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Manipud iti govierno ni dati a Presidente [[Ferdinand Marcos]], ni Ramos ti pangulo ti [[Constabularia ti Filipinas]].
Ti [[pagsasao nga Ingles]], texto a ni Fidel V. Ramos!
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implementing Marcos' declaration of martial law. In the 1986 [[People Power Revolution]], Ramos defected from the government and was a key figure in the civilian demonstrations that forced Marcos into exile.
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Ramos' six-year term as President is characterized by rapid economic growth and political stability in the country despite facing communist insurgencies, an Islamic separatist movement in [[Mindanao]], and the onslaught of the 1997 [[Asian financial crisis]].
==Early life and career==
Ramos was born on [[March 18]], [[1928]] in [[Lingayen]], [[Pangasinan]]. His father, Narciso Ramos (1900-1986), was a lawyer, crusading journalist and 5-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. His mother, Angela Valdez-Ramos (1905-1977), was an educator, woman suffragette and daughter of the respected Valdez clan of [[Batac]], [[Ilocos Norte]] making him the second degree cousin to [[Ferdinand Marcos]]. He took his elementary education in Lingayen and secondary education in the [[University of the Philippines|University of the Philippines Integrated School]].
In 1946, Ramos, barely months after enrolling in the Philippines' [[National University (Philippines)|National University]], won a government scholarship to the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York|West Point]]. Seeing the need to help raise his country from the ruins of war, he pursued further studies in engineering following his graduation from West Point in 1950, obtaining a Masters Degree in [[Civil Engineering]] in the [[University of Illinois]], where he was also a government scholar in 1951.
Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Ramos & Enrile.jpg|left|frame|Lt. Gen. Ramos & Minister Enrile withdrawing support from Marcos.]]
In his military career, Ramos, rose from 2nd Lieutenant infantry platoon leader in the Philippine Expeditionary Force in 1952 during the [[Korean War]] to Chief of Staff of the Philippine Civil Action Group to [[Vietnam]] from 1966 to 1968. He is also known as the "father" of the Philippine Army Special Forces, an elite paratroop unit skilled in community development as well as fighting communist insurgents.
Ramos has received several military awards including the U.S. Military Academy Distinguished Award, the U.S. [[Legion of Merit]] and the French [[Légion d'honneur|Legion of Honor]].
Ramos served the Marcos regime for more than 20 years -- in the military, as head of the [[Philippine Constabulary]], the country's national police force, and as a trusted advisor. He was a member of the infamous [[Rolex 12]], a group of conspirators loyal to Marcos himself. Seeing that the Marcos regime was about to collapse, Ramos sided with Aquino when the [[People Power Revolution]] erupted in 1986. The military followed his lead and swung the pendulum in her favor.
After Aquino assumed the Presidency, she appointed Ramos Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and later Secretary of Defense, foiling seven coup attempts against the Aquino administration.
{{Christian Democracy}}
==1992 Presidential Elections==
In December 1991, Ramos declared his candidacy for President. He however, lost the nomination of the dominant party [[Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino]] (LDP) to House Speaker [[Ramon Mitra]]. Days later, he bolted LDP and founded the [[Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats |Partido Lakas ng Tao]] (People Power Party), inviting Cebu Governor [[Emilio Mario Osmeña]] as his Vice President. The party formed a coalition with the National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD) of Congressman [[Jose de Venecia]] and the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP) of Simeon Datumanong. Ramos and Osmeña campaigned for economic reforms and improved national security and unity. He was nicknamed as "''Steady Eddie''" as he campaigned well and gained a steady popularity during the campaign.
He won the seven-way race on [[May 11]], [[1992]], narrowly defeating populist Agrarian Reform Secretary [[Miriam Defensor-Santiago]]. Despite winning, he garnered only 23.5% of the vote, the lowest plurality in the country's history. The election results were marred by allegations of fraud, though cheating on a large scale has not been proven. However, his running mate, Governor Osmeña lost to Senator [[Joseph Estrada]] as Vice President.
==Presidency==
At the time of his assumption into power, Ramos was the oldest person to become president of the Philippines at the age of 66. He is also the first protestant president of the country.
His administration (1992-1998) was characterized by economic boom, technological development, political stability and efficeient delivery of basic needs to the people. During his time, he advocated party platforms as outline and agenda for governance. As in his case, he was the first Christian Democrat to be elected in the country, being the founder of Lakas-CMD (Christian Democratic Party).
===Power Crisis===
The Philippines then was experiencing widespread [[brownouts]] due to huge demand for electricity and antiquity of power plants. During his State of the Nation address on [[July 27]], [[1992]], he requested [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] to enact a law that would create an energy department that would plan and manage the Philippines' energy demands. Congress not just created an energy department but gave him special constitutional powers to resolve the power crisis. Using the powers given to him, Ramos issued licenses to independent power producers to construct power plants within 24 months. The power crisis was resolved in 1994. The state National Power Corporation, however, suffered huge foreign debts when the company was granted loans to repair and replace some of its power plants.
===Economic Reforms===
During his administration, Ramos began implementing economic reforms intended to open up the once-closed national economy, encourage private enterprise, invite more foreign and domestic investment, and reduce corruption. Ramos was also known as the most travelled Philippine President in recent history with numerous foreign trips abroad, generating about US$ 20 billion worth of foreign investments to the Philippines.
To ensure a positive financial outlook on the Philippines, Ramos led the 4th [[Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation]] Leaders' Summit in the Philippines on November 1996. He also instituted reforms in the tax system which includes
a forced increase on VAT (E-VAT law) from 4% to 10% mandated by [[World Bank]] and the [[International Monetary Fund]].
===Peace with separatists===
Ramos, a military general himself, gifted with a concilatory temperament and a statesman's vision, made peace with the rebel panels. One of the contributions was his being instrumental in the signing of the final peace agreement between the government and the [[Moro National Liberation Front]] (MNLF) led by [[Nur Misuari]] in 1996. He also ordered the resumption of peace negotiations with the [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]] (MILF) led by [[Salamat Hashim]] and the [[Communist Party of the Philippines]]-[[National Democratic Front]], which operates the [[New People's Army]], led by [[Jose Maria Sison]].
Ramos created the National Unification Commission and appointed [[Haydee Yorac]] as its chairman. He granted the commission's request for amnesty to rebel military officers of the Reform the Armed forces Movement (RAM), led by [[Gregorio Honasan|Col. Gregorio (Gringo) Honasan]], who led the 1989 [[coup d' etat]] that threatened to oust the [[Corazon Aquino|Aquino administration]](rumors said that he made 50 push-ups for the mutineers before the amnesty).
===Migrant Workers Protection===
One of the downturns of his administration was his experience in handling migrant workers protection. On the eve of his 67th birthday on [[March 17]], [[1995]], Ramos was on a foreign trip when [[Flor Contemplación]] was hanged in [[Singapore]]. His last minute effort to negotiate with [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]] [[Goh Chok Tong]] never succeeded and he was marred with protests after his return to [[Manila]]. The protests also caused the resignation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo and Labor Secretary Nieves Confesor from the [[cabinet secretary|Cabinet]]. He immediately recalled Philippine ambassador to Singapore Alicia Ramos and suspended diplomatic relations to [[Singapore]]. He created a special commission to look into the case and to try and rescue his sagging popularity. The commission was led by retired justice Emilio Gancayco. The Commission recommended the forced resignation of then Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head David Corpin and 13 other government officials, including two labor attachés.
President Ramos also facilitated the enactment of [[Republic Act]] 8042, better known as the Magna Carta for Overseas Workers or the Migrant Workers Act. The Migrant Workers Act was signed into law on [[June 7]], [[1995]]. Learning from the lessons of Contemplación case, Ramos immediately ordered [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] Ambassador Roy Señeres to facilitate negotiations after learning the death penalty verdict of [[Sarah Balabagan]] on September 1995. Balabagan's sentence was lowered and she was released August 1996.
After tensions cooled off, Ramos restored diplomatic relations with [[Singapore]] after meeting [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]] [[Goh Chok Tong]] during the sidelines of the 50th anniversary of the [[United Nations]] in [[Lungsod ng New York|New York City]].
===Final Years as President===
Ramos was accused of corruption in the PEA-AMARI [[Manila Bay]] Reclamation deal. The PEA-AMARI scam tangled the government for years with unexplained disappearance of 6 billion pesos worth of funds.
Towards the end of his term, Ramos talked of amending the Constitution to allow for a second term (the Philippines constitution stipulates a maximum of one six-year term as President). Widespread public protests forced him to drop the demand.
One of his notable contributions to the Philippines was the revival of nationalistic spirit by embarking on a massive promotion campaign for the centennial of Philippine Independence. It was celebrated on [[June 12]], [[1998]]. One of his pet projects was the Centennial Expo and Amphitheater in [[Clark Air Base|Clarkfield]], [[Angeles City]], [[Pampanga]]. The project however marked criticisms from the opposition and his successor, [[Joseph Estrada]] for being overpriced and tainted with graft and corruption. Estrada closed the site after a few months in operation.
==Post-presidency==
After his presidency, Ramos remained one of the many influential political leaders in the Philippines, amidst rumors of his alleged involvement in coup attempts and his alleged want to perpetrate himself in power. He served as [[Carlyle|Carlyle Group]] Asia Advisor Board Member until the board was disbanded in February 2004.
In January 2001, Ramos was instrumental in the success of the [[EDSA II|second EDSA Revolution]], a four-day popular revolt that peacefully overthrew [[President of the Philippines|Philippine president]] [[Joseph Estrada]] that led [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] to the presidency.
He is currently the Chairman Emeritus of the [[Lakas CMD]] (Christian-Muslim Democrats) Party, formerly known as Lakas NUCD-UMDP or the Partido Lakas Tao - National Union of Christian Democrats - Union of Muslim Democrats of the Philippines.
Expressing his belief in continued economic progress, governance and stability, Ramos successfully convinced President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo not to resign from office at the height of the [[2005 Philippine electoral crisis|election-rigging scandal]] in July 2005. Ramos repeatedly stated that the scandal is nowhere as grave as that of People Power Revolutions of 1986 and 2001, citing factors such as the stagnant Philippine economy in the final years of the Marcos regime as well as the allegedly massive corruption of the Estrada administration. He did however push Arroyo into explaining her vocal involvement in the wiretapped conversation with an election official.
When asked about former President Corazon Aquino's active involvement with the opposition on pushing Arroyo to resign from office, Ramos said "Remind her (Aquino) who helped her survive the seven coup de etats during her years in power".
Ramos also unveiled his proposals for constitutional change of the country. Citing economics, globalization and the need to improve governance for all Filipinos, Ramos suggested the government to start the process for charter change with a set deadline in 2007 (by which the new charter and new government will take effect). Ramos supports the transformation of government from the current presidential system into a parliament as he cited the flaws of the democratic system.
===2006===
Recently, Ramos had separate meetings with politicians. The first was held at his Makati City office with the presence of Senate President [[Franklin Drilon]] and former Senator [[Tito Sotto]]. Afterwards, another private meeting followed, this time with President Arroyo.
In relation to the meetings, Ramos rejected invitations from the political opposition and stressed that his support is with the administration. He admitted however that Arroyo and her team has been sluggish in implementing the much-needed reforms which he suggested (including the need for Arroyo to step down from power in 2007). Political adviser Gabriel Claudio confirmed the Ramos-Arroyo meeting and said that a compromise over reforms has been reached.
A high-profile summit of the Lakas-CMD is set to be held on January 15, 2006. The details are yet unknown but speculation suggests that the event will showcase the administration's unity as well as a finalized plan for national reforms and possibly charter change.
==Personal life==
''Eddie'', as friends call him, is married to [[Amelita Ramos|Amelita Martinez]], a consultant of the [[International School Manila]] in Makati, Rizal. They have five daughters: Josephine "Jo", Carolina "Cbula", Cristine "Cristy" and Gloria "Margie". He is a [[Protestant]] making him the destinction of the first non-Catholic president in Philippine history. He is the fourth president of [[Ilocano]] descent (Quirino, Magsaysay and Marcos being the others).
Ramos received his [[Master of Business Administration]] degree from the [[Ateneo de Manila University]] in 1980. He was the first Asian recipient of the [[UNESCO]] Peace Award and was a recipient of various awards and honorary doctorates. In 1997, he was given an honorary doctorate by the [[Ateneo de Manila University]].
Ramos keeps himself physically fit for the severe demands of public service through a variety of sports activities. He is past Vice President of the [[Philippine Olympic Committee]], and past President of the Philippine Badminton Association.
Ramos also served as Chairman Emeritus of the now-defunct [[Urban Bank (Philippines)|Urban Bank]] from 1998 to 2000. He founded the ''Ramos Foundation for Peace and Development'' where its office is located in the Urban Bank Building (now ExportBank Plaza).
==Kasilpo==
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