🇵🇭 A Farewell to Fidel Ramos

It was also during his presidency that the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a peace agreement in 1997. Together with MNLF chair Nur Misuari, Ramos was awarded the coveted 1997 Unesco Peace Prize—the first for Asians.

Ramos has often been credited for resuscitating the economy back to a desirable growth path and allowing the country to rid itself of the shameful reputation as “the sick man of Asia.’’

When the financial crisis of 1997 led many emerging economies in the region to the brink of collapse, foreign lenders and investment analysts predicted that the Philippines was likely to turn the corner earlier than its peers. Much of the credit for such optimism went to President Ramos, who stood out for successfully reviving the economy that was severely weakened by several coup attempts and political instability during the final years of the Aquino presidency.

The success of the People Power revolt may have given the reluctant rebel confidence to act with a fresh forwardness. Some of it paid off for Ramos: running for the presidency, for example, in 1992 and confidently taking his place as a member of the very male-dominated global power brokers. After his term in office, he also helped pass a landmark reproductive rights law, against deep opposition from hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. He did come to regret a few things: support for Rodrigo Duterte, whom he served briefly in 2016 before quitting the controversial president’s administration. 

In a memorable moment of the revolt, as the tide turned against Marcos, Ramos jumped in triumph with his hands high up while Enrile was rallying a crowd under a Philippine flagpole, drawing applause and cheers from rebel forces. The scene was captured by an AP and a few other photojournalists and had been reenacted by Ramos each year during the anniversary of the revolt, until age and his failing health prevented him from showing up.

Marcos, his family and cronies were driven into U.S. exile, where he died in 1989.

After Aquino rose to the presidency, Ramos became the military chief of staff and later defense secretary, successfully defending her from several violent coup attempts.

In 1992, Ramos won the presidential elections and became the largely Roman Catholic nation’s first Protestant president. His term was marked by major reforms and attempts to dismantle telecommunications and other business monopolies that triggered a rare economic boom, bolstered the image of the impoverished Southeast Asian country and drew praise from business leaders and the international community.

Early in his career, Mr. Ramos was a Marcos loyalist who commanded a security force that committed human rights abuses and arrested thousands of dissidents, including Ms. Aquino’s husband, Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., who was imprisoned for years, exiled and then assassinated on the day of his return. Critics called Mr. Ramos a ruthless Marcos henchman.

But Mr. Ramos, who insisted he was only enforcing law and order, was later hailed as a national hero for making a moment-of-truth decision to break with President Marcos, sounding the death knell for his regime, and swearing allegiance to the Constitution and to Ms. Aquino. She named him armed forces chief and then defense minister, but did not endorse him for the presidency.

Narrowly elected in a plurality, Mr. Ramos took office vowing not to be a carbon copy of Ms. Aquino. “She has done her job, which is to establish political freedom,” he told The Far Eastern Economic Review. “But the second phase is to strengthen democracy. My priority is unifying the country.”