OUTGOING Manila mayor, Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada took a bow from politics on Wednesday, almost 50 years after his journey took him from San Juan to the Senate and to Malacanang where he served as the country’s 13^th president.

“Isang pagkakataon para ako’y makapagpasalamat sa inyong walang sawang supporta at pagmamahal, for almost 50 years nariyan po kayo sa tabi ko, kayo ang naging lakas ko sa bawat kabanata ng aking buhay,” said Estrada at a thanksgiving dinner attended by his family, friends and supporters.