Mary Ejercito
| Doña Mary Ejército | |
|---|---|
| Born |
María Marcelo May 2, 1905 Malate, Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Died | January 13, 2009 (aged 103) San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Other names | Mary Ejército Doña Mary |
| Occupation | housewife |
| Known for | Mother of President Joseph Estrada |
| Spouse(s) | Emilio Ejercito (m. 1926 - 1977), his death |
María "Mary" Marcelo-Ejército (also known as Doña Mary; May 2, 1905 – January 13, 2009) was the mother of Joseph Ejército Estrada, the thirteenth President of the Philippines. Her ailing health was cited as among the reasons for the withdrawal of the appeal of the former President from his conviction for criminal plunder charges in 2007; Estrada was immediately pardoned by his successor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
María Marcelo finished her secondary schooling at the Colégio de Sta. Rosa, and enrolled at the University of the Philippines Faculty of Music, where she received a diploma in piano.
She met Emilio Ejército, Sr. (1898-1977), an engineer who became the first Sanitary Engineer of the City of Manila. They were married on June 13, 1926 in Singalong, Manila. Together they had ten children: Pilarica, Emilio Jr. Paulie, Patrocinio, Antonio, Connie, Marita, the President Estrada, the actor George Estregan (Jorge) and Jesús (Jesse). In 1998, Ejército received the "Uliráng Ina" ('Exemplary Mother') award from the Philippines’ Elderly Persons Foundation. In that same year, she attended the Presidential inauguration of her son, Joseph, on 30 June at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan.
During her son's rule, Ejército kept a low profile. She reportedly advised her son to be cautious of the influence wielded by his close friends. During President Estrada's impeachment trial, news of the political crisis was deliberately withheld from her, but after receiving information of the proceedings she advised her son thusly: "It's more than high time you change. The people are angry now."
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