On March 18, former President Fidel Valdez Ramos marks his 90th anniversary. He was born in 1928, in Lingayen, Pangasinan, to equally distinguished Filipinos, guerilla fighter and former Foreign secretary Narciso Ramos and educator and women’s rights activists Angela 
Valdez.
Last night, at the Manila Polo Club, the board of trustees of the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation tendered a dinner in FVR’s honor and to announce the seven so-called FVR legacy projects.
FVR was the 12th President of the Philippines, is best remembered for his ability to lead and his willingness to be led—not by astute advisors and political strategists, but by the people whom he served, and served well.
Ramos is a soldier, diplomat, author, peace advocate and statesman. His public service spanned a total period of 51 years.
Steadfastly and faithfully, Ramos promoted the principles of people empowerment and a culture of excellence that both led to global competitiveness during his term as President from June 30, 1992 to June 30, 1998.
History appreciates him for three things—1) for saving Corazon Cojuangco Aquino from no less than seven coup attempts during her presidency, from February 1986 to June 30, 1992; 2) for quickly restoring power to a nation besieged by 12- to 18-hour blackouts at the peak of the power crisis during his predecessor’s time; and 3) for trying to unify the country by reaching out to all kinds of rebels—the military coup plotters led by army Col. Gregorio Honasan, the Muslim rebels led by Nur Misuari, and the guerillas of the New People’s Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
To me, Ramos’ best lasting legacy should be his winning Asia’s first peaceful four-day People Power Revolution of Feb. 22-25, 1986 and dislodging a 20-year dictatorship under Ferdinand E. Marcos, a cousin.
Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte credits Ramos for his decision to run for president and for winning the presidency.
While communist insurgency dwindled to historic lows, Ramos achieved a peace agreement with military rebels (RAM, ALTAS, YOU) in October 1995 and the MNLF southern secessionists in September 1996 which, won for him (together with Chairman Nur Misuari) and the Philippines the coveted 1997 UNESCO Peace Prize—the first for Asians. He also worked a modus vivendi with Congress whose members quickly joined his Rainbow Coalition.
The deals brought peace to the land and enabled Ramos to attract foreign investments and legislate the most far-reaching social and economic reforms through the passage of major pieces of legislation.
Ramos then pursued, focused and converged programs to fight poverty in accordance with the will of the Filipino people expressed by 229 structural/reform laws enacted by Congress from 1992 to 1998.
Ramos exemplified the leader who always looked toward the strategic future and whose thumbs-up optimism—captured in descriptive phrases like “Caring, Sharing and Daring,” “Philippines 1500” and “Pole-vaulting”—propelled the economy and social welfare.
He exudes positive energy that seems to burst from his cool and at times steely demeanor.
During the years 1993-1997, the Philippine economy recovered dramatically and a comprehensive Social Reform Agenda was implemented that addressed long-standing problems regarding poverty, health, education and skills training, housing, environmental protection, children and the youth, the elderly and the handicapped, jobs and livelihood, agrarian reform and access to equal opportunity.
Gross National Product growth averaged 5 percent annually. The total inflow of foreign exchange into the country outpaced forex inflows of the combined periods of rule of both Presidents Marcos and Cory Aquino.
Average income of the Filipino family grew more during his administration than in the preceding two decades. He pushed for the deregulation of key industries and the liberalization of the economy.
He encouraged the privatization of public entities, to include the modernization of public infrastructure through the expanded Build-Operate-Transfer law.
Ramos also served as secretary of national defense (1988-1991) and chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (1986-1988) with the rank of general (four stars). His military/law enforcement service of more than 40 years was capped by the peaceful, non-violent People Power Revolution at Edsa in February 1986, which threw out a dictatorial regime.