New FVR book marks foundation's 15th year

Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Friday launched his newest book in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV).

“We must make this more than just birthing a book, but that we must show to our Filipino people, especially the millennials - these are the young people who are the hope of our mother land. What we tried to depict to you in the book is the better future that all Filipinos, young or old, rich or poor, or whatever religious faith and ethnic origin deserve to have,” Ramos said during the launch held at the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) at Diliman in Quezon City.

Ramos’ book titled “RPDEV at 15: Our Continuing Voyage for Enduring Peace and Sustainable Development”, was authored by his family's biographer Melandrew Velasco. The book looks back at the accomplishments of the RPDEV Foundation, including the six-year legacy of Ramos’ presidency which focused on socio-economic reforms.

Presentation of the book by the author Melandrew Velasco to RPDEV. pic.twitter.com/Z6gVQTTnY1

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) April 21, 2017

Former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos launches newest book titled "RPDEV @ 15: Our Continuing Voyage for Enduring Peace and Sustainable Development" pic.twitter.com/j2gauGFu1A

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) April 21, 2017

Velasco, who is also the president of Media Touchstone Ventures Inc. (MTVI) which published the book, thanked Ramos whom he considered a “second father.”

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco, for his part, said that the book was a “must-read legacy book for all past, present, future leaders in both government and private sectors, the academe, scholars, and students since it speaks volumes on good governance and best practices.”

Meanwhile, Ramos took the opportunity to lament that the Philippines was only ranked 116th out of the 190 countries in the United Nations’ Human Development Index. The country should have ranked higher given the Filipinos’ knowledge and talent, and the country’s geopolitical position in the middle of two world super powers.

“We chose RPDEV as the name of the foundation because it is not really about Ramos, RP – Republic of the Philippines Development. We try to push some policies, some programs, projects, some reforms upward and upward and upward until we reach a position of competence, of dignity, and even of admiration from the rest of the world,” the former president explained.

“Pero mga kasama, saan tayo ngayon? Dahil sa matinding politika natin… Pero ngayon, 116 out of 190 aba nasa kulelat ‘yan… I make a point of this because we used to be on the upper half, a little over 25 years ago,” he added.

NOW: Former President Fidel V. Ramos delivers his speech. pic.twitter.com/ciM25B6wxm

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) April 21, 2017

Moreover, Ramos mentioned that he was in favor of amending the 1987 Constitution.

“Sobra na ang tindi ng ating pulitika. Take our 1987 Constitution for instance. It was formulated by 50 of the best and brightest of Filipinos in 1986, 1987. It’s still there, I’m not saying it’s no good, but I’m saying that it must be amended from time to time. It’s because the world around us and the Philippines itself is changing almost every day,” he said.

“If we go through this formula, this process, this long journey as I call it which is not done during a one term of a president, but must be a generational process involves especially the ordinary people. If we develop that kind of teamwork, I’m sure we’ll be in the top 20 of 195 nations of the world, if not higher. Kaya natin ‘to.” — DVM, GMA News