Former President and Manila Bulletin columnist Fidel V. Ramos, whose six years in office brought solid socio-economic gains and turned the country into the “Tiger Cub Economy in Asia," died on Sunday, July 31, at the age of 94.
He reportedly died at 3 p.m. at the Makati Medical Center where he was rushed days ago.
“My administration had its ups and downs. But over all, it was a good six years. It was an era where we proved what unity, solidarity, and teamwork can do for our country,” Ramos said during his last interview.
In a statement, the Ramos family confirmed the passing of the former President.
"We thank you all for respecting our privacy, as the family takes some time to grieve together," it said.
It also said wake and funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Ramos was President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998 and under his leadership, the country experienced a period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion.
His policies and programs on national reconciliation and unity led to major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in the Philippine economy.
Based on data from the Global Leadership Foundation, Ramos pushed for the deregulation of key industries and the liberalization of the economy. He encouraged the privatization of public entities, to include the modernization of public infrastructure through the expanded Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law.
"During the years 1993-1997, the Philippine economy recovered dramatically. Gross National Product averaged 5 percent annually, the total inflow of foreign exchange into the country outpaced that of the combined periods of rule of both Presidents Marcos and Aquino, and the average income of the Filipino family grew more during Ramos’ administration than in the preceding two decades."
"This allowed the Ramos administration to implement a comprehensive Social Reform Agenda (SRA) that addressed long-standing problems regarding poverty, health, education and skills training, housing, environmental protection, children and the youth, the elderly and the handicapped, jobs and livelihood, agrarian reform and access to equal opportunity."
"The peace agreement which Ramos brokered with military rebels and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) won for him and MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari the 1997 UNESCO Peace Prize, the first for Asians. His public service spanned a total period of 51 years."
Military career
Ramos began his military career as an infantry platoon leader in the Philippine Counter-Insurgency campaign, then fought in both Korea and Vietnam and rose to become Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He graduated from West Point in 1950 and attended graduate school at the University of Illinois, where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1951. Returning to the Philippines, he served as an infantry platoon leader with the Second Battalion Combat Team, Philippine Army, during the counter-insurgency campaign.
In 1952, he joined the 20th Battalion Combat Team as an infantry reconnaissance platoon leader with the Philippine Expeditionary Force in Korea. For the next ten years, he held positions of increasing responsibility in command and staff assignments in the Philippine Army, culminating in his appointment to command the First Special Forces Group (Airborne), a position he held for three years.
In 1966, Ramos joined the First Philippine Civic Action Group in Vietnam as Chief of Staff. In 1968, he was named Presidential Assistant on Military Affairs, and in 1970 he assumed command of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army.
A year later, Ramos was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines. In 1972, he was named Chief, Philippine Constabulary, Philippine Armed Forces, a position he held for fourteen years. Concurrently, in 1975 he was appointed to the position of Director-General of the Philippine Integrated National Police. In 1981, Fidel Ramos was selected to be Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He remained in that assignment for five years, the last two as Acting Chief of Staff.
People Power
In recognition of his outstanding leadership and courage — attributes that impelled him to play a paramount role in returning democracy to the Philippines, he was named Military Hero of the Peaceful People Revolution. This brief but momentous chapter in his military career led to Ramos’ assignment as Chief of Staff of the AFP, and two years later, his appointment as Secretary of National Defense.
In June 1992, Ramos was elected 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines. He inherited a nation in the midst of a deepening crisis. Prolonged political instability, exacerbated by mounting casualties from attacks by Moro secessionists, military rebels, and terrorists; a poor and shrinking economy; and a failing infrastructure.
During his six-year term of office, remarkable gains were made by the Philippines in revitalizing the economy, repairing the infrastructure, and establishing peace with dissident factions of the country.
Promoting the principles of People Empowerment and Global Competitiveness, President Ramos never lost sight of the need to preserve and protect the democratic process in politics.
Economic recovery
The Philippine recovery during 1992-1998 was dramatic. No small part of this effort was the comprehensive social program introduced by Ramos -- Philippines 2000 – that would see the Philippines achieving a newly industrialized country status by the year 2000 and beyond. The Social Reform Agenda addressed long-standing problems of health, education, skills training, housing, aid for the handicapped, agrarian reform, and equal opportunity.
Among his many decorations and honors, General Ramos has been awarded the Philippine Military Merit Medal (with Spearhead), the Distinguished Service Star (with Silver and Bronze Anahaw leaf), the Military Commendation Medal (First Bronze Equilateral Triangle), the Philippine Legion of Honor (Degree of Commander with Third Bronze Anahaw Leaf), the Distinguished Conduct Star, and the United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander). He has received honorary degrees and awards too numerous to be listed.
Post-politics
Ramos founded the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, a non-partisan and non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of peace and development in the Philippines and in the larger Asia-Pacific region.
In 1998, together with Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia, and Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan, Ramos founded the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), a premier forum for leaders in government, business, and academia in Asia and other continents who are committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals.
Ramos was a founding Member of the Global Leadership Foundation in 2004.
Early life
Ramos was born on March 18, 1928, in Lingayen, Pangasinan and grew up in Asingan town. His father, Narciso Ramos (1900–1986), was a lawyer, journalist and five-term legislator of the House of Representatives, who eventually rose to the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. As such, Narciso Ramos was the Philippine signatory to the ASEAN declaration forged in Bangkok in 1967, and was a founding member of the Liberal Party. According to Fidel Ramos's biography in his presidential inauguration in 1992, Narciso Ramos also served as one of the leaders of the anti-Japanese guerrilla group the Maharlika founded by Ferdinand Marcos. His mother, Angela Valdez (1905–1978), was an educator, woman suffragette, and member of the respected Valdez clan of Batac, Ilocos Norte.
His younger sister, Leticia Ramos-Shahani, a former senator, diplomat, and writer, died in 2017 at the age of 87.
He married Amelita Martinez on October 21, 1954. They have five daughters: Angelita Ramos-Jones, Josephine Ramos-Samartino (deceased), Carolina Ramos-Sembrano, Cristina Ramos-Jalasco, and Gloria Ramos.