Erap, Loi Estrada honored in Senate
The Senate on Tuesday adopted resolutions honoring former President Joseph Estrada and wife, former First Lady and former Senator Loi Ejercito Estrada for their "contributions" to the Philippines.
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero sponsored proposed Senate Resolutions 1297 and 1298.
In his speech, Escudero acknowledged Estrada as the man "who opened his heart, lent his voice, and consecrated his life in fighting for the Filipino people."
"It was in this arena that he championed their dreams of progress amidst poverty, and sovereignty over subjugation. It was in this chamber that he called for a fair society where hard work is rewarded with a better life, and a just one in which no one is denied of the fruits of their labor," Escudero said.
"What he fought for then- for our people to be safe in their homes, secure in their jobs in an economy that is stable, and served by a government that is strong and caring– became part of the permanent order of business in the agenda of the Senate... because of these that former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada remains as relevant now as he was then," he added.
Escudero noted Estrada's focus on the "masses" which he said was not only made for election tagline, but genuinely defined his service as a public servant.
"To the cynical masa, he was the genuine article simply because he never used the Senate as a springboard for his ambition. He used it as a stage to do good," he said.
Escudero mentioned in his speech that the economy under Estrada's administration was boosted from 0.5% in 1998, the year he assumed presidency, to 3.5% in 1999.
"There are many undisclosed highs of your presidency, like the one I just mentioned, which in today’s superficial political recollection has been buried in political events of that time," he said.
"I sincerely believe then and now that a dispassionate appraisal of your tenure would lead to a more fair and factual accounting of your administration," he added.
Escudero also lauded former First Lady Loi who, he said, did not only serve as a spouse who dwelled in the shadows but a stateswoman who stepped out and up into the spotlight.
"She further shattered the highest and hardest ceiling of politics— by securing a national mandate, not solely on the power of her husband’s name, but largely on the substance of her abilities," Escudero said.
"She proved that a woman’s rightful place is in the house— that is, the Upper House, whose archives today contain the prodigious work of this Filipino patriot for future generations to appreciate," he added.
The Senate president tagged Loi as Estrada's "Best Supporting Actress" in his political journey, including the presidency.
"She took on the job of First Lady reluctantly but performed it admirably. She was a First Lady who, like her husband, put the people first," he said, citing Loi's "Masa ang Riwasa ni Erap Foundation" where she provided surgical and relief missions.
"She embraced the masses, and they embraced her back, leading to a Senate seat in 2001...She lost no time in using her training as a physician in sparing our people of diseases and in curing our society of its ills," he said.
"She wrote laws to protect women and outlaw trafficking; promote public health and provide clean water; protect the people from tobacco and drugs; and empower local cinema," he added.
Escudero emphasized that Loi did all these while speaking on behalf of her husband, who was, at that time, incarcerated.
"Instead of turning bitter, she preached the politics of healing. She was indeed a portrait of courage under fire during those times," he said.
"Indeed, Senator Loi’s life and works are no mere footnote to his story–or to 'HIS' story. In our annals, her story deserves its own chapter," he added.
Senators Grace Poe, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, and Bong Go all stood at the podium to give their co-sponsorship speeches.
In her speech, Poe remembered that Estrada was the best friend of her adoptive father, Fernando Poe Jr., joking that the former president was the "third party" in her mother and father's relationship.
Senator JV Ejercito, son of Estrada, thanked his colleagues for honoring his father and his Tita Loi, noting that he will not be in the Senate if it's not for his father.
Erap and Loi were in the Senate to personally accept the resolutions approved by the Senate.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, son of the couple, delivered the acceptance speeches on behalf of his parents.
"Mula sa pagiging artista hanggang sa panahon ng panunungkulan ko bilang alkalde, senador, bise presidente at pangulo, lagi kong dala ang aking paninindigan na ipaglaban ang kapakanan ng masang Filipino. Ang puso ko ay nananatiling nasa masa at ang hangarin kong paglingkuran sila ay hindi kailanman magbabago," Estrada said.
Erap started his political career in 1967 when he was elected as San Juan mayor and served until 1986.
He was elected as senator in 1987 and stayed in the upper chamber until 1992.
After his stint in the Senate, he was elected as vice president.
In May 1998, he was elected as the president of the Philippines, but he was overthrown by EDSA II Revolution in January 2001.
In September 2007, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan convicted Estrada of plunder, but former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned him a month later.—LDF, GMA Integrated News