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Thursday, March 28, 2024

FVR weighs in on foundlings

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IT WAS a day of learning from a living legend who once occupied the highest post in the land and the rain on that Saturday afternoon, Dec. 19, was not enough to stop it from happening. 

It was Senator Grace Poe who arrived first. 

The much-anticipated elevator “ding”  that echoed through the quiet Ramos Peace and Development Foundation office announced her arrival. The usual salutation commenced as she shook hands with her over-all campaign adviser former executive secretary and Pangasinan Gov. Oscar M. Orbos, resigned Pagcor president and COO Jorge V. Sarmiento, lawyer Bobby Lucila, her uncle Adonis Samson, and this writer. Waiting in the other conference room was former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Former President Ramos and Grace Poe  have two things in common.

After several minutes into conversation, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero arrived. His father the late Salvador Escudero III served as FVR’s Agriculture secretary from 1996-1998. Chiz just came from his home province of Sorsogon to check on his kababayans who were then devastated by Typhoon ‘Nona’. 

A few days before the meeting, FVR announced his stand at the “Pandesal Forum” in Quezon City on the disqualification cases against Poe, stating to “Let the People Decide,” on who they want to lead them. He also chided the ruling administration for its continuing “politics of exclusion and process of elimination.” 

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In the same forum, FVR reiterated his wish to give the young Filipino leaders like Senators Poe and Chiz the chance to serve the country as he cited the likes of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British PM David Cameron, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau among the young leaders and global political stars who are changing the course of the world history.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that you are a natural-born citizen,” said FVR to Poe. “Given the prevailing peace and order situation at that time, there is no stupid foreigner who would travel all the way to the Philippines—to a rustic town of Jaro, Iloilo—to place her child and leave her in front of the church.” 

Addressing Grace sparingly as Madam president, he told her that should she be elected president, the two would share two unique things in common in terms of geographical affiliations. 

“You know we have two things in common. I am an Ilonggo by choice on account of my marriage to Madam Ming who is from Iloilo and you are native of Iloilo. And since your father, FPJ, also hailed from San Carlos City, Pangasinan, we are both Pangasinenses. You come from a revolutionary province, where the likes of local heroes Andres Malong and Juan de la Cruz Palaris were born. Stay the course, and go on with your presidential bid,” said FVR.

The animated consultation meeting with FVR lasted for more than two hours ranging from serious topics to funny anecdotes from all parties concerned.

Poe, who once worked as a preschool teacher in the US, was like an ardent student in those moments with FVR as she religiously took down notes and continuously asked questions about governance and other hallmarks of the Ramos presidency. 

Both candidates laid down to FVR the plans of Gobyernong May Puso for the Filipinos, should they win on May 9, 2016. 

As a global statesman who is still respected by world leaders in major countries like US, China, Japan, among others, (should they be elected) both Senators Grace and Chiz requested the former president to lend his voice and expertise in nation building anchored on UST (Unity, Solidarity and Teamwork), and CSD (Caring, Sharing and Daring). 

Among the items discussed in the meeting with the former president geared towards ably helping the Poe-Escudero administration are related foreign policy concerns such as West Philippine Sea, BBL, AFTA, among others that could best be articulated by PFVR. 

Apart  from good governance that marked his six-year administration with the landmark passage of 228 socio-economic reform bills, the two senators vowed the regular conduct or convening of the National Security Council, Ledac, inclusive and consultative governance, enhanced economic diplomacy as well as intensified security and defense.

On one hand, FVR and Senator Escudero were on the same page when it comes to major flagship projects and further developing the agriculture sector. Senator Escudero mentioned his plans on agricultural modernization and proper resource allocation, on building new highways and dams, and on giving more funds in constructing better farm-to-market roads so that farmers would be greatly empowered to produce and market their products.

But more than the details of the platform of Gobyernong May Puso, what stood out was the heart of their platform—and that is to empower the people by giving effective social security system and welfare for all. 

And even if FVR is an  icon of people empowerment during the 1986 Revolution along with President Cory Aquino, Jaime Cardinal Sin and Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, he knew that he had an unfinished mission, or an unfinished revolution of empowering every Filipino. 

In the book “FVR’s Wonder of Words,” that I authored and co-published with the RPDEV in 2014, the former president said: 

“People empowerment underscores the role of individuals as stakeholders and participants, and necessitates a “bottom up” contribution through self-help and self-reliance.

“It‘s my firm belief that empowering one individual would give that person the capacity to help or empower other people.

“Once poor people break through to sufficient levels of income, health and literacy, they could—on their own—sustain the gains of development and become productive citizens.

“It is on lifting up the lives of people of our absolutely poor but willing-to-work families where we as a nation should concentrate our scarce resources.

“This means that we must truly empower ordinary Filipinos and give each one a stake in our country’s fortunes.”

Taking inspiration from this gem of wisdom  on people empowerment, Team Grace and Chiz together with  Orbos, are now fully supporting Project Serendipity—a noble project that shall petition the Supreme Court and call for the automatic allocation of 20 percent of the people’s money for HELPS (Health, Education, Livelihood, Pension, and Shelter). 

This project was first initiated by Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon along with seven other bishops in the Bicol region. It is now on its way to gathering massive wave of support following the speech of Bishop Bastes before the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines at the start of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City last month. 

“I wish I had that kind of program during my administration and it could have spelled the difference in empowering every Filipino,” concluded FVR. (Mr. Velasco is official biographer of FVR’s family.)

   

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