Erap para sa mahirap

The slogan that propelled President Joseph Estrada to the top political position in the Philippines can be translated as "Estrada for the poor". Not only was Estrada a shccessful and popular movie actor, he was also a political overlord of his city, from which position he laumched a staggering juggernaut which no one could oppose or block. He parlayed this drawing power to a seat in the Philippine Senate, the Vice-presidency and ultimately the Presidency of the Republic of the Philippines. He is percieved to be not just a champion but also a member of the masses, a mystique he cultivated by speaking broken English in his movies and shrewdly exploited by his Promotion handlers. Couple this with the fact that he dropped out of school to pursue his career as an actor, never mind that the school he left was the premier elite school of the country and the as Champion of the Masses is complete.

He sported a wristand and always wore his signature jacket as befitting a tough guy and not a politician. He looked more a hoodlum with a heart for the poor than a statesman with a plan to lead his country to prosperity. That he was swept into power with an unprecedented majority is beyond question or scrutiny. That he was ousted from power so soon after his electon is also without question when his chief cohort Chavit Singson accused him of being more a crime boss running organized gambling than a President tending to the welfare of his people.A multifaceted personality, Erap as he is fondly called by his friends and admirers also has a Casanova reputation which enhances his Macho image.