Why JV didn’t join showbiz

MANILA, Philippines - Given his family background, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada could have easily entered showbiz and starred in a number of movies. After all, he is the son of former Pres. Joseph Ejercito Estrada, one of the greatest Filipino movie stars of all time, and San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez, a well-known actress in the 1960s.

JV could have joined child star Niño Muhlach had he decided to enter showbiz. But the San Juan solon admitted in previous television interviews that acting is not his forte.

“First of all, I was shy when I was a kid. Second, honestly, hindi ako artistahin kaya hayaan nalang natin sa mga artistahin ang showbiz,” he told Boy Abunda when he recently guested on ABS-CBN’s The Bottomline.

He may not have made a career out of acting, but the San Juan solon made good use of his entrepreneurial skills and succeeded in business ventures. Aside from inheriting his mother’s business acumen, JV attributes his accomplishments in the business world to his passion for the field as well as the training he received from Xavier School. 

“I have always wanted to become a businessman. I went into business dahil doon ako nakalinya,” said JV. 

Before he entered politics, JV was able to put  up a number of successful business ventures. “I was into construction and put up fast-food restaurants.”

His entrepreneurial skills benefited the city of San Juan where he served as its chief executive for three terms. Under his watch, the municipality was able to increase its revenues to P1 billion, from P300 million in six years. 

San Juan was also cited by the Commission on Audit (COA) as the municipality with the highest gross income, cash in bank, and placed second with the highest income and current assets, and recognized by the Commission on Audit as the best fiscally-managed municipality in the Philippines.

Due to JV’s sound financial management, San Juan was the only local government unit in the country to be given an “AA” credit rating in 2001-2003 by the Local Government Unit Guaranty Corporation.