Erap’s annus horribilis - SKETCHES by Ana Marie Pamintuan

And the winner, hands down, of this year’s "kalabasa award" is… ladies and gentlemen, do we want to add to his woes? Why not, since he gave us so much pain this year? Even hawkers of firecrackers are complaining of sales as sluggish as the economy. I’m tempted to say, that’s what you get for voting for this guy, but it won’t help boost firecracker sales. Let’s not add to each other’s misery.

As the millennial year, the Christian Jubilee Year, draws to a close, we can only wonder if Joseph Estrada is regretting the day he bit off more than he could chew and assumed the presidency.

Had he remained a vice president or made another run for the Senate, he would be enjoying another one of his bacchanalian holidays this year. His gifts would be overflowing, his friends wouldn’t be shunning him, he wouldn’t be worrying about his phones being tapped, and he’d be singing "yo-ho-ho and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue" with no carping critics giving a hoot. When he was vice president, Joseph Estrada would show up for the opening prayer of the weekly Cabinet meetings, whisper something to then President Fidel Ramos, then leave immediately. Always. Now President Erap must preside over these boring meetings.

Had he stayed out of Malacañang, his mother wouldn’t be crying during the Christmas season, his son wouldn’t be drinking, and his women wouldn’t be worrying about their mansions and businesses. He could start his working day at 4 p.m. and add more women to his harem without wondering if these would end up in a pastoral letter read in all churches nationwide.

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This was the year President Erap saw beyond the harsh glare of the klieg lights and realized that the greatest performance of his life had bombed at the box office.

The year started with the President vowing to be "more presidential" – whatever that meant. His ratings were hitting abysmal lows, and the Best World Resources mess was hounding his administration as well as scandals involving hot cars and hot sardines.

On Jan. 13 he told foreign correspondents: "What the country and the world will see from here on are clear goals, coherent policies and consistent directions."

Weeks later Aprodicio Laquian tattled about the "midnight Cabinet" and the work ethic (or lack of it) of this President. Laquian got booted out in March. Days later, Perfecto Yasay retired as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

On the President’s 63rd birthday, Air Philippines Flight 541 crashed on Samal Island, killing 131 in the country’s worst aviation disaster. Was that a portent of things to come?

President Erap recovered some of his popularity with his offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. As if to mock him, however, his next major problem also came from Mindanao. Ghalib "Commander Robot" Andang became $20 million richer from a kidnapping spree and to this day remains free, despite a massive offensive in Sulu.

* * *

For Erap it was downhill from there. Chavit Singson, feeling his life and his livelihood threatened, dropped a bombshell that may yet incinerate this administration. Who would have thought Singson would ever turn against his bosom buddy President Erap? Who would have thought the opposition in the House of Representatives would have the numbers to impeach this popular President? Who would have thought we would have Emma Lim, Carmencita Itchon, Clarissa Ocampo?

Like many others I am glad that we have Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. presiding over this impeachment trial. Watching Davide, Filipinos are wondering why we can’t have such a gentleman with that rare combination of brains, integrity, humility, dignity and work ethic to lead the nation. President Erap’s faults are amplified each time we compare him with Davide. How did we ever pick this President? We are all partly to blame for the ascendancy of Joseph Estrada.

Have we learned any lesson here? We must also ask: Has this been a learning experience for President Erap?

All his life Joseph Estrada has enjoyed amazing good luck. Lesser mortals could only wonder if that luck would ever run out. We’ve got our answer now. The Jubilee Year (the Church must see divine providence here), the Year of the Dragon which is supposed to bring great good luck, was President Erap’s annus horribilis.

As a new year approaches, I believe another thought is making him shudder and lose weight. Maybe this isn’t his worst year yet, but just the prelude. For Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the worst is yet to come.