TCardona
10-08-2003, 08:05 AM
FPJ almost sure of running, says Estrada's son
Posted: 9:51 PM (Manila Time) | Oct. 07, 2003
By Leah C. Salterio
Inquirer News Service
ACTION king Fernando Poe Jr. is "60 percent sure to run for president in the 2004 elections," his godson, former San Juan Mayor Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and the eldest son of FPJ's old friend, deposed President Joseph Estrada, told Inquirer Entertainment last Monday night.
Jinggoy, however, also told a group of friends from show biz that FPJ is "90 percent sure" to run next year, said a source close to Estrada's son. FPJ is set to announce his political plans in "two weeks," the source added.
FPJ has just returned from a month-long trip to the United States where he visited an ailing aunt, the only living relative of his mother.
"Ninong Ronnie visits my dad at Veterans," Jinggoy told Inquirer Entertainment. "Even before FPJ left for the States, he and my dad were already having exploratory talks. The clamor of the people for FPJ to run will really make him decide. FPJ is more popular than my dad. My dad never beat FPJ in the box office."
Last Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced her decision to run again in the May 2004 elections, taking back her word last May that she would no longer seek reelection.
"Patay si GMA kapag tumakbo si FPJ," Jinggoy said. "It was a good thing she has already announced her plan to run next year. At least the opposition can easily consolidate its forces. We have a lot of presidential candidates who can beat GMA. (Eduardo) Danding Cojuangco and (Panfilo) Ping Lacson are (also) there. It will be an opposition year next year."
Jinggoy is the vice president of the opposition's political party, Partido ng Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), with Boy Morales as president. They were both appointed by Jinggoy's father.
Jinggoy believes that an FPJ-Loren (Legarda) tandem in May 2004 will be "unbeatable." He added that if FPJ runs for president, business magnate Danding Cojuangco will have to back out because they cannot compete with each other.
"They are good friends," Jinggoy said of his two godfathers. "FPJ has been a San Miguel (beer) boy for so many years now."
Jinggoy, who grew up living and breathing politics, is himself planning to run again for mayor of San Juan in 2004. He said he hopes he will not run against his half-brother, incumbent San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, because they are not on speaking terms.
"Whether they like it or not, I will run again in San Juan," Jinggoy said. "I think I will win (again) in San Juan. I served there as vice mayor for four years and mayor for nine years.
"I miss politics," he added. "I want to serve the people again. I want to continue my projects and go back to where I belong."
In a survey on senatorial candidates, Jinggoy emerged as No. 12, "without (me) declaring anything or even going around."
"If my ranking in the senatorial survey improves in the coming months, I will run for the Senate," Jinggoy said.
Humbling experience
He said his mother, Senator Luisa Ejercito, and he could work together in the Senate since her term will not expire until 2007.
Jinggoy admitted he is "jobless" these days, after two years of being detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center with his father, who is still there. Jinggoy was released last March 7.
He said that two years of being jailed has been a humbling experience for him. He became closer to his dad and even to the Lord, he said.
"There was no one else to turn to except the Lord," he said. "Everyday, when all the visitors had left, only my dad and I were left in the room. For a time, I thought it was the end of the world for us. When the Supreme Court decided that the plunder law was constitutional and we were not allowed to post bail, I felt that the world collapsed on us."
He said he drew strength from his family: his mom Loi, his wife Precy and their children, Janella, 13; Jolo, 10, and Julian, 8.
Jinggoy is delighted that he was able to return to making movies. He has a new one, a comedy, "Utang ng Ama," which his outfit, Maverick Films, produced.
He stars in "Utang ng Ama" with Para?aque Mayor Joey Marquez, who thought of the film's title.
"Utang ng Ama" also marks Joey's return to screen acting after not making any movie for nine years.
"The movie was like therapy for me," said Jinggoy, whose previous movie was "Walang Iwanan," with Judy Ann Santos, shown more than two years ago. "Even when I was still in detention, I was thinking about making a movie. I enjoyed doing this one.
"This is the first time I'm doing a straight comedy role," he added. "Comedy is easier and lighter than action. Action needs much preparation. Besides, very few action movies make money these days. During these hard times, people need to laugh, not to cry."
Jinggoy and Joey, who have opposing political affiliations, surprised many people, including show biz insiders, when they agreed to work together in a movie.
"We never discussed politics on the set," Jinggoy said. "We didn't even talk about my scuffle with Richard (Gomez). But when the Kris-Joey issue erupted, I talked to both of them. I even acted as a bridge, relaying messages from Joey to Kris, and vice versa. I cannot take sides because they're both my friends."
"Utang ng Ama" is directed by Tony Reyes, who was also the director of the Vic Sotto fantasy-comedy starrer, "Lastikman," the top-grossing entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) last December. The script of "Utang ng Ama" was written by Mel del Rosario, who also wrote Ai-Ai de las Alas' recent box office hit, "Tanging Ina."
"Utang ng Ama" features cameos by big stars such as Rudy Fernandez, Philip Salvador, Lorna Tolentino, Cesar Montano, Ronnie Ricketts, Jay Manalo, Bayani Agbayani and Vhong Navarro. The movie will have a premiere on Oct. 20 at SM Megamall. Regular theater run is on Oct. 22.
Jinggoy said the box-office results of "Utang ng Ama" would determine the fate of Maverick Films and his plan to produce more movies in the future.
"The outfit used to make money, but we recently retrenched a lot of employees," he admitted. "It will really depend on the outcome of 'Utang ng Ama' if we will close shop or not."
Do you think "Panday" will run for prexy?
