Joseph Estrada biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Joseph Estrada was born Joseph Marcelo Ejercito in the Tondo district of Manila, Philippines, on April 19, 1937. He was one of 10 children. Estrada’s father, Emilio Ejercito, was a government engineer. His mother was named Maria Marcelo. Joseph’s parents were wealthy landowners. When Joseph was still very young, his family moved to San Juan, which has since become a part of metropolitan Manila.

Estrada received his primary education at a local Jesuit school called Ateneo de Manila University. After graduating from Ateneo de Manila, he enrolled in engineering courses at the Mapúa Institute of Technology. To his parents’ grave disappointment, Estrada dropped out after three years. He was the only one of his siblings not to receive a college diploma.

Film Career

When Estrada was a young adult, he stumbled upon an acting role and enjoyed the sense of escapism that acting provided him. Quickly proving his acting prowess, he opted to pursue an acting career in lieu of completing his education. His parents strongly opposed to the decision and forbade him to use the family name. Instead, the fledgling actor took the screen name Joseph Estrada, “Estrada” being the Spanish word for “street.” He also gave himself the nickname “Erap,” a Spanish term for “pal” spelled backward.

Over the course of his prolific film career, Estrada has acted the lead role in more than 80 films made in the Philippines, and has also produced more than 70 movies. “I have been a jeepney driver, labor leader, a Communist guerilla,” Estrada said of his many roles, which often entailed playing a poor man seeking justice. He was awarded Best Actor and Best Film awards by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Science (FAMAS) five times each, earning him spots in the FAMAS Hall of Fame in both 1981 and 1984.

Politics

In 1967, Estrada used his popularity with audiences to garner votes in the San Juan mayoral elections. He served as mayor for 17 years, during which time he focused largely on education and health care reform.

In 1987 Estrada became a national politician when he took a seat in the Philippine Senate. During his five-year stint in the Senate, Estrada served as chairman of the Committee on Rural Development and Committee on Cultural Communities, as well as the vice chair of the Committee on Health and Committee on Natural Resources and Ecology.

In 1992 Estrada ran for vice president and won. He retained the position for the next six years. As vice president, Estrada led the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission and was responsible for a number of high-profile criminal arrests.