Erap

Erap is a common nickname for Joseph Ejercito Estrada, a Filipino actor and politician who served as the 13th President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. Born Jose Marcelo Ejercito on April 19, 1937, he rose to fame as a film actor, known for his action roles and for often portraying the common man. He adopted the screen name Joseph Estrada and later Joseph Ejercito.

Estrada entered politics in the 1960s, serving as mayor of San Juan for several terms. He was then elected as a Senator and later as Vice President of the Philippines in 1992 under President Fidel V. Ramos. In 1998, he ran for president and won by a significant margin, campaigning on a platform of fighting corruption and poverty.

His presidency was marked by a number of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the poor, but it was also plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. In 2000, Estrada was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of plunder. The impeachment trial in the Senate ended in a deadlock, leading to widespread public protests known as EDSA II. In January 2001, Estrada was removed from office and was subsequently arrested and charged with plunder. He was later granted an absolute pardon by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

After his presidency, Estrada remained active in politics. He ran for president again in 2010 but was defeated by Benigno Aquino III. In 2013, he was elected Mayor of Manila and served until 2019. His political career, particularly his presidency, remains a significant and often debated period in Philippine history.