Jose Marcelo Ejercito (born April 19, 1937), better known as Joseph Ejercito Estrada, served as the 13th Presidentof the Philippines from 1998 until his ouster in the 2001 EDSA Revolution. Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in an acting career spanning 33 years. He leveraged his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as mayor of San Juan for seventeen years, as Senator for one term, then as as Vice President of the Philippines under the administration of President Fidel Ramos. Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of votes separating him from the other challengers, and was sworn into the presidency on June 30, 1998. However, allegations of corruption spawned an impeachment trial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted from power after the trial was aborted. In 2007, he was found guilty of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, but was later granted a pardon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Early into his presidency President Estrada removed all sovereign guarantees which would require the sovereign Filipino people to assume the financial losses of private companies doing business with the government.[4] His programs as president was under the name "Angat-Pinoy 2004". On the day he took office, a new agency in government called the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), which institutionalizes the processes of the Social Reform Agenda (SRA) in order to sustain its gains, Joseph Estrada became its first chairman. The law also mandates the NAPC to enhance the programs, approaches and strategies to strengthen the partnership between government and the basic sectors[9]. In terms of peace and order, President Estrada created the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) with the objective of minimizing, if not totally eradicating, car theft and kidnapping in Metro Manila. With the help of this task force, the Philippine National Police for the first time in history achieved a record-high trust rating of +53 percent.[10]. Panfilo Lacson was its first head. President Estrada also created the Presidential Commission for Mass Housing (PCMH)[11] and with the help of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) provided 190,000 households with housing units [12], construction and improvement of roads and bridges[12], and construction of classrooms[12]. The president also proposed improvements to the curricula to meet both global standards and local needs, and controlled the hiking prices of transportation fair, food and medicine[13]. In 1999, President Estrada signed into law and implemented Republic Act no. 8749, better known as Clean Air Act, which "The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental problems"[14]. Also on September the same year, he issued Executive Order(EO) 151, also known as Farmer’s Trust Fund, which allows the voluntary consolidation of small farm operation into medium and large scale integrated enterprise that can access long-term capital. President Estrada launched the Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo or MAGKASAKA. The DAR forged into joint ventures with private investors into agrarian sector to make FBs competitive[15]. In 2000 he formed the Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council (ITECC) by the virtue of Executive Order No. 264 with the objective to lead the Philippines's ICT industry by providing a clearly defined direction through strong and capable leadershi nternational Relations The Estrada administration upheld the foreign policy thrusts of the Ramos administration, focusing on national security, economic diplomacy, assistance to nationals, and image-building. The Philippines continued to be at the forefront of the regional and multilateral arena. It successfully hosted the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1998 and undertook confidence-building measures with China over South China Sea issue through a meeting in March 1999[18]. President Estrada strengthened bilateral ties with neighboring countries with visits to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.[19] Economy U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines Thomas Hubbard (left) and Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen (center) visit with President Joseph E. Estrada (right) at Malacanang Palace, Philippines, on Aug. 3, 1998 In 1998, the Philippine economy deteriorated again as a result of spill over from the Asian financial crisis, although not as much as other Asian nations, and a wave of natural disasters also dragged the economy down. Growth fell to about -0.6% in 1998 from 5.2% in 1997, but recovered to 3.4% by 1999 and to 4.0% by 2000[21]. The inflation rate came down from 11 percent in January 1999 to just a little over 3 percent by November of the same year. This was in part due to the successful agricultural program Agrikulturang Maka Masa, through which it achieved an output growth of 6 percent, a record high at the time[10]. The peso was 44 to the dollar in 1998 and recovered by 38 to a dollar the following year[22]. The interest rates were 28% in 1998 and came down to 14% by 1999 [22]. President Joseph Estrada attempted to resist protectionist measures, and efforts to continue the reforms begun by the Ramos administration made significant progress. He urged for privatization of Napocor, Philippine National Railways and National Food authority[23]. He also established a socio-economic program called "Angat-Pinoy 2004" pointed out five things for the economy:[24] • • • • • The Gross National Product GNP to grow from 0.1 per cent in 1998 to 6-7 per cent in 2004. Unemployment to decline from 10.1 per cent in 1998 to 6.7-8 per cent. Inflation to slow down from 9.8 per cent in 1998 to 4-5 per cent. The national government’s fiscal balance to improve from a deficit of 1.8 per cent of GNP in 1998 to a surplus of 0.7 per cent of GNP. Finally, export growth to remain strong at 14.5-15.1 per cent. HULING HILING Aking mahal, hindi ko inakala Hindi ko kakayaning pumatak muli ang luha Tuluyang nawala wala akong nagawa Ang pigilin kita hindi ko rin tinangka At hindi na rin ako aasang babalik ka pa Masakit kung iisipin ngunit tanggap ko na Pero sana?sana?..sana? Wag mong ipagkait na isipin kita kahit meron ng kapalit Ako sa puso mo aking sinta Mas mahal ka ba nya kaya pinili mo sya Ngunit kahit ganun ang yong naging desisyon Kahit ang pagtingin mo ay di na nga sa akin nakatuon Huling hiling ko lng wag mo sanang isara Ang naging relasyon wag mong pagkaila sa iba? (sa iba?.) Kahit wala na nga pilitin mang ibalik Wala akong mapapala [Chorus] Ang huling hiling ko lng sana ay ang ala-ala'y wag limutin? Ang huling hiling ko lng sana ay lagi mo akong iisipin?. Ang huling hiling ko lng sana ay muli ikaw ay makapiling? Ang huling hiling ko lng sana ay dinggin mo tong aking awitin' Oh.. I thought our love was forever And we're to die Kung hindi together But things are realy getting colder now Namatay ang bawat tila ngat nawala ang linaw Nagkasagutan, tampuhan, nagkasigawan Hindi malaman kung bakit naghiwalayan But hey I think it's better for the both of us Kesa magdusa tayo bukas at hanggang wakas Alam ko namang makakahanap ka pa ng iba Wag kang mag alala pagkat tinangap ko na Our love won't come a long long way Oh I thought our love would never go away Minahal kita noon magpahanggang ngayon But I guess sa likod na lang makikita ang kahapon This is the last time I ever gonna see Ating tagpuan when the sun sets on the bay Tanging dasal ko lamang bago pa ko makasal Malaman ko man lang kung ako ay minahal oh.. [Repeat chorus] Akala ko panaginip lang ang mga to Ayoko na isipin na ito ay totoo Ipinikit ko aking mga mata Dinilat ko, totoo na pala Sigurado ka na ba sa iyong pasya Na ayaw mo na sa akin dahil mahal mo na siya Ilang beses na akong nabibigo Ilang beses na puso koy nagdugo Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa makita Ang babaeng habang buhay kong makakasama Pero sana mahanap ko na rin Ang babaeng hindi ako paluluhain Simple lang naman ang hinihiling ko Na kahit minsan man lang, isipin mo ako At sana, lagi mong tatandaan Talagang ako sa iyo ay nasaktan Ahh' ikaw ang unang babaeng gumawa na Akoy iwanan at parang hindi naawa Oh, bakit ba? sa akin pa nangyare Pusoy walang alam ano ang pangyayare Nung wala ka. Ikaw ang hinihiling Ngayong wala ka na parang ang hirap hilingin Pero ang hiling sana wag akong kalimutan Kahit binaling sa iba ating sinimulan At ang hiling ko rin sana laging maalala Mga sinabi ko na wag kang mag alala Na kung sino man sa atin unang mawala Ikaw man o ako, andyan lang sa isat isa ahh' MULI Araw - gabi Bakit naaalala ka't Diko malimot - limot ang Sa atin ay nagdaan Kung nagtatampo ka At kailangan bang ganyan Dingging ang dahilan At ako ay pag - bigyan Kailangan ko Ang tunay na pag - ibig mo Dahil tanging ikaw lang ang Pintig ng puso ko Hahayaan mo ba Na maging ganoon na lang Ang isa't - isay Mayro'ng pagdaramdam Bakit di pagbigyang muli Ang ating pagmamahalan Kung mawawala ay Di bat sayang naman Lumipas natin tila Bat kailang lang At kung nagkamali sayo Patawad ang pagsamo ko Tayo na't ulitin Ang pag - ibig natin Muli ikaw lang at ako Kailangan ko Ang tunay na pag - ibig mo Dahil tanging ikaw lang ang Pintig ng puso ko Hahayaan mo ba Na maging ganoon na lang Ang isa't - isay Mayro'ng pagdaramdam Bakit di pagbigyang muli Ang ating pagmamahalan Kung mawawala ay Di bat sayang naman Lumipas natin tila Bat kailang lang At kung nagkamali sayo Patawad ang pagsamo ko Tayo na't ulitin Ang pag - ibig natin Muli ikaw lang at ako HINDI KO KAYA Magmula ng magkalayo, Araw gabi nalulungkot Di matanggap ng damdamin, Na ikaw ay hindi na akin. II Pa'no ang gagawin ko, Nasana'y na sa piling mo Sana'y hindi tayo nagkalayo, Sana'y naririnig mo. Hindi ko kaya ang limutin kita, Masdan mo lumuluha ang aking mga mata Pilitin ko man ako'y nasasaktan, Ang katotohanan ay mahal parin kita III Nasan kaman sana'y dinggin, Puso ko ay muling mahalin Ang nagdaan muling balikan, Muling buhayin ang pagmamahalan ON BENDED KNEES Darling I, I can't explain, Where did we lose our way, 'Girl it's driving me insane. And I know I just need one more chance, To prove my love to you. And if you come back to me, I'll guarantee, That I'll never let you go. CHORUS: Can we go back to the days Our love was strong. Can you tell me how A perfect love goes wrong. Can somebody tell me How to get things back, The way they used to be. Oh God, give me the reason, I'm down on bended knee. B-SECTION: I'll never walk again, Until you come back to me, I'm down on bended knee. So many nights I dream of you. Holding my pillow tight I know, That I don't need to be alone. When I open up my eyes, To face reality, Every moment without you, It seems like eternity. I'm begging you, begging you come back to me. REPEAT CHORUS. MIKE: Baby, I'm sorry, Please forgive me for all the wrong I've done. Please come back home girl. I know you put all your trust in me, I'm sorry I let you down. Please forgive me. I'm gonna swallow my pride, Say I'm sorry, Stop pointing fingers, The blame is on me. I want a new life, And I want it with you. If you feel the same, Don't ever let it go. You gotta believe in the spirit of love, It will heal all things, Won't hurt any more. No I don't believe our love's terminal. I'm down on my knees, Begging you please, Come home. Wanna build a new life, Just you and me. Gonna make you my wife, Raise a family. Let`s not bring the past back anymore PARTING TIME I remember the days When you're here with me Those laughter and tears We shared for years Mem'ries that we had For so long it's me and you Now you're gone away You left me all alone Go on, do what you want But please don't leave me You'll break my heart Hey, what should I do Babe, I'm missin' you Please don't disappear These are the words that you should hear Time and time again I wish that you were here I don't wanna lose you girl I need you back to me I don't wanna lose you Baby can't you see Oh, I need you You've been a part of me I wish someday you'll be back home 'Cause I really miss you Darling, please come home I wish someday you'll be back home 'Cause I really miss you Darling, please come home JUST ONCE THE PAST I was wrong when I hurt you But did you have to hurt me too Did you think revenge will make it better? I don`t care about the past I just want our love to last There`s a way to bring us back together I must forgive you You must forgive me too If we wanna try to put things back the way they used to be `Cause there`s no sense in going over and over The same things as before So let`s not bring the past up anymore Out of all the good we had You only keep track of the bad Though you knew I never really loved her Didn`t anyone tell you yet That to forgive is to forget How can you be mad if you don`t remember I must forgive you And you must forgive me too It`s the only thing that`s left that we haven`t try to do One thing that I`m sure will work That we haven`t tried before I did my best But I guess my best wasn't good enough 'Cause here we are back where we were before Seems nothing ever changes We're back to being strangers Wondering if we oughta stay Or head on out the door Just once can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong? Why we never last for very long What are we doing wrong? Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right? Make the magic last for more than just one night If we could just get to it I know we could break through it I gave my all But I think my all may have been too much 'Cause Lord knows we're not getting anywhere Seems we're always blowing whatever we've got going And seems at times with all we've got We haven't got a prayer Just once can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong? Why the good times never last for very long What are we doing wrong? Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right? And make the magic last for more than just one night If we could just get to it I know we could break through it Just once I want to understand Why it always come back to good-bye Why can't we get ourselves in hand? And admit to one another That we're no good with out the other Take the best and make it better Find a way to stay together Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right? Make the magic last for more than just one night I know we can break through it If we could just get to it Just once If we could get to it Just Once...