PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT ELECT ESTRADA TOURS PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

Описание: (5 Jun 1998) English/Nat

The Philippines' newly-elected President Joseph Estrada has been given a guided tour of the Presidential Palace where he will soon be living.

His guide was current President Fidel Ramos who will hand over to him on June 30th.

The transfer of power has been going smoothly so far despite predictions of resistance from Ramos' camp.

The Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila's suburb of San Miguel will soon be the Estrada's new home.

Though he never lived in the palace, former President Fidel Ramos was there on Thursday to greet the Philippines' newly-elected President Joseph Estrada, his wife, Loi Ejercito and their two children.

Estrada was given a guided tour of the palace and will be the first President since Ferdinand Marcos to live there.

When Marcos was overthrown in 1986, the palace was turned into a museum to show his family's opulent lifestyle.

Corazon Aquino, who came to power by a peaceful revolution that toppled the 20-year Marcos dictatorship, occupied a house across the street.

Ramos also lived there when he succeeded Aquino.

The palace was built in the early 1800s for the Spanish Governor-General when the country was still under Spanish colonial rule.

After the Philippines gained independence from Spain in 1898, it became the official residence of presidents.

Estrada seemed pleased with his new surroundings.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Questions: How's the tour so far, sir?
Answer: So far so good. I didn't know that President Ramos has completed all the libraries of the lives of all the Presidents.
Question: Are you looking forward to staying here, sir?
Answer: Maybe in the guest house."
SUPER CAPTION: Joseph Estrada, Philippines President-elect

Estrada has said he will live in Malacanang only six months a year, splitting the rest of the time between the two other major regions of the country to reach out to the people.

He formally takes his oath of office as the 13th president of the country on June 30th.

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