all the expenses that he incurred in the campaign in exchange for his withdrawal from the May 10 presidential elections, but he turned all of them down.
"I will not withdraw. My son Jinggoy is running for senator under my party. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is also running under my party for senator. Can I leave my son Jinggoy, Senate President Enrile and the other senatoriables running under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino? No. I cannot abandon them. I am running to fulfill my promise to the Filipino people of uplifting their lives," Estrada reiterated.
ERAP SELLING POLK RESIDENCE - JINGGOY By Christina Mendez - PHILIPPINE STAR
Former President Joseph Estrada is putting up his family residence on Polk Street, Greenhills in San Juan for sale to pay off huge debts, his eldest son, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada disclosed yesterday.
"Well, I cannot blame him (former president Estrada). First of all, he was in jail for six and a half years, and he's lost in the recent presidential elections. Of course, he has many debts to pay so maybe that is why he decided to sell our property at Polk Street," the younger Estrada said.
Jinggoy said the 3,000-hectare estate has also become too large to stay in for his parents.
"It's only the two of them staying in the house, my mommy and daddy. They must find it too large so they decided to put it up for sale," Jinggoy said.
He said the Polk Street residence is a conjugal property of his parents. His mother, former Sen. Loi Estrada, was at first against the sale of the property but was eventually persuaded into agreeing.
Jinggoy said he has fond memories of the family residence but must respect his father's decision.
"If you ask me, we've grown very fond of that house, especially my mother and my siblings. But he has the final decision," he said.
But what if his father suddenly finds himself homeless?
"We still have additional room (in our house)," he joked.
PHILSTAR NEWS FEATURE
For sale: No.1 Polk St., North Greenhills, San Juan City.
Former President Joseph Estrada has put up for sale his family residence to raise capital for his real estate business, which he started during his heyday as an actor.
Estrada yesterday disclosed to The STAR that he has placed the mansion, which is mortgaged with Metrobank and could reportedly easily fetch P200 million in the real estate market, up for sale.
The 3,000-square meter property includes the main house, a clubhouse, and a garage.
He said he has expanded his previous business of buying, building, and selling houses and lots and is now into building condominiums.
He disclosed his company is constructing a 28-storey condominium on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.
The building is called Emar Suites, representing the first letters of the names of his late parents, Emilio and Mary Ejercito. Estrada partnered with his former Ateneo high school classmate Tony Evangelista in the revival of his real estate ventures.
Despite his successful return to show business last year, he said his finances are still "depleted."
He earned P2 million last year from making the comedy film "Ang Tanging Pamilya" with comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas under ABS-CBN's Star Cinema Productions.
"I donated that P2 million to Bantay-Bata. So I did not earn from it," he said.
"Detained for six years and six months, I have not earned money. And besides, I also lost so much money in the last elections," he added.
The 73-year-old Estrada, who earlier claimed to be retired from politics and show business, lost his bid for a second chance at the presidency in the elections last May. He lost to President Aquino by five million votes.
After Estrada's ouster from office and the takeover of his successor, then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Estradas returned to their Polk Street residence. He stayed there until he was charged with plunder in April of the same year and detained without bail while undergoing trial at the Sandiganbayan.
Arroyo granted him executive pardon after his conviction in September 2007.
Estrada fiercely defended ownership of the mansion, saying he acquired it in the 1970's out of his earnings as an actor, even before he was elected mayor of San Juan.
Aside from his Polk Street residence, he also owns several properties, including the 16-hectare rest house in Tanay, Rizal where he spent his last two years of detention.
These properties were likewise not sequestered by the government, having been acquired by Estrada before he entered politics.
He recalled how the prosecution failed to pin him down as the owner of the so-called Boracay mansion in New Manila, Quezon City.
"I told them (prosecution) that Boracay mansion is not mine and if they want it, they can have it," Estrada said.
He insisted the Boracay mansion is owned by his estranged friend businessman Jaime Dichaves, who he claims also owns the Jose Velarde account, in which he allegedly stashed millions of pesos.
Dichaves fled the country after the 2001 EDSA People Power II. Estrada said he has not spoken to him since.
Dichaves has a standing warrant of arrest against him as a co-accused in the plunder charge against Estrada. He has asked the Sandiganbayan to quash the case against him.
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