Girlie Javier Ejercito (born Girlie Yulatic Javier,[1] April 2, 1969 – November 3, 2024), known professionally as Maita Sanchez, was a Filipino politician and actress. She served as the mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna, for nine years, from 2010 until 2019.[2][3][4]
Maita Javier Ejercito | |
|---|---|
| Vice Mayor of Pagsanjan | |
| In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Mayor | Peter Casius Trinidad |
| Preceded by | Peter Casius Trinidad |
| Succeeded by | Terryl Gamit–Talabong |
| President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Laguna Chapter | |
| In office July 5, 2010 – July 4, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ariel Magcalas (until June 30, 2010) |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Carolino |
| Mayor of Pagsanjan | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019 | |
| Vice Mayor |
|
| Preceded by | E. R. Ejercito |
| Succeeded by | Peter Casius Trinidad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Girlie Yulatic Javier[1] April 2, 1969 Negros Occidental |
| Died | November 3, 2024 (aged 55) Quezon City, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | PFP (2018–2024) |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Politician, actress |
Career
editJavier-Ejercito was involved in the entertainment industry before switching to politics. She had an acting career under the name Maita Sanchez.[5] Her political career began with her election as mayor of Pagsanjan, a position she held for nine years until 2019.[5][6]
In the 2010 elections, she successfully ran for mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna, succeeding her term-limited husband E. R. Ejercito, who successfully ran for governor of Laguna. She entered the political scene as part of a broader trend of celebrities seeking local and national government positions.[7][8]
In 2013, Javier-Ejercito faced scrutiny from the COMELEC regarding her campaign expenditures during her bid for a second term as mayor of Pagsanjan. The campaign spending limit for mayoralty candidates in Pagsanjan, based on its voting population of 22,584, was set at ₱67,752 (equivalent to ₱85,053 in 2021). Her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) revealed that she spent a total of ₱80,160.31 (equivalent to ₱100,630 in 2021) during her campaign, exceeding the legal spending cap by ₱12,408.31 (equivalent to ₱15,577 in 2021).[9]
Following her term as mayor, she was elected vice mayor of Pagsanjan in May 2019.[6] In the May 2022 elections, she announced her candidacy for mayor of Pagsanjan once again and subsequently lost.[6][10][5] According to her husband, E. R. Ejercito, she was supposed to run for vice mayor of Pagsanjan in 2025, but did not file her candidacy while hospitalized due to endometrial cancer.[11]
Personal life
editJavier-Ejercito was the wife of former Laguna Governor, E. R. Ejercito.[3][4] She experienced multiple miscarriages.[12] They have eight children: Emilio Ramon IV (Eric), John Paul (Jet), Jorge Antonio Genaro (Jerico), Maria Guadalupe (Jhulia), Maria Angelica Victoria (died in 2004), an unnamed child (died in 2010), Diego, and Gabriela.[13][14] Three of their children also entered politics: Jerico unsuccessfully ran for vice governor of Laguna in 2022; Jhulia is a candidate for the Laguna Provincial Board from the 4th district in 2025; and Jet is running for councilor in Pagsanjan in 2025.[11]
Illness and death
editIn 2015, Javier-Ejercito was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, which doctors at St. Luke's Medical Center – Quezon City attributed it primarily to stress, as she had no family history of cancer. According to her husband, E. R. Ejercito, her condition may have been triggered by stress after he was unseated as Laguna governor in 2014 due to alleged overspending during the campaign for the 2013 midterm elections. She underwent treatment in 2017 and was declared cancer-free. However, she was later diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial cancer in 2023, which Ejercito believed was exacerbated by the stress caused by her unsuccessful 2022 run for Pagsanjan mayor. She was confined multiple times since then, with her final confinement beginning in July 2024.[11]
She died at St. Luke's Medical Center – Quezon City, on November 3, 2024 at 12:01 am PHT, at the age of 55.[15][16][17] Her wake was held at their residence, the Don Porong Ejercito 1912 Ancestral Mansion, in Pagsanjan from November 3 to 9,[18] followed by a funeral procession in the town and funeral Mass at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church on November 9. Her remains were cremated at the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City on November 10.[19]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Sa Dulo ng Baril | |
| 1989 | Ka Leon Oliver, Ex-rebel | [20][21] |
| 1990 | Hindi Kita Iiwanang Buhay (Kapitan Paile) | [citation needed] |
| 1991 | Katabi Ko'y Mamaw | |
| 1993 | Task Force Habagat | [citation needed] |
| 1995 | Epifanio Ang Bilas Ko: NB-Eye | |
| 1996 | Hagedorn | [22] |
| 1997 | Bayad puri | [citation needed] |
| 1997 | Tekkie | [23] |
| 1998 | Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano | |
| 2000 | Ang Dalubhasa | |
| 2002 | Batas ng Lansangan | |
| 2012 | El Presidente | Kim Komatsu nanalo sa Star Award for Original Theme Song of the Year[24][25][26] Best Film Soundtrack - Gawad Genio Awards[citation needed]
"Aking Inang Bayan" Best Theme Song at 61st FAMAS Awards - Interpreted by Maita Ejercito[27][28] |
| 2014 | Muslim Magnum .357: To Serve and Protect | |
| 2014 | Asintado | [29] |
| 2023 | Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme | "Rage"[30] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Hon. Girlie "Maita" Yulatic Javier Ejercito". Facebook. Gov. ER Ejercito. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ "Political dynasties win some, lose some". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. May 12, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Crisostomo, Sheila. "Political dynasties to dominate 2013 polls". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Llanes, Rommel R. "Former sexy star Maita Sanchez and now Pagsanjan Mayor Girlie Ejercito open for showbiz comeback". PEP.ph.
- ^ a b c "Dalawang pag-asawahan sa showbiz: Cesar Montano-Sunshine Cruz, ER Ejercito-Maita Sanchez". Oxfam Pilipinas. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Jojo, cabinet (October 5, 2021). "Couple ER Ejercito and Girlie Ejercito, will run for mayor in different towns in Laguna".
- ^ BRENDA BARRIENTOS (April 23, 2010). "Celebrities seeking posts in the May 10 polls". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Jr, Reynaldo Santos (June 24, 2013). "Star-studded gov't: More celebs win in 2013 polls". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Gamara, Miguel (September 26, 2013). "Comelec rules to disqualify ER Ejercito as Laguna gov - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism". Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Revilla family, waging-wagi sa Cavite; ER at Girlie Ejercito, bigo sa Laguna". PEP.ph. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c PEP Troika (November 5, 2024). "ER Ejercito, idinetalye ang mga huling sandali ni Maita Sanchez". Philippine Enterainment Portal (in Filipino). Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ "Misis ni ER EJERCITO nakunan muli, inoperahan sa matris". INQUIRER.net. August 18, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Lando, Roy (March 23, 2020). "Girlie "Maita" Ejercito Biography - PeoPlaid Profile". PeoPlaid. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ Serato, Arniel (April 5, 2013). "ER Ejercito wishes "good health" and "kambal" for wife Maita". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Filipino). Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ "Former actress and Pagsanjan mayor Maita Sanchez dies at 55". Philstar.
- ^ "Actress-politician Maita Sanchez passes away". Manila Times.
- ^ Mallorca, Hannah (November 3, 2024). "Actress-politician Maita Sanchez, wife of ER Ejercito, dies at 55". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Santiago, Ervin (November 3, 2024). "Aktres, Ex-Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Ejercito pumanaw na dahil sa cancer". INQUIRER.net (in Filipino). Bandera. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Gabinete, Jojo (November 10, 2024). "Green bones natagpuan sa cremated remains ni Maita Sanchez". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Filipino). Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Manila Standard. Manila Standard.
- ^ The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter Corporation. 1990.
- ^ Deza, Alfonso B. (2006). Mythopoeic Poe: Understanding the Masa as Audience Through the Films of Fernando Poe, Jr. Published and exclusively distributed by Great Books Pub. ISBN 978-971-0391-18-9.
- ^ "Manila Standard - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "'Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles' at Kim Komatsu nanalo sa Star Awards". GMA News Online. March 11, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Angel Locsin and ER Ejercito win top acting honors at 61st FAMAS Awards". April 22, 2013.
- ^ "El Presidente Summary". pdfcoffee.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "Angel Locsin and ER Ejercito win top acting honors at 61st FAMAS Awards". PEP.ph. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Cruz, Marinel R. (April 23, 2013). "'El Presidente' sweeps 61st Famas awards". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "Aiko Melendez on her much awaited comeback for Cinemalaya 2014: Asintado". Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme: Thrice the thrill". Tempo. November 17, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
External links
edit- Maita Sanchez at IMDb as Maita Ejercito.
- Maita Sanchez at IMDb as Maita Sanchez.
- Metro Society Magazine - December 2012 - Feature
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