Estrada builds his tomb at spectacular museum

Manila: Former president Joseph Estrada has built his tomb in a 30 million peso (Dh2 million) museum and library on his 19-hectare estate in suburban Rizal, where he has been held under house arrest for a $78 million plunder two years ago, a local paper said.

The tomb, made of black and brown granite materials imported from China, is located at the back of the museum, the Philippine Star said. The museum will be inaugurated by August 5, Estrada said.

The museum features a diorama entitled The Dark Days of Philippine democracy, which depicts his downfall from his impeachment trial, the rallies that were launched by those who were angry at the aborted impeachment trial, and the military-backed street protests that paved the way for his ouster in 2001.

At the entrance is a life-size replica of a Philippine water buffalo, in honour of the first law that he authored as a senator in 1987, when he called for the propagation of the animal that assists Filipino rice planters.

There is a glass divider etched with Estrada's favourite quote: "What I am now, I owe to the masses. So when I step down, I would like to be known as the president who championed the cause of the masses."

Included in the museum is a 65-seater amphitheatre to view the 145 movies that he made from 1957 to 1989.

A fully air-conditioned library features his books and other reading materials.

"This is the first presidential museum and library that did not come from taxpayers' money," Estrada said, adding that the late American President Ronald Reagan, a former actor, inspired him to build the museum and library. But Reagan's museum, located in Simi Valley, California was built and paid for by American taxpayers, said Estrada.

Comparing himself to Reagan, Estrada said: "If a Hollywood grade-B actor can become a US President, a grade-A Filipino actor like me can do it better."

Estrada has scheduled the inauguration of the museum and library by August 5 this year, because "it was the day I took my oath as mayor of [suburban] San Juan, when I first became a public official." The Estrada Memorial Foundation, which bankrolled the construction of the complex, will operate the museum.