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The author with FVR.
One of my favorite memories of former President Fidel V. Ramos — FVR — will always be that night in Villamor Air Base.
He was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but he was working even on his birthday.
He was getting off a military plane and I was waiting, plane-side, to ambush him for an interview about yet another rumored coup plot.
My boss at the time, Tina Monzon-Palma, had warned me that FVR did not want to be interviewed.
But she didn’t order me not to, so I carefully sidled up to FVR and casually inquired about why he had a Red Cross badge on the sleeve of his military uniform.
And he said it’s because he had just donated blood in his out-of-town sortie.
I had an opening! I asked about the coup rumours and he gave some safe, generic answer but there was no denial.
A confirmation! I had a story.
FVR was one of the key people at the 1986 EDSA Revolution.
FVR as a cadet.
On another out of town coverage with FVR, who by that time had been appointed Defense Secretary, we stopped by a roadside restaurant for lunch. Mrs. Ming Ramos was with us.
On the table for dessert were beautiful cheeks of ripe mangoes, which were already cris-crossed with slices.
FVR was peeved and complained to Mrs. Ramos. Why did they have to criss-cross the mangoes, he said, when those could be easily scooped-out with a spoon.
The former general was an incorrigible micro-manager. FVR dealt with the details. CSW, complete staff work.
FVR with his family in Malacanang.
FVR with former US President Bill Clinton.
His car was an extension of his office, with color-coded folders and his daily schedule typewritten on a white onion-skin paper folded into his wallet.
Kapag bond paper daw kasi, masyadong makapal.
And he was never without a red sign pen to write his instructions on the side of newspaper clippings.
One morning before dawn, just after he had been elected president but not yet living in Malacanang, my crew and I were allowed to film him at his house in Alabang as he prepared for work.
Already hard at work were four or five members of his security team clipping newspaper articles.
Breakfast was a full meal, heavier than the usual pandesal he shared with soldiers with whom he jogged regularly when he was still a general.
FVR on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" in 2013.
He would muse about how he turned out to be a dove — a peacemaker — when he became president, in spite of his military background. That remains my favorite soundbite from him.
But it always made perfect sense. After all, he said, no one loves peace more than our soldiers, having gone through the horrors of war themselves.
FVR giving an interview to GMA's Richelle Sy in the water.
A light moment with GMA's Ricky Patrimonio before an interview.
In his old age, FVR turned out to be a comic.
Once, he toured our newsroom before a live interview to show off his eyeglasses that no longer had lenses.
He also went around teaching the men how to “combat handshake”.
In an interview at his office in Makati, he challenged my crew to do push-ups with him.
He once back rode with Jay Taruc on a motorbike and gave an interview to our former reporter, Richelle Sy, while in the water.
Thumbs up, FVR.
Thank you for the stories and the memories.
Header: REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/ File Photo
