Sen Bong Revilla's speech honoring FVR
SPONSORSHIP OF SEN. RAMON BONG REVILLA JR.
OF PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION 74
HONORING FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL V. RAMOS
1 August 2022
Mr. President, I stand before you and all our colleagues in deep sorrow, as I sponsor my Proposed Senate Resolution 74.
Kahapon ay malungkot nating natanggap ang balitang pumanaw na ang isa sa pinakamahusay na pinuno na nanilbihan ng tapat, matapang at masigasig sa ating bansa. Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, or FVR as he was called, passed away at the age of 94.
Mr. President, it was President Ramos who convinced me to join public service when he invited me to Lakas-NUCD, now Lakas-CMD. Some three decades since, I have not known any other Party as I continue to be with Lakas as its present Co-Chair. So has our Chairman Emeritus FVR. We have been with Lakas through thick and through thin, as Lakas has been with us. In the darkest times of my life, when I was in Crame for almost five years, FVR was by my side. He would send me books to read. Lagi niya akong pinapayuhan, binibigyan ng pag-asa, at katatagan.
He was my first and true mentor when I forayed into politics. I was only 28 years old then. I was at the peak of my acting career. Sinasabi ko nga po na bago ako pumasok sa pulitika – sa pelikula, isang suntok; isang gulong; isang halik; ayos na, masarap pa yung halik. Eh sa pulitika, gagawa ka na ng tama, gagawin ka pang kontrabida.
But FVR made a very strong impression on me when he said – Bong, utang natin sa mga tao na tumatangkilik, nagtitiwala, at sumusuporta sa atin kung sino tayo. The opportunity to serve and give back is rarely given, kaya pag dumating ito, there is no choice but to grab it by the horns. Mahal ka ng Cavite. Ipakita natin ang pagmamahal natin sa kanila.
Kasama ko po noon si dating NBI Director, dating Governor, na dati ring DILG Secretary Epimaco Velasco nang una ko pong makaharap si FVR. From that moment, until I eventually ran for and was elected as Cavite's Vice Governor in 1995, and up to this day, FVR is an inspiration and an example I greatly look up to.
Sabi nga po noon sa Cavite, ang ibig sabihin ng FVR ay Fidel Velasco Revilla.
His love for Cavite as his second home shined through our many collaborations. Alam po yan ni Senator Tol dahil naging constituent po namin si FVR at First Lady Ming sa Tagaytay. We worked on projects together and envisioned a brighter and better Philippines for every Filipino. Iyan pong itinatayo ngayon na Cavite LRT Line 1 extension na naaprubahan ng NEDA noong year 2000 under the GMA presidency, was first conceived when FVR was President and this humble representation was Governor of Cavite. Gayundin po ang sinisikap pa rin nating conversion ng Sangley Point to an International Port.
Ito pong tinatawag na PPP o Conditional Cash Transfer, una po naming nabuo at ipinatupad sa Cavite noong 1997 kung saan nagbibigay tayo ng tulong-puhunan sa mga maliliit na gusto magnegosyo, na siya namang ipinapasa ang kanilang nahiram sa mga susunod sa kanila.
He was our country’s Centennial President at ako naman Centennial Governor ng Cavite, kaya’t nang sinalubong natin ang Sentenaryo ng ating bansa naging malaking karangalan ko po na gumanap bilang Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo sa programa sa Quirino Grandstand.
Hindi po matatawaran ang pamana ni FVR sa bansa, Ginoong Pangulo. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pamumuno ay umahon ang Pilipinas mula sa mga krisis na bumabalot sa bawat Pilipino ng mga panahong iyon.
His Presidency was not a walk in the park. His predecessors left insurmountable crises that not even them could have endured. He came to power when the Philippines was just reeling from the aftermath of the Luzon earthquake, strong typhoons, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, and the gulf crisis. And before he even began his term, the Philippines faced a crisis of insufficient electrical generating capacity. Natatandaan natin ang mga rotational brownouts, na minsan mas nagtatagal pa kaysa sa oras na mayroong kuryente. He also inherited a chaotic time of rebels seeking to take power.
Bangayan at sigalot –It was a time when the forces wanted to take advantage of the disarray. He inherited a struggling economy and rising prices. And he had to take action quickly, and not one second too late.
It is true many criticize the decisions he made as President, but make no mistake, he made these decisions only for the best of the nation. He was in an impossible situation. Kung hindi dahil sa kanyang matatag na pagdedesisyon, baka hindi na tayo nakabangon pa sa mga kinahaharap nating mga problema noon.
FVR did not just dream of bringing the country to international prominence, he actually brought us there. Sa ilalim ng kanyang panunungkulan, nakipag-sabayan ang Pilipinas sa ating mga karatig bansa sa pagsulong.
Like the true soldier and leader that he was, he went to war, made the tough choices, offered no excuses, and never rested until his tour was over. It is no exaggeration that he never rested. Even in the golf course, trabaho parin.
As many, if not all, of his Cabinet would attest, it was very difficult to have him as a boss because he was a perfectionist and expected no less from his men. He strived to ensure that things are not simply done but done excellently.
His Philippines 2000 was widely successful and one of the many highlights of his years in steering the nation to greater heights. He succeeded in establishing relative political stability after years of turmoil - producing economic growth and a reduction of poverty from 41 percent (41%) of the population to about 30 percent (30%).
Under his leadership, the economy surged and poverty rates fell through his Social Reform Agenda. Maraming mga mahihirap ang nakatamasa ng ginhawa sa kanyang pamumuno. The average family income grew more during President Ramos’ administration than in the previous twenty years. The growth of the country’s Gross National Product (GNP) which was at 0.72% in 1991, rose to 8.42% in 1998.
He broke monopolies that crippled the nation. He rehabilitated industries. The then ailing electricity sector was restored. He entered into major peace agreements with separatists, communist insurgents, and military rebels that helped mend decades-old wounds.
Higit pa, siya ay isang true servant leader – a man for others. His undying service continued even after his presidency – kahit natapos na ang kanyang termino, hindi nag-wakas ang kanyang paninilbihan sa bayan. His mantra – Kaya natin ‘to! He became our country’s north star from whom we derived strength and inspiration.
Mr. President, simply put, FVR’s legacy is the foundation upon which later administrations have built upon. Ang kanyang pamana – ang pagbangon ng Pilipinas mula sa pagiging “sick man of Asia”, sa pagiging “Asia’s Rising Tiger.”
By the time we celebrated our nation’s Centennial in 1998, just about 2 weeks before he stepped-down from Office, the Philippines has done a 180 from when he assumed the Presidency.
His was a relevant presidency – he answered the problems, with the right attitude at the right time.
Kaya naman napakalaking kawalan Ginoong Pangulo ang kanyang pagpanaw. While his passing is a great loss to me, to my Party Lakas-CMD, and to those who personally know him, our loss does not compare to the loss of our country.
The death of President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who was an international diplomat, a valiant soldier, and a champion in public and civic service, is a great loss for all the Filipino people.
Mr. President, what we have is a borrowed life. Darating tayo sa panahon na tayo ay papanaw.
Kung hindi man tayo matatandaan kung sino-sino tayo, ang mga nagawa natin ay mauukit at mananalaytay sa kasaysayan at sa mga tao.
Si FVR, maybe the next generation may no longer know him, pero ang kanyang mga nagawa – his exceptional legacy – shall continue to be etched in our country’s history and in our people’s memories. As the whole country mourns his passing, we honor his life and legacy. He was one of the best!
Rest in Peace, My President FVR!
Ipagpapapatuloy at itataguyod naming ang inyong naumpisahan.
Patuloy po ninyo kaming patnubayan at gabayan.
Ang amin pong pakikiramay sa lahat ng inyong naiwan.
Thank you Mr. President.