He wanted all Filipinos to rally behind “Team Philippines” – and Fidel Valdez Ramos meant it, without snide remarks behind his opponents’ backs or smear campaigns directed at his critics.
Winning the presidency by a plurality in a seven-cornered fight in 1992, “FVR” reached out to enemies of the state, forging peace with the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front, granting amnesty to right-wing rebels and negotiating peace with the communists. A hero of the 1986 people power revolt that toppled the dictatorial regime of his cousin, Ramos also reached out to the constituencies of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
Upon assuming the presidency, his first achievement was to put an end to the crippling blackouts. Although his solutions led to costly electricity in the long-term, the restoration of reliable power especially in Metro Manila and the production centers of Central Luzon got the economy back on its feet. Ramos then set out to liberalize the economy, allowing the country to avoid the worst of the Asian financial crisis that erupted in July 1997. Within the formidable constraints set by Philippine politics and culture, he made sincere efforts to introduce structural reforms and promote good governance.
FVR said six years is too long for a bad president, and too short for a good one. His supporters tried to push for a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to seek a second term, but the people’s initiative was shot down.
Upon retirement, Ramos gladly played the role of elder statesman. In 2016, following the leadership change, Rodrigo Duterte publicly thanked Ramos for persuading the former mayor of Davao City to run for president under a platform of shifting to federalism.
Between rounds of golf and socializing, FVR wrote books. In one, he declared: “The only thing that countries cannot outsource is good government – which must be homegrown – along with leadership, national solidarity, competence, teamwork, and other cherished values.”
In an interview in his twilight years, he said, “Who wants to slow down? The most glorious way of dying, as far as soldiers are concerned, is to die from an enemy’s bullet in combat. But equally glorious and noble is just to drop dead of old age after providing for a family, paying your taxes, and helping your community and your neighbor.”
That is exactly what Fidel V. Ramos did. While mourning his demise, the nation celebrates the life of an exemplary public servant.