Eulogy by PDG Obet Pagdanganan

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by expressing our profound condolences to the bereaved Family, especially to Mrs. Ming Ramos, our beloved former First Lady.

STEPHEN GRELLET, a French missionary, wrote, “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing I can do or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I will not pass this way again.” PRESIDENT FIDEL VALDEZ RAMOS won’t pass this way again, but the numerous things he did and the kindness he showed to the millions whose lives he touched, will long endure.

To many, President Ramos was one of the best, if not the best, Presidents we ever had. I couldn’t agree more. A visionary and most hardworking leader, he was a soldier par excellence, general, chief of PC/INP, authentic Hero of the EDSA Revolution, Secretary of National Defense, President of the Philippines, Statesman, and tireless Ambassador of Goodwill for our country. He had consistently pursued the best interest of the Filipino people, espousing good governance evidently guided by the Four-Way Test, making us his fellow Manila Rotarians very proud, indeed!

Much has been said and written and more will be expressed, about President Ramos’s revitalizing the economy, deregulating major industries, revolutionizing the tax collection system, and other accomplishments. But I believe that his extraordinary leadership abilities were best exemplified by his historic role in saving the Republic and strengthening our democratic institutions. As Chief of Staff of the AFP, and later Secretary of National Defense, he led the successful defense of the first Aquino Administration against nine (9) Coup attempts. The two most serious ones were on August 27-28, 1987, and December 1-9, 1989, that brought the Aquino Administration to the brink of disaster.

In the evening of August 27, 1987, Malacañang Palace was attacked by rebel soldiers and the future President Noynoy was himself wounded. At that time, military and police forces in the provinces north of Metro-Manila were generally supportive of the rebels. Even the Central Luzon PNP Regional Command in Pampanga was held hostage by the rebel leaders. Reinforcements were being mobilized to support the rebels in Manila. Before midnight, General Ramos called me by phone and told me to do everything to block the rebel soldiers from the north. His instructions were as plain and simple as they were difficult and dangerous to implement, “Block the rebels! Do not to allow them to reach Manila! Kaya ninyo yan!” His calm and clear voice was reassuring, though.

Working with then Colonel Larry Mendoza, our Provincial PNP Commander, we immediately blocked the highways from the north using heavy equipment and confiscated illegal logs. Many residents even volunteered to use their vehicles to block the roads. General Ramos called me from time to time, for updates. When dawn broke, the rebels pulled back; the coup failed.

On December 1, 1989, the rebels attacked military camps including Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Crame and Fort Bonifacio. Then DND Secretary Ramos again called me for similar support action in his usual calm and cool self. But that it was an even more serious situation occurred to me when President Cory herself called me later. We did our best to comply. Not a single troop, including the thousands announced over the radio by a rebel Colonel from a northern province, was able to pass through Bulacan! The coup attempt again, failed.

Upon assuming office, President FVR relentlessly pursued peace to hasten the attainment of his Philippines 2000 Vision. The backbone of the communist insurgency was greatly weakened by the surrender of many NPA members and supporters. He declared amnesty for rebel soldiers. He forged a Peace Agreement with the MNLF led by Nur Misuari, ending the separatist movement.

President Ramos also supported Local Autonomy by implementing the Local Government Code of 1991! As National President of the League of Provinces and Chairman of the League of LGU Leagues, I represented the LGUs in the meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC, chaired by the President. He also regularly met with Governors, Mayors and other Local Officials, to discuss their concerns. All these efforts helped strengthen PFVR’s Team Philippines, hasten countryside development and achieve high economic growths which enabled the Philippines to weather the global financial crisis toward the end of his term..

And so this afternoon, we say: REST IN PEACE MR. PRESIDENT, AND LET ETERNAL LIGHT SHINE UPON YOU. MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT PO SA INYONG KABAYANIHAN, AT MAHUSAY NA PAGLILINGKOD SA ATING INANG BAYAN! MARAMING SALAMAT PO SA INSPIRASYON AT MAGANDANG HALIMBAWA BILANG KAPWA ROTARYO AT TAPAT NA LINGKOD BAYAN. MARAMING SALAMAT PO AT PAALAM!