The family of the late former President Fidel V. Ramos marks on Monday his first death anniversary with a 9 a.m. Holy Mass on his gravesite at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Ramos, the 12th President of the Philippines, who was popularly called by his initials FVR, died on July 31, 2022 at the age of 94. Former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, their children, grandchildren, relatives, former cabinet members, and friends in the military and private sector will lead the solemn observance ceremony.
As a devoted public servant and military officer and later as Chief Executive, FVR had developed three practices of leadership which he repeatedly included in his speeches.
These are “unity, solidarity and teamwork; kaya natin ito! (we can do it!), and work as you pray, and pray as you work.
While still in the active military service, Ramos was hands on to preserve the country against attacks by rebel forces.
As President, FVR resuscitated the country’s failing economy by implementing a well-planned economic agenda that levelled the playing field through drastic measures of deregulation, liberalization and privatization. His program of governance was anchored on people empowerment to give the less privileged access to government resources.
Through his Social Reform Agenda (SRA), ordinary Filipinos were empowered to gain access to quality education, technical training, primary health care, decent and affordable housing and even increased pensions for veterans and benefits for the disabled and elderly.
During his six years in office as President from 1992 to 1998, FVR turned the country from an inward-looking economy into an energetic tiger cub.
It was these bold moves and innovations that pushed the country to be globally competitiveness, and attracted a stream of foreign investors to invest in the Philippines.
FVR, known for his strong political will, was workaholic, always hands on in his governance as a public official that encouraged his staff to also work hard.
During his six-year term, FVR launched the economic strategy for the country to be globally competitive. This enabled the Philippines to attract foreign investors to invest in the country.
In his overseas travels, FVR saw the signing of business many agreements between the Philippine and foreign investors, the biggest of which was the signing of a $29.6 billion between British and Filipino businessmen in London in June 1997.
Another achievement of FVR during his presidency was the signing of the historic peace agreement between the Philippine government and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on September 2, 1996, and played a key role in the historic People Power revolution in 1986.
Before stepping up as President, FVR was in the military service for over three decades holding the positions as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), chief of the Philippine Constabulary, now the Philippine National Police (PNP).
As a soldier and a graduate of West Point military academy in the United States, FVR saw action during the Korean War in 1950-53, the Vietnam War as a member of the Philippine Civic Action Group (Philcag), and fought against the Huk rebellion in Luzon.
But even as a private citizen after he retired from government service, FVR continued to give unsolicited advice through his weekly column in the Manila Bulletin.