We were able to get up close and personal with former President and now Manila City Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada when Jr Langit and I went with him to his recent visit to Seoul Korea.
The former President went to Korea to personally give his thanks to Global Goldgoal Inc. (GCI) for their generous contribution of 10,000 LED TV-equipped solar-powered lamps to the City of Manila.
“Their contribution is greatly valued, given that the administration I inherited was a bankrupt one. The cost of electricity is so high in the country that investors are choosing to take their businesses elsewhere. Now, we not only light our streets economically but we can also help curb criminality to promote peace and order,” he said.
AMAZING KOREA
Mayor Erap was certainly amazed with the infrastructure and technology he saw in Seoul. However, he was also impressed by the discipline that the Koreans showed as they went along their routines.
“Their infrastructure is amazing! The streets are wide and clean. Also, the people are so disciplined. They aren’t crossing the street to get ahead of cars. Instead, they patiently wait in the sheds for their turn,” he said.
TORRE DE MANILA
Regarding the matter of the DMCI development that has been causing conflict in his city, Mayor Erap said that it was his predecessor who approved the construction.
“It was already approved when I got here. It wasn’t in the Luneta zone and therefore is not under the control of the National Historical Commission (NHC). However, we investigated them because they did not get the necessary zoning permits. There were also other things missing that they are attending to now,” he said.
There is a certain angle from which Torre De Manila will not be in view when looking at the Rizal Monument. However, Mayor Erap says that everything is really just a matter of perspective.
“According to these UP professors, Manila has the highest poverty rate. So really, at some point, structures need to be erected to help give jobs to people in our city. Our city and people need the income,” he said.
TRUCK BAN
Mayor Erap also said that the truck ban issue has now been partially resolved.
“In the end, even if we were met with resistance, we were able to make decisions for the greater good. It really is like that when you come up with something new,” he said.
VP BINAY AND THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN
The former President also gave his opinion on the recent issues currently facing the embattled Vice President, Jejomar Binay.
“I guess because he is the strongest candidate in the 2016 elections. They are trying to smear his name. However, VP Binay has nothing to hide, given that everything he did was above board and supported by the necessary paperwork,” he said.
SENATOR JINGGOY AND HIS INCARCERATION
Mayor Erap also gave us an updated on his twice-imprisoned son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada. He said that he was confident that his son will get through this just like he did when they were charged with making use of jueteng money.
“They found nothing to support their claims. When they opened both envelopes, they saw nothing that would help their case. So after two years of imprisonment, they set Jinggoy free. However, his kids suffered for two years without him. In my case, they were never able to prove that the P200 million was alleged juetend money that former Governor Chavit Singson allegedly gave me. They saw that it went to those in need in the Muslim Youth Foundation,” he said.
CONSOLATION FOR 6 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT
However, the former president was still imprisoned for 6 and a half years. He shared with us that his only consolation was that the late president Corazon Aquino publicly said that EDSA II was wrong.
“Bishop Tobias even said in his homily for FPJ’s birthday that he was apologizing to me in behalf of the Catholic Church. I was sitting beside Ms. Susan Roces then,” he said.
THE MESSAGE
For his parting words, Mayor Erap had this to say:
““I endorse the program “Kasangga Mo Ang Langit”. I have known Pareng Rey for a long time to know that he became famous due to his truthful commentary and news reporting. I guarantee that with the show “Kasangga Mo Ang Langit”, you will really feel that you are in heaven as you can certainly rely on Rey Langit,”” he said.
QUOTABLE QUOTE
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. —Thomas Jefferson, 1816