Estrada, Anwar reminisce their past during dinner party

MANILA, Philippines - Will Joseph Estrada and Anwar Ibrahim make a political comeback? The dinner hosted by former president Estrada for visiting former Malaysian deputy prime minister at his house in Greenhills, San Juan Friday night dissolved into a musical reverie and ended with the two former leaders trying to outsing each other. “Estrada sang ‘Dahil Sa’Yo,’ and then Prime Minister Anwar replied with his version of ‘It’s Now or Never,’" said Margaux Salcedo, spokesperson of the former president. The dinner, which was attended also by former president Corazon Aquino, lasted for about five hours. Mrs Aquino, who is battling colon cancer, left the dinner party at around 10 p.m., Salcedo added. Salcedo said Mrs Aquino had her bonding moment with Anwar’s wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah, who has been leading the opposition movement in Malaysia. Estrada in a statement earlier described the dinner as, "a coming together of icons of democracy." The Estrada-Anwar friendship started when the former Philippine president was just vice president while Anwar was then deputy prime minister. When Anwar was jailed for alleged corruption charges in 1999, Estrada immediately expressed support for the beleaguered Malaysian leader. The other guests were: Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Sen. Loi Ejercito, Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Sen. Sergio Osmeña, former secretaries Jose Pardo, Benjamin Diokno, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Sharif Kabunsuan Rep. Didagen Dilangalen and former Senator Santanina Rasul. The occasion was an elaborate fine dining experience catered by French Corner Chef Billy King but the mood was very casual and pleasant, according to Salcedo. She said the guests feasted on lamb, roast beef, sea bass, chicken and lobsters. Salcedo said the discussion of the two former leaders was very light as they reminisced their past. “Nagkakatuwaan sila kasi nakulong si president Erap, nakulong din si Mr Anwar. Tapos pareho na rin wala sila (sa politics)," she said. (They had so much fun because they were both jailed and the two are no longer in politics.) “Now yun wife ni Anwar ang leader ng opposition sa Malaysia and they hoping na magkaroon ng malaking comeback si Anwar kaya nagbibiruan sila kung president Estrada mag-come back din," Salcedo said. (Now Anwar’s wife is leading the opposition in Malaysia and they are now hoping that Anwar would have a political comeback. Then Estrada was also taunted to make a comeback.) Anwar and his wife are set to leave Saturday for Malaysia. - GMANews.TV