A fourth Ejercito in the Senate?

As mayor of San Juan, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito moved out of the shadow of his famous surname and became his own man. Combining the people’s skills of his father, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the business acumen of his mother Guia Gomez (now the mayor of San Juan) and his own managerial skills, JV transformed San Juan in his first five years as mayor into the Local Government Unit with the lowest poverty incidence in 2006 as per the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

Under JV’s watch, San Juan was transformed in 2007 from a municipality into a highly urbanized city. JV says the new city experienced an economic boom, with an outstanding increase in revenues, from P300 million to P1 billion. San Juan was also named by the NSCB as best financially managed LGU in the country and honored by the DILG as the country’s top performing city. It was no surprise that in 2007, six years after he became mayor, JV became one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the year. His father received the same prestigious award in 1972.

A father of two boys Emilio (by former girlfriend Patty Betita) and Julio (by wife Hyacinth Lotuaco), he believes in population control and supports the RH Bill. He humbly says his popularity in surveys for the 2013 senatorial polls is due “50 percent” to Erap and 50 percent “to my own track record.”

He was his father’s victory baby, having been born shortly after his father’s proclamation as Mayor of San Juan in 1969. JV was born the day after Christmas Day, which made his arrival even more precious. Christened Joseph Victor Gomez Ejercito, he grew up believing he was his father’s firstborn and the crown prince of the municipality that was his kingdom for decades.

But JV Ejercito has long accepted and learned to live with the reality that although much loved by the father he adores, he was never Joseph Estrada’s crown prince.

“Dati parang si Chelsea Clinton ako (In the past, I used to be like Chelsea Clinton). I was the only child. I did not know about my other brothers and sisters,” admitted JV to this writer many years ago, reliving the days when his mother Guia was the one presented as the “first lady” of San Juan, and he, the “first son.”

JV is one of the 14 children of former President Estrada, “the sixth or the seventh,” he grins. But for the longest time, he was the youngest child and the reported favorite. But he quickly adjusted to reality and, like his older half-brother Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, followed the political career path of Erap.

JV graduated from the De La Salle University, where he majored in Political Science. He is also a proud alumnus of Xavier School, where he completed his elementary and high school education. He is grateful to Xavier for his ability to speak Mandarin.

“I have always espoused the Jesuit and La Sallian value of humility,” he told a group of women writers at a dinner at the XO46 Heritage Bistro recently, when teased about being both “blue” and “green.”

JV says he originally wanted to be a lawyer, but found his calling in business. Even before he entered government, he was already a successful entrepreneur. He headed his own real estate firm, was the dealer of two Petron gas stations, owned a Jollibee franchise and two Mang Inasal franchises, among others. He and his mother Guia brought Miss Saigon (starring Lea Salonga) to Manila in 2000.

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But since politics runs through his veins, JV ran for mayor of his parents’ beloved San Juan in 2001, the same year his father lost his presidency through what is now known as EDSA Dos. JV’s victory at the polls, albeit in the Ejercito-Estrada bulwark, was a vindication of sorts for his father and the son was proud to have redeemed the family name. And how! JV mobilized both the non-government and business sectors in San Juan and they reciprocated by being the city’s engine of growth.

As representative of San Juan City in Congress, JV filed a total of 144 House bills and three House resolutions in his first two years in office. The bills he filed include the requiring of the reaching of human rights in all public and private schools; providing for free college education (otherwise known as the Regional Subsidized College Education Program of 2010); creating a National Student Loan Board; promoting the welfare of and providing protection to journalists and ensuring that every Filipino is granted with basic health care services.

“One of my favorite projects is putting up a state university. Since my advocacy is to produce as many college grads per family to uplift their standard of living,” JV reveals.

JV was recently named the ninth top prolific lawmaker in the 15th Congress by the House of Representatives’ Bills and Index department. He was also named one of the 15 Most Outstanding Congressmen by Congress Magazine. He was also recognized by the National Press Club for his advocacy for the protection of journalists.

He is now running for senator in the 2013 polls, buoyed by his showing in the surveys.

After his father Joseph Ejercito Estrada, former First Lady Sen. Luisa Ejercito and his half-brother Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada, JV will be the fourth Ejercito to have been elected to the Senate if he wins.

JV concluded our sumptuous dinner of Filipino specialties with an Erap joke.

He says his father, who has natural jet black hair even in his seventies and a clean bill of health despite his known vices, told his doctor recently he only wanted to live till 99 (his mother Mary lived to be 100+).

“Why 99 only?” his doctor asked him.

“Because I don’t want to end up with two century eggs!” quipped Erap.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)