Continuing our coverage on former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, let me now turn your attention over to Erap’s rest house in Tanay, Rizal, 70 km east of Manila. Erap was to have been detained at the neighboring Camp Capinpin of the Philippine Army (due north) during his plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan, but instead he was allowed to be put under “house arrest” at his rest house next door. Erap has been staying there since October 2003.
So what the heck can you find at Erap’s Tanay property? Well, calling it simply a rest house is not quite accurate. If you check out the satellite image in Google Maps, you can see a lot of buildings and other structures in the compound. In the middle of the property is a man-made pond and somewhere is the Erap Museum, which houses Erap’s memorabilia from when he was an actor up to his impeachment trial days. Erap has owned this property since 1969 and apparently he designed it himself. When he dies, Erap wants to be buried in this property. (There’s a marble tomb already prepared.)
I would’ve loved to see a lot of photos of the rest house so I could correlate the structures with the satellite image in Google Maps, but unfortunately, there’s really no nice available resources online. Mr. Akira Liwanag, though, has a nice photo-blog entry about his trip to Erap’s rest house late last year, if you want to learn more. As an exercise, try to spot in Google Maps the location depicted by this picture by Mr. Liwanag. Found it quite easy, didn’t you? 
Download KML file (for Google Earth)
9 people have responsed to “Erap's Tanay Rest House”
So where did he get the money to build such a lavish place? Did he take out big loans or something, guaranteed by his own money?
Rico, well, he did own the property since 1969 and land in them mountains were probably really, really cheap back then (maybe 50c per square meter?). And he was a successful actor.
Touché
I’d like to know how you found this location on the map!
Migs, ah, I have my not-so-secret sources. I already have a plan to for an article explaining how I get my locations. Wait for that.
really everybody knows where he got the money to have this place. that is why there are so many poor people in the philippines because of people like erap!
Jasmine,
Do you know who these “everybody” you are referring to? What does your whatever “everybody knows where he got the money” have anything to do with why there are so many poor people in the Philippines? And where exactly did Erap get his money from to have this property that you claim everybody knows about?
As Eugene said, Erap owned the property since 1969. The property back then was still cheap and he had the means to buy the property and develop it over the years since 1969, as he was a very successful actor. Does your “everybody” know about those facts?
Careful with projections, Jasmine.
Cheers,
m_y
We got our Property, which is very near Erap’s for Php 2.00 per square meter in 1983. So an estimate of 50 Centavos per SQM in 1969 is fairly correct.
I inherited a 3-hectare property in Tanay. We are not rich, for your info,we never got involved in politics, nor have we worked for the government. My mother bought it few years ago at less than a hundred pesos per sqm. Now, I’m selling it at P250/sqm. For those interested to buy.write to joclaves@asia.com
People are really quick on making judgements. Do not blame the rich for others’ misfortunes. Blame it on the government (for lack of education of the poor);the parents(because they did not believe in family planning), and of course….because some people are just lazy to work.