Ramon Revilla Sr. was an inspiring leader in his own right
FINDING ANSWERS
From reel to real life, the legendary Ramon Revilla Sr. was truly a source of great inspiration.
That’s how I fondly remember the actor turned politician who became my colleague in the Senate in the early 1990s when he served his first term as senator in the 9th Congress.
When I heard the news that he passed away on June 26 at the age of 93, I felt the nation lost a great Filipino who had truly lived up to his creed that “it is not enough that the Filipino people are served, but they must be served well.”
Don Ramon, as we called him in the Senate, had distinguished himself early on after his overwhelming victory in the 1992 senatorial elections in which he clinched the second to the top slot. He became known as the “Father of Public Works Act” for his exemplary performance towards the enactment of RA 8150, the Public Works and Highways Infrastructure Program Act of 1995, that prioritized projects aimed at boosting economic development in planned growth centers and rural areas as well.
His remarkable piece of legislation, in line with the state’s policy on infrastructure development, had put priorities in order and many policy experts agreed it was “a sharp contrast to previous plans where government policies were not clearly spelled out, exposing infrastructure development to political meddling.”
As a distinguished senator who served two terms until 2004, he was known for many other notable legislative achievements, including amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act, and also amendments to the law on illegal possession of firearms. But what I really admired about Don Ramon’s legislative achievements were those that pertained to my personal favorites -- youth and sports development.
Being the youngest senator during the time of then President Cory Aquino, the welfare of our youth was among my utmost concerns. Thus, in 1997 when I was no longer in the Senate as I had become Laguna governor, I was delighted when Don Ramon pursued enactment of RA 8370 or the Children’s Media Act, to ensure that TV networks devote at least 15 percent or three hours of their total daily airtime to educational shows for children.
“This will aid in the development of our children's awareness and appreciation for our cultural identity, national heritage, and social issues that will help them grow to be productive and nationalistic citizens,” Don Ramon said then when the law was enacted in October, 1997. Don Ramon clearly saw “the vital role of the youth in nation-building and the influence of broadcast media, specifically television, in molding a child's intellectual, emotional, and social well-being.”
As for sports development, he shall be remembered for his efforts for RA 9064, the “Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” which provides for cash rewards, among many other benefits and privileges, to national athletes who win gold, silver, and bronze medals in international competitions.
Prior to entering politics, Don Ramon was a giant in the film and showbiz industry. In the Senate archives, there’s an awe-inspiring biography of him and here are some excerpts:
“His entry into the glitzy world of show business proved rewarding financially, plus the various citations awarded him for his brilliant portrayals on and off camera as actor, producer, scriptwriter, and socio-civic leader made him a big-name in entertainment and social circles.
“Some of these awards are the FAMAS Best Actor in 1973 for the movie 'Hulihin Si Tiyagong Akyat'; Box Office King in 1979 and the Most Outstanding Actor of the Year that same year; Outstanding Producer of the Year in 1976; Outstanding Film Production and Socio-civic Leader in 1975.”
With his legendary stature in showbiz, it’s no wonder voters catapulted him to the Senate. But despite his fame, Don Ramon did not squander the goodwill and trust of adoring fans who voted for him. My good friend who was with us in the 9th Congress, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, said it all when he remarked recently that Don Ramon taught him that “public adulation was not and should never be used as a benchmark for who and what a true public servant is.”
For all his achievements and leadership in reel and real life as a distinguished public servant, I shall always remember Don Ramon as an inspiring leader in his own right. My deepest condolence to Sen. Bong Revilla and the rest of the Revilla clan, and may God grant our dearly departed Don Ramon eternal peace!
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