Please Vote! :) (on the poll that is)
Posted: 9:51 PM (Manila Time) | Oct. 07, 2003
By Leah C. Salterio
Inquirer News Service
ACTION king Fernando Poe Jr. is "60 percent sure to run for president in the 2004 elections," his godson, former San Juan Mayor Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and the eldest son of FPJ's old friend, deposed President Joseph Estrada, told Inquirer Entertainment last Monday night.
Jinggoy, however, also told a group of friends from show biz that FPJ is "90 percent sure" to run next year, said a source close to Estrada's son. FPJ is set to announce his political plans in "two weeks," the source added.
FPJ has just returned from a month-long trip to the United States where he visited an ailing aunt, the only living relative of his mother.
"Ninong Ronnie visits my dad at Veterans," Jinggoy told Inquirer Entertainment. "Even before FPJ left for the States, he and my dad were already having exploratory talks. The clamor of the people for FPJ to run will really make him decide. FPJ is more popular than my dad. My dad never beat FPJ in the box office."
Last Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced her decision to run again in the May 2004 elections, taking back her word last May that she would no longer seek reelection.
"Patay si GMA kapag tumakbo si FPJ," Jinggoy said. "It was a good thing she has already announced her plan to run next year. At least the opposition can easily consolidate its forces. We have a lot of presidential candidates who can beat GMA. (Eduardo) Danding Cojuangco and (Panfilo) Ping Lacson are (also) there. It will be an opposition year next year."
Jinggoy is the vice president of the opposition's political party, Partido ng Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), with Boy Morales as president. They were both appointed by Jinggoy's father.
Jinggoy believes that an FPJ-Loren (Legarda) tandem in May 2004 will be "unbeatable." He added that if FPJ runs for president, business magnate Danding Cojuangco will have to back out because they cannot compete with each other.
"They are good friends," Jinggoy said of his two godfathers. "FPJ has been a San Miguel (beer) boy for so many years now."
Jinggoy, who grew up living and breathing politics, is himself planning to run again for mayor of San Juan in 2004. He said he hopes he will not run against his half-brother, incumbent San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, because they are not on speaking terms.
"Whether they like it or not, I will run again in San Juan," Jinggoy said. "I think I will win (again) in San Juan. I served there as vice mayor for four years and mayor for nine years.
"I miss politics," he added. "I want to serve the people again. I want to continue my projects and go back to where I belong."
In a survey on senatorial candidates, Jinggoy emerged as No. 12, "without (me) declaring anything or even going around."
"If my ranking in the senatorial survey improves in the coming months, I will run for the Senate," Jinggoy said.
Humbling experience
He said his mother, Senator Luisa Ejercito, and he could work together in the Senate since her term will not expire until 2007.
Jinggoy admitted he is "jobless" these days, after two years of being detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center with his father, who is still there. Jinggoy was released last March 7.
He said that two years of being jailed has been a humbling experience for him. He became closer to his dad and even to the Lord, he said.
"There was no one else to turn to except the Lord," he said. "Everyday, when all the visitors had left, only my dad and I were left in the room. For a time, I thought it was the end of the world for us. When the Supreme Court decided that the plunder law was constitutional and we were not allowed to post bail, I felt that the world collapsed on us."
He said he drew strength from his family: his mom Loi, his wife Precy and their children, Janella, 13; Jolo, 10, and Julian, 8.
Jinggoy is delighted that he was able to return to making movies. He has a new one, a comedy, "Utang ng Ama," which his outfit, Maverick Films, produced.
He stars in "Utang ng Ama" with Para?aque Mayor Joey Marquez, who thought of the film's title.
"Utang ng Ama" also marks Joey's return to screen acting after not making any movie for nine years.
"The movie was like therapy for me," said Jinggoy, whose previous movie was "Walang Iwanan," with Judy Ann Santos, shown more than two years ago. "Even when I was still in detention, I was thinking about making a movie. I enjoyed doing this one.
"This is the first time I'm doing a straight comedy role," he added. "Comedy is easier and lighter than action. Action needs much preparation. Besides, very few action movies make money these days. During these hard times, people need to laugh, not to cry."
Jinggoy and Joey, who have opposing political affiliations, surprised many people, including show biz insiders, when they agreed to work together in a movie.
"We never discussed politics on the set," Jinggoy said. "We didn't even talk about my scuffle with Richard (Gomez). But when the Kris-Joey issue erupted, I talked to both of them. I even acted as a bridge, relaying messages from Joey to Kris, and vice versa. I cannot take sides because they're both my friends."
"Utang ng Ama" is directed by Tony Reyes, who was also the director of the Vic Sotto fantasy-comedy starrer, "Lastikman," the top-grossing entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) last December. The script of "Utang ng Ama" was written by Mel del Rosario, who also wrote Ai-Ai de las Alas' recent box office hit, "Tanging Ina."
"Utang ng Ama" features cameos by big stars such as Rudy Fernandez, Philip Salvador, Lorna Tolentino, Cesar Montano, Ronnie Ricketts, Jay Manalo, Bayani Agbayani and Vhong Navarro. The movie will have a premiere on Oct. 20 at SM Megamall. Regular theater run is on Oct. 22.
Jinggoy said the box-office results of "Utang ng Ama" would determine the fate of Maverick Films and his plan to produce more movies in the future.
"The outfit used to make money, but we recently retrenched a lot of employees," he admitted. "It will really depend on the outcome of 'Utang ng Ama' if we will close shop or not."
Do you think "Panday" will run for prexy?
Please Vote! :) (on the poll that is)