Erap has a new fan. hahaha :)

Some of my previous blog entries related how funny, how tiring, or how exciting are my coverages about Estrada. And after getting an answer from him (addressed to yours truly) about two weeks ago, I finally have a photo with the former president. (Well, not really just us. hehe) :)) Yikee!

Seconds after Pres GMA, thru Press Sec Ignacio Bunye, announced the approval of executive clemency for Estrada on Thursday, the desk editors tasked me to get the reactions of the Estrada family. And I took the assignment by heart. After all, I've been covering Estrada since my day 2 at the job and have since 'bonded' with his family. Jinggoy and JV are my usual interviewees and they admit hating me because I was from INQUIRER.net, whose parent company is Phil Daily Inquirer, which they also blame for the downfall of their father. Still, they were nice. Every quote was a story already. Jinggoy, who was in Geneva for a conference, was unusually nice when I talked to him yesterday.

Today, while waiting for Estrada get down from his resthouse-detention in Tanay, Rizal, I stayed at JV's (but he was very busy, did not even grant interview) office and once in a while went outside the city hall, where hundreds of Erap supporters gathered. It was heartwarming to see all those supporters, and you know that some of them went there not for money. Indeed, Erap was the father of the masses.

It's been a really tiring day (I worked from 8 am to 10 pm! that's not new anyway hehe). I had to (again) engage in a word war wih guards but the coverage was really worth it. :) It was another historic day for me, and of course for the rest of the Filipino people. I now have more to tell my grandchildren later on. ;)

And yes, I would rather talk about my experiences than discuss my take on politics. 'Politics' is such an ugly word. Sure, Estrada and Arroyo both gained from the pardon. I don't care, really. It's nice to be happy. And everyone;s happy. hahaha :)

PS: (photo by John Javellana, who is now an intern of Reuters. Thanks John!) :)