EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
Joseph Ejército Estrada was born on April 19, 1937 in Tondo, an urban district of Manila. His family later moved to the wealthy suburb of San Juan.He belonged to an upper-middle-class family, and was the eighth of ten children of Emilio Ejército and his wife, María Marcelo. He was expelled during his primary studies at the Ateneo de Manila University and subsequently enrolled in an engineering course at the Mapúa Institute of Technology in an effort to please his father, but dropped out.
In his twenties, he began a career as a drama actor. He adopted the stage name "Joseph Estrada", as his mother objected to his chosen career and his decision to quit schooling. He also acquired the nickname "Erap" (a play on the Tagalog slang "pare", meaning 'buddy') from his friend, fellow actor Fernando Poe, Jr..
In his twenties, he began a career as a drama actor. He adopted the stage name "Joseph Estrada", as his mother objected to his chosen career and his decision to quit schooling. He also acquired the nickname "Erap" (a play on the Tagalog slang "pare", meaning 'buddy') from his friend, fellow actor Fernando Poe, Jr..