Lunch with former President Estrada

Upon the invitation of the family, I sat with the former president for lunch at his North Greenhills residence on Sunday. I arrived at 12:15 p.m., and after clearing the medical safety protocol, proceeded to the dining table where President Erap was seated alone. I was informed that all guests are given antigen tests and have to pass through a fog sanitizer before meeting with the former president.

Food was aplenty, and there was his favorite lechon de leche. As usual, the food was excellent. Erap, as he is fondly called by friends, was his usual self: ebullient, witty and carefree. For someone who almost lost his life to Covid-19 just a few weeks ago, he didn't show any trace of his near-death experience — he was intubated and spent a week or two in the intensive care unit (ICU). He was vibrant, lively, full of laughter. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that he had not been hospitalized and spent several weeks in ICU.