Former President Joseph Estrada, in an act of statesmanship, will attend Wednesday’s inaugural ceremonies to swear-in incoming President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, just across the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

And so does basketball star James Yap despite his break-up with Aquino’s sister, Kris.

However, Aquino’s running mate, Sen. Mar Roxas, has opted to stay away from the inaugural rites.

An ardent stickler to one of the nation’s most revered tradition, Estrada said he is attending Wednesday’s rites just as former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and the late former President Corazon C. Aquino attended his oath-taking ceremonies as President at the Barasoain Church in Bulacan on June 30, 1998.

“Both former Presidents Ramos and the late President Cory were at my inauguration which is a tradition that must not be broken, but should instead remain untainted by any political color or differences,” Estrada said Tuesday night.

An invitation from the Aquino family to attend Wednesday’s rites was delivered to Estrada’s home in North Greenhills, San Juan City, last week for him and his wife, former First Lady and Senator, Luisa “Loi” Ejercito-Estrada.

Dra. Loi, according to Estrada, is out of the country with their daughter Jackie and son-in-law, Beaver Lopez, and therefore, will not be able to attend the inaugural ceremony.

Political observers said Estrada’s attendance this Wednesday at Rizal Park program, should not be taken as diminishing his decision not to file any electoral protest on the highly questioned results of the recently concluded presidential elections that marked the May 10 race one of the only two most controversial polls in the nation’s electoral history.

Aquino confirmed his brother-in-law’s attendance in his inauguration.

In a report on TV5’s “Aksyon” on June 28, Aquino III said he has talked to Kris about James through text.

Minutes before the “Queen of All Media” sat down last Sunday with “Buzz” co-hosts Boy Abunda and KC Concepcion to announce that she has given up on her high-profile marriage with James, the popular cager himself confirmed that he will be at Noy’s induction.

“Of course,” he quipped in a taped interview aired on “24 Oras” on Monday.

However, he remains mum on his marital woes. “Alam mo naman pag personal diba… sana maintindihan mo,” he told GMA-7 showbiz reporter Nelson Canlas an hour after his game at Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

In a separate report on “TV Patrol World” on the same night, James said that he respects his wife’s decision. He also thanked his team mates and friends for their prayers.

It seems that the five-year marriage of Kris and James is heading towards dead end, as their separation is set to be legalized soon.

While Estrada and Yap will join other high-profile personalities in the inauguration, Roxas said he'd rather miss the inaugural ceremonies than be misunderstood for his facial expressions and gestures.

Roxas, however, will grace the victory street party set at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City later Wednesday night.

“I opted not to attend though invited to prevent any issue to surface when I'm seen smiling or not, clapping or not. I don't want to be misunderstood,” Roxas told reporters last Monday.

Apparently, Roxas doesn’t want to be seen with Vice President Jejomar Binay who will also be inaugurated with Aquino at Quirino Grandstand.

Roxas has refused to concede to Binay and is still pursuing an electoral protest.

Although Roxas said his lawyers are still working on the protest, he refused to disclose details.

“There is an appropriate time for that to be discussed. As of now, let's just focus our full attention to the inauguration,” he said.

Roxas has been vital to the ascension of Aquino to the Palace. He had dropped his bid for the presidency in favor of Aquino.

Roxas claims he has no regrets taking the back seat for Aquino, saying he is very much happy that their sacrifices and hardships have been fruitful.

When asked what’s his message for Aquino, Roxas said: “Listen to your mind, to your soul, and to your parents and you will stir the country into the right direction. The whole country is behind you!”