Erap Lakbay Pasasalamat caravan goes to Pampanga, Pangasinan today

MANILA, Philippines – Pardoned former President Joseph Estrada will continue today his “Lakbay Pasasalamat” caravan in Pampanga and Pangasinan.

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada said his first stop will be the ETA-Economic Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) resettlement in Angeles City, Pampanga where his wife, former Senator Luisa “Loi” Ejercito, will lead a medical mission, to be followed by a visit to the City Hall of Angeles City.

“I will visit the people there to thank them. I won there when I ran for senator, vice president and president in 1998,” Estrada said.

Estrada is also expected to join the local officials of Angeles City for lunch at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

At 1 p.m., the former President’s group will proceed to the Urdaneta public market in Pangasinan to a lead a mini-rally.

Estrada said he will also visit the farm of former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, sister of former President Fidel Ramos, in Pangasinan, where he will meet with around 100 farmers.

Meanwhile, Estrada shared that he will start shooting his comedy film with comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas this April, although he has yet to receive the script of the movie under Star Cinema Productions.

“I have not yet read the script, but the shooting will start in April this year,” Estrada said.

“I decided to do a comedy movie to entertain our poor countrymen. There are many Filipinos who are suffering from poverty, that is why I believe that we need to entertain them through a comedy movie,” Estrada earlier said.

De las Alas was quoted in movie and television interviews saying that she is looking forward to have a “kissing scene” with the bemoustached former President.

The film’s target showing date is the middle of the year, according to Estrada.

Star Cinema Productions is part of the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN network of television and radio stations.

Estrada’s acting career became his springboard to fame and power.

Estrada, now 70, gained fame in the movies playing roles as a fast-punching tough guy defending the poor and the oppressed.

He won five best actor awards, made 166 films during his 26-year acting career and served his townmates in San Juan as mayor for more than 20 years before becoming a senator, vice president and then president in 1998.

Among Estrada’s blockbuster movies are Asiong Salonga, which he did in 1960 and Kumander Alibasbas in 1981.