Supporters, progressives, friends pay tribute to FVR

Supporters, progressives, and friends on Sunday visited the wake of former President Fidel V. Ramos at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

According to Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras Weekend”, several visitors came from the provinces to pay their last respects to the former Chief Executive who passed away last week at the age of 94.

“Ito ay pasasalamat ko kay FVR dahil yung unang bisita ni [dating US President Bill] Clinton ako ang naatasan ni FVR na mag-assist sa mag-asawang Bill Clinton at Hillary Clinton,” a supporter said.

(This is my way of thanking FVR because when former US President Bill Clinton first visited the country, FVR assigned me to assist Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.)

“Parang may utang na loob ang mga taga-Pampanga kay FVR. Unang-una yung mega-dike. Kung wala yung FVR megadike baka lumubog na siguro ang San Fernando,” Lyndon Dizon, a supporter from Pampanga, said.

(The people of Pampanga are indebted to FVR. First, because of the mega-dike. Without the FVR mega-dike, San Fernando might have been flooded over.)

Christian Mistica, a member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, said they admired Ramos who was a great support of their organization.

Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and former lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza also paid their last respects to Ramos.

“Every time sa public na magkikita kami gusto niya kunan kami ng litrato. Siya ay [naka-thumbs up] at ako ay [nakataas ang kamao], magkatabi kami” Ocampo said.

(Every time we meet in public, he wants a picture taken with us. He would give a thumbs up and I would have my fist raised, we're right next to each other.)

“Alam naman natin na military ang kanyang background pero siya lang ang Presidente na open sa lahat,” Castro added.

(We know that he had a military background. But he was the only president who is open to everyone.)

“Ina-appreciate namin yung kanyang sinseridad tungo sa landas ng kapayapaan,” Maza said.

(We appreciated his sincerity towards the path of peace.)

On the other hand, hairstylist Ricky Reyes said that Ramos was “like a father” to him.

“There was a point in time when he was offering me to adopt me already as a Ramos. But I said no. I think for me friendship is the most important,” Reyes said.

For his part, historian Xiao Chua called Ramos a hero of democracy for helping lead the People Power Revolution in 1986.

“Kumbaga, hero of People Power. Kahit naging Presidente siya lagi niyang pinapaalala na mahalaga ang demokrasya, matuto tayo sa leksyon ng nakaraan,” Chua said.

(In a way, he was the hero of People Power. Even when he became president, he always reminded us that democracy is important and let's learn from the lessons of the past.)

On Saturday, former President Joseph Estrada and several senators similarly attended the wake.

The senators also re-enacted Ramos’ popular “FVR Jump”.

The public viewing of the urn containing the ex-Presidents’ ashes will be open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, August 8, at Chapels 2 to 4.

Malacañang earlier announced that Ramos would be accorded a state funeral with full military honors on August 9.

The burial will be at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News