Loi Ejercito


Luisa Pimentel-Ejercito is a Filipino politician and psychiatrist who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2001 to 2007. She is the wife of former Philippine President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, and was the twelfth First Spouse of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. Her son, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, was a senator in the 15th Congress of the Philippines.

Early life and career

She was born to Rufino Pimentel and Manuela Fernandez. She studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas, after which she worked as a professor in the university's Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and as a physician at the UST Hospital and the National Center for Mental Health.

Public role

A psychiatrist by profession, Loi was dubbed First Lady ng Masa and Doktora ng Masa because of her medical and outreach missions during her term.
After her husband was deposed in the EDSA Revolution of 2001, she ran as a candidate of the opposition for a seat in Senate. She won, and served in the 12th and the 13th Congress, making her the first First Lady to win a seat in the Senate.
During her tenure, she authored 121 bills and 13 resolutions, some of which have already been enacted into law: , The National Health Insurance Program; , The No Smoking Act; , The Film Development Council of the Philippines, , The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act; and , The Clean Water Act.