MANILA — Former Pagsanjan, Laguna Mayor Girlie Javier-Ejercito, known by the stage name Maita Sanchez when she was an actress, has died, her widower, former Laguna Gov. E.R. Ejercito announced early Sunday morning.

In an announcement on his Facebook page, Ejercito said his wife passed away due to endometrial cancer at a Quezon City hospital past midnight.

She was 55.

The former Pagsanjan mayor leaves behind Ejercito and their six children.

“Our family is requesting prayers and mass offerings for the repose of her soul,” Ejercito said.

Javier-Ejercito was mayor of Pagsanjan town from 2010 to 2019 and was vice mayor from 2019 to 2022.

“Mayor Maita was an outstanding multi-awarded local chief executive who brought life, joy and integrity into significant programs and projects of Pagsanjan, which is now recognized as the tourist capital of Laguna,” former Gov. Ejercito said.

Former Gov. Ejercito said a wake will be held from November 3 to 9 at the Don Porong Ejercito Ancestral Mansion in Pagsanjan.

In a separate post, Pagsanjan Mayor Cesar Areza sent the Ejercitos his personal condolences and on behalf of the Pagsanjan local government, adding the former mayor had been a mother to the municipality.

“Maraming salamat po sa serbisyong nagawa sa mahal nating bayan,” he said.

(Thank you for the service to our beloved town)

Javier-Ejercito starred in dozens of movies since 1988, when she appeared in “Sa Dulo ng Baril”.  

She last appeared — as Maita Gomez Ejercito — in 2023’s “Shake Rattle & Roll Extreme”,  according to her IMDb database entry.