Manila Mayor Erap Estrada Wants To Bring Back The Old Glory Of Manila As Pearl Of The Orient

MANILA MAYOR ERAP Estrada had a reunion party with the entertainment press at Sampaguita Gardens organized by Manay Ichu Maceda and among those who attended are seasoned and veteran actors who belong to his generation in the 60s. Two showbiz couples whose durable marriage have lasted so long were there: Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez, Robert Arevalo and Barbara Perez. Then there were also Boots Anson Roa (who did the ‘Tatay na si Erap’ series of movies with Erap), Celia Rodriguez, Delia Razon, Liza Lorena, Gloria Sevilla, Daisy Romualdez and more.

Erap is doing well as Manila mayor as the city is now debt-free. Is he running for a national position in 2016? “May misyon pa ako sa Manila as I want to bring back the old glory of Manila,” he says. “Naiwanan na kasi ng mga kalapit na bayan ang Maynila, e. Nakakaawa. It’s our capital city, the Pearl of the Orient, tapos napag-iwanan. I love Manila kasi I was born in Tondo at diyan ako sumikat when I played the role of Asiong Salonga, ang Robin Hood ng Tondo. Kaya hindi ko matitiis makita na ang bayang sinilangan ko, palubog ng palubog. Also, hindi ko puedeng kalabanin si Grace Poe dahil alam nyo naman, best friend ko ang yumaong FPJ.”

Is it true his latest son who’ll join showbiz is Jake Ejerctio, Andi Eigenmann’s ex-? “No. Nag-aaral pa yun sa London. Pero kung gugustuhin niya, hindi ko naman mapipigilan kasi ako, pinigilan din ng father ko noong pumasok sa politika, pero hindi rin ako nagpapigil.”