FVR’s grandson thanks nation for love, honors president who ‘never took it easy’

On the last night of the wake of the late former President Fidel V. Ramos, his grandson Sam Ramos Jones expressed the family's thanks for all who joined them in grieving his passing and in celebrating his life.

Sam, son of Ramos' daughter Angel, eulogized the former Chief Executive's life from when he was a young man to becoming an officer and the country's President. 

"Over the past week, our family has been awe-struck and overwhelmed by the support and love that this nation has shown," Sam said after political and business leaders as well as family members took turns in honoring Ramos.

"It has been truly a humbling and privileged experience to see just how many people from all sectors, from all ends of the political spectrum, from all walks of life, and from all over the world Lolo was able to touch," he added.

Ramos, the country's 12th president, passed away on July 31.

“Having ascended to the highest office in the land, Lolo became the first Filipino officer in history to hold every rank in the Armed Forces from the second lieutenant all the way to commander in chief," Sam said.

"And having reached the apex of his career, he never took it easy,” he added.

Sam recalled how Ramos governed the country with teamwork.

“He worked with all sectors of society and reached out across political divides to form a rainbow coalition. He would work with anyone and everyone so long they are interested in getting down to work too,” Sam said.

“He also listened because he knew that no one person has all the answers. His approach to governance was through consultation and frank discussions. He was open to criticism and did not take it personally," he added.

"But he was also decisive in his decision-making and crucially, he took full responsibility for the decisions he made. He showed us a model for representative democracy, good governance, and crucially, effective governance,” Sam said.

Born on March 18, 1928, in Lingayen, Pangasinan to diplomat and lawmaker Narciso Ramos and educator Angela Valdez, Ramos graduated with a military engineering degree from the US Military Academy at West Point.

He was also a veteran who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Ramos was the country's president from 1992 to 1998.

He succeeded Corazon Aquino, whom he served as chief of staff of the Armed Forces and later secretary of national defense.

“The history of EDSA has sadly become a present culture war debate. In those politicized narratives, we often lose sight of the simpler unifying truths that the EDSA revolution was bloodless and it by itself, can be thought of as a miracle,” Sam said.

“That the AFP did not fracture, that this country was spared from a potential civil war, before, during, and after EDSA is one of FVR's greatest, most enduring, and perhaps under-appreciated legacies," he added.

"Underpinning Lolo’s actions of EDSA were his convictions as a democrat, and a Christian. Ultimately,  regardless of chain of commands or hierarchies or blood ties, his faith taught him that in times of moral crisis, a man must be answerable to God and his conscience alone,” Sam said.

“FVR heard and answered his call to duty, honor, and country,” he added.

Sam hoped Ramos' passing would not be seen as a “passing of a generation” but a “passing of the torch”.

“In his later years, FVR spoke often of and to the younger ones. A generation of Filipinos that would have to take up the mantle of leadership. He recognized the world is changing, and that there are new threats we must face," Sam said.

"To protect our environment, maintain regional security and adapt to rapidly evolving technology. He recognized too that long-standing problems remain— malnutrition, poverty, ignorance, and corruption,” he added.

“This is the challenge, this is the opportunity that lies before us. To truly honor FVR's legacy, let us then be dedicated to the unfinished task that remains. The great task of protecting and perfecting this republic,” Sam said. —NB, GMA News