Erap builds P30-M museum

More than five years after being ousted from office by a massive street protests, former President Joseph Estrada is putting the finishing touches on his newly constructed P30-million presidential museum and library.

The first-ever presidential library and museum built in the country is nestled on the hilltop of Estrada’s sprawling 19-hectare rest house in Tanay, Rizal, where he has been detained for the past two years while facing charges of plunder.

Despite the freezing of most of his personal bank deposits by the Sandiganbayan while he undergoes trial, Estrada estimated he was able to raise around P30 million to complete construction of the library and museum. He declined to give details of his funding sources.

Visitors to the presidential museum and library will be greeted with, among other sights, a life-sized wax replica of Estrada from his glory days, striking a heroic pose from one of his movies.

"This is the first presidential museum and library that did not come from taxpayers’ money," Estrada told The STAR.

Once completed, the presidential museum and library will be operated by the Estrada Memorial Foundation, which bankrolled the construction of the memorial to the former president whose term was cut short by the EDSA II people power revolt in January 2001.

One of the plunder charges against Estrada involves his Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, through which he allegedly received P200 million in laundered "jueteng payola" from Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, one of its contributors.

But Estrada insists he never received any direct benefits from the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, which he said would be turned over to the government once it closes down as provided for under its articles of incorporation.

Estrada, who is taking the stand now in his own defense as his five-year plunder trial wraps up, plans to inaugurate the presidential museum and library by Aug. 5 this year.

"August 5 is the most memorable date for me because it was the day I took my oath as San Juan mayor when I first became a public official," Estrada said.

Estrada said it was the late American President Ronald Reagan, a former Hollywood actor who also turned to politics, who provided the inspiration for him to build his own presidential museum and library. The former president said Reagan’s success in politics had inspired him to aspire for the highest office in the country.

"If a Hollywood grade-B actor can become a US President, a grade-A Filipino actor like me can do it better," Estrada quipped.

Like Reagan, who bought his own ranch in California, Estrada said he used his first millions in movie earnings to acquire in 1969 his sprawling rest house in Tanay, Rizal at P2 per square meter. The estate is now his place of detention.

Estrada stressed that his own presidential library and museum was completed at no cost to Filipinos, unlike Reagan’s, located in Simi Valley, California, which he said was built and paid for by American taxpayers.

The accompanying photos are some of the featured attractions ay the Tanay library and museum that were provided to The STAR through the courtesy of the Estrada Memorial Foundation.

A life-size replica of a Philippine carabao, in honor of the first law that Estrada authored after he became senator in 1987 (made of white granite and given to Estrada by a former Chinese envoy), stands at the entrance of the museum.

The museum entrance is a glass divider on which Estrada’s favorite quote is written: "What I am now, I owe to the masses. So when I step down, I would like to be known as the President who championed the cause of the masses."

A giant bronze replica of Estrada, in his signature stance with hands in pocket, has yet to be installed at the front yard of the museum. So far, only a tall flagpole of the Philippine flag stands at the center of the complex.

The museum itself features a 65-seater amphitheater which will screen Estrada’s almost 145 movies made while he was a popular actor from 1957 to 1989. The museum walls display photos of Estrada in several of his award-winning movies, including five FAMAS trophies that made him one of the few "Hall of Fame" awardees.

After a brief photographic journey of his movie career, visitors will view pictures charting Estrada’s entry into politics — first as mayor, then senator, then vice president and finally his 1998 election as "The Warrior President," receiving the highest mandate in public office. The four "barong Tagalogs" he wore during each stage of his career are among the featured items.

The "Jeep ni Erap" vehicle that Estrada, his vice presidential running mate Sen. Edgardo Angara and their 12-member senatorial ticket rode in during their short drive from the CCP complex in Roxas Boulevard to the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros upon winning the May 1998 elections will also be displayed.

Estrada’s museum also will feature a diorama called "The Dark Days of Philippine democracy" — said to depict his dramatic, though aborted, impeachment trial that led to his ouster from office, as well as his journey to court and confinement at Camp Crame, Quezon City prior to facing plunder charges.

The tomb that Estrada has prepared for himself is situated at the back of the museum. It is made of black and brown granite materials imported from China.

A wall at the right side of the tomb shows Estrada’s engraved autograph and epitaph: "Walang tutulong sa Pilipino kung hindi kapwa Pilipino (No one else will help a Filipino but his fellow Filipino)." This was Estrada’s message at the end of his public speeches as president. The bronze bust of Estrada’s face has yet to be installed beside the epitaph.

The presidential library, on the other hand, is a three-story structure, equipped with elevator and located just across the museum. Estrada disclosed he would call it the Youth and Leadership Training Library. At this time, the bookshelves are still empty although the furniture is already in place.

Since he is under certain restrictions in his rest house while undergoing trial, Estrada disclosed there would be only simple inauguration rites to be led by his wife, former First Lady now Sen. Dra. Luisa Ejercito, and their immediate family and relatives, including his children from several other mistresses like San Juan Mayor Jayvee Ejercito.

The Estrada Museum is perched on a hilltop that used to serve as a helicopter landing pad for the rest house. The construction started late last year despite vehement objections by government prosecutors led by Special Ombudsman Dennis Villa-Ignacio.

Citing that Estrada is under government custody, Villa-Ignacio complained to the Sandiganbayan special division about the alleged "illegal" construction of the structure inside the Tanay rest house. No action, however, was taken by the anti-graft court on this particular complaint since the questioned structure was being constructed on property owned by Estrada.

The museum is one of several new structures that Estrada had built on his Tanay property. Earlier, the former president built a chapel, and a Western cowboy-style pub in honor of his bosom buddy, the late presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., whom he dubbed "El Rey" (The King) in reference to his reputation as the "King" of Philippine action movies.

Estrada said he would like to see his presidential museum and library opened to the public, especially the Filipino youth whom he would like allow free access to his books and other reading materials in the comfort of a centralized air-conditioned library.

But, to help finance the upkeep and maintenance of the presidential museum and library, Estrada said they would be selling "souvenir" items like his signature wrist band with presidential seal in various colors.