Continuing vision and mission

During these times when people are craving for change in our leaders and the kind of governance we have been enduring for more than a decade, one cannot help but look back and recall ex-President Fidel V. Ramos and his regime when the country started to take significant strides towards economic progress and was considered as one of the “emerging dragons” in Asia. Sometimes, in hindsight, and after experiencing the regimes of his successors, there is a longing to turn back the hands of time and look at what might have been if we just agreed to a Charter change so that he could have extended his term. Perhaps our country’s progress and development could have been sustained, and the presidency would have fallen into better hands after him.

Fortunately FVR chose not to simply fade away from the political scene and public service even as a private citizen. After his presidency he continued with his vision and mission for our country by establishing the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation Inc. (RPDEV) on February 12, 1998. RPDEV’s program and activities are focused on four main areas: lasting peace, sustainable development, democratic governance and socio-economic diplomacy. To carry out these programs public lectures have been organized to raise people’s awareness, expand their knowledge and encourage them to speak up on current issues in the economy, governance, culture and environment. To date 30 lectures have been conducted with its partner organizations in Manila and key cities in Visayas and Mindanao reaching thousands of people from all sectors of society. It has also distributed more than 8,000 books, essays, newsletters, articles, brochures CDs and journals in Philippine history, security biography, economy, tourism, culture etc. to public libraries, research centers, educational institutions, NGOs and other entities here and abroad.

On the regional and international front RPDEV is an active participant in such prestigious organizations as the Boao Forum for Asia, International Crisis Group, General Douglas MacArthur foundation, World Commission on Water, World Intellectual Property Organization, Asia House, UN University for Peace, Opportunity International, Christian Democrats International and Club de Madrid. It also networks with, and maintains access to the UN, ASEA, APEC, EU, IMF, World Bank and ADB.

Today, February 17, at 3 p.m. at the Pandanggo Hall, Manila Hotel, RPDEV is launching its 10th anniversary commemorative book: “Celebrating 10 Years Teamwork for Enduring Peace and Sustainable Development”. The book chronicles the initiative and works of RPDEV including its accomplishments over the last ten years. With the upcoming elections, this book is significant and timely for incumbent and future leaders as it can serve as a template for establishing and promoting lasting peace, sustainable development, democratic governance and socio-economic diplomacy through its documentation and analysis of FVR’s continuing mission and vision during and after his presidency.

The book is authored by Melandrew T. Velasco and published in partnership with Media Touchtone Ventures Inc. Velasco, who is fondly called by friends as MTV or Mel, has long been a close spectator of history, politics and other significant events that shaped the nation. At 45, the man wears many hats, but whenever introduced by former President and RPDEV chairman, FVR to his friends, he describes Mel as the family biographer. Indeed according to Velasco, the commemorative book on RPDEV comes eight in line of the historical books and biographies he has written for the past ten years, five of which chronicled the lives of the immediate relatives of President Ramos.

(Attention: All UST HIGH SCHOOL Alumni! Grand reunion on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Plaza Mayor, in front of Main Building UST Campus, starting 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the Principal’s Office or for ticket reservations text 0939-6519221or 0915-4891535 or e-mail [email protected]. Come and let us enjoy the fiesta of nostalgia while helping current USTHS students finish their studies and earn their own USTHS diplomas.)

Note: Books containing compilation of my articles on Labor Law and Criminal Law (Vols. I and II) are now available. Call tel. 7249445.

*      *      *

E-mail at: [email protected]