HE MAY HAVE inherited the thespic genes of his forebears, but formerly screennamed ER Ejercito — now addressed as Jeorge Estregan, Jr. — falls short in many aspects both as an actor and as a local leader.
Noong aktibo pa si ER sa showbiz, wala kaming natatandaan na isa man sa kanyang mga pinagkontrabida-hang pelikula ever made a mark. His villain roles — reinforced by soot (uling) make-up — have amounted to nothing but lunatic portrayals that show no redemption.
ER’s screen image, however, proved to be an advantage. Naluklok siya sa pulitika kahit ang tanging puhunan lang naman niya is his family background — political, that is. ER rode on his uncle Erap’s political success which he (Erap) owes to showbiz. Ang naturang tradisyon ding ‘yon ang nagbigay-daan sa karera ng ngayo’y senador na si Jinggoy.
But on his own, it was a no-sweat uphill climb tungo sa direksiyong tinahak ni ER. No one can dare say — not even ER’s army of supporters — that he rose to become Laguna Governor nang hindi niya kinasangkapan ang kanyang mga kaanak to his full political advantage.
Lalung-lalong basang-basa (read: readable) ang muling pagtawid ni ER sa linya ng showbiz, himself both as producer and major star of his movies. Clearly, such cinematic materials are designed to further his political ambition at a time when not even a single national leader has created so much noise para paghandaan ang 2013 elections.
Ang nakakatawa pa sa mga ipinagbabanduhang pelikula ni ER, they are exact opposites in terms of the main protagonists’ character. On one hand, isang pambansang pigura sa ating kasaysayan ang kanyang binibigyang-buhay; on the other, isang umano’y pusakal naman ang kanyang ginagampanang papel.
PATUNAY LANG NA sa lebel lang ng kanilang propesyon ang intri-gang namamagitan sa kanila ay ang mahaba-habang phone conversation nina Joey de Leon at Willie Revillame, ilang araw nang makabalik ang huli sa kanyang Macau trip with his program staff.
It was Lolit Solis who brokered the phone talk, na siyang nagsilbing messenger ni Wiliie para iabot ang pasalubong nitong black Louis Vuitton bag. Originally, Willie’s plan was to invite Tito Joey to the trip aboard his Wil Fly 30-seater aircraft kasama rin si ‘Nay Lolit and two other reporter-friends.
Dala ng pagka-busy, Tito Joey missed what could have been a more heartwarming bonding with Willie, na alam naman nating nagkaroon noon ng tensiyon. But it’s water under the bridge, what’s important is that both gentlemen have renewed their friendly ties.
Back to Willie’s pasalubong, itinaon ni ‘Nay Lolit na sa kanyang opening spiels sa Startalk TX ianunsiyo ‘yon, hindi pa nakuntento’y binibitbit niya ang paper bag na naglalaman ng LV bag encased in a black box patungo sa set na kinauupuan ni Tito Joey.
When the show paused for a gap ay nakiusyuso kami sa natu-rang pasalubong, na buong ingat na inilalabas ni Tito Joey mula sa paper bag. Parang baraha lang ‘yon na marahang pinipintahan ni Tito Joey hanggang tumambad sa kanya ang kapiraso ng kabuuan nito.
“Kinilabutan ako, Lolit,” bungad ni Tito Joey na hindi iniaalis ang tingin sa itim na LV bag. Curious, we asked JDL why he felt sudden chills running down his spine. “Meron kasi akong ganito na maliit lang, may strap siya na isinasabit ko (across his body) sa tuwing bumibiyahe ako. ‘Eto ang malaking version ng bag kong ‘yon,” aniya.
For sure, hindi ito alam ni Willie, pero paano nitong napulsuhan ang pasalubong na hindi lang swak sa panlasa ng kanyang pinagbigyan, kundi may kunek pa sa gamit nito?
Sabi namin sa tila spellbound na si Tito Joey: “At least po, may ‘tatay’ na ang ‘anak’ (na bag).”
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
