Fidel Valdez Ramos

Fidel V. Ramos was the eight president of the Third Philippine Republic.
He was born on Mach 18, 1928 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.  He is the eldest of the three children of Narciso Ramos and Angela Valdez.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point in 1950.  He later earned his master’s degree in civil engineering in the University of Illinois.  He returned in the Philippines in 1951 and became a heavy weapon platoon leader of the Armed Forces.  He then saw military service in Korea and Vietnam.  He was appointed commander of the Philippine Constabulary in 1972 (now the Philippine National Police), chief of the Integrated National Police (1975), and vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces (1981).  He became the interim chief of staff in 1983 when Fabian Ver, then chief of staff, was investigated for complicity in the assassination of oppositionist leader Benigno S. Aquino Jr.

In 1986, Ferdinand Marcos apparently tried to steal the presidential election from Maria Corazon Aquino, Benigno’s widow.  Ramos joined Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile in seizing the headquarters of the Armed Forces.  The ensuing People Power Revolution pushed Marcos into exile in the United States.