Erap cooks for mom her favorite dish during visit

Former President Joseph Estrada had a warm reunion with his 102-year-old mother, Doña Mary Ejercito, at her house in North Greenhills, San Juan, yesterday.

Estrada, 69, accompanied by his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito, brought his favorite lechon and fresh vegetables harvested from the resthouse in Tanay, Rizal where he is under detention.

The deposed president was flown by helicopter to a private helipad along Ortigas Avenue then driven, escorted by a convoy of police vehicles, to his mother’s house on 82 Kennedy Street.

Arriving at 9:15 a.m., Estrada was welcomed by his mother who called his name twice to the delight of the former president. The Estrada matriarch also recognized her grandsons, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, who joined relatives in welcoming their father.

"His mother has been bedridden for a long time but she appears lively after seeing him. Even her skin tone seems to have improved," said Estrada’s spokesman Ferdie Ramos.

Senator Estrada told reporters that his grandmother was so happy to see the former president.

Estrada did not answer questions from reporters, going straight to the kitchen where he cooked pinangat na kanduli sa alagaw, a favorite dish of his mother. Ramos said the fresh kanduli was caught in Laguna de Bay.

Ramos added that Estrada even sang for his mother while he was cooking.

"He (Estrada) is just complying with the orders of the court not to grant any media interviews while he is visiting his mother. This is not his last visit after all. He values his time with his mother more," said Ramos.

He said that last Sunday night, Jesse Ejercito, the former president’s youngest brother, told their mother about the one-day visit. This apparently invigorated the ailing Estrada matriarch.

"When she learned that he will come over for a visit, she began to eat. The whole family was surprised. It is surprising that she is lucid," Ramos said.

While Estrada was inside his mother’s house, heavily-armed members of the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) were posted around the mansion.

Estrada last saw his mother during her 102nd birthday last May. That birthday party was hosted by Estrada at his mansion along Polk Street in the same subdivision.

The former president was supposed to leave his resthouse at 8 a.m. but his departure was delayed because the Air Transportation Office was late issuing the authorization for the helicopter’s flight.

Although the court had ordered the police to screen all of Estrada’s visitors, Ramos said opposition leaders managed to pass through the police checkpoint and meet Estrada.

Among those who managed to get an audience with Estrada were Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Sen. Alfredo Lim, former senators Tito Sotto, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Francisco Tatad. Also seen visiting Estrada were members of his Cabinet, including Jose Pardo and Benjamin Diokno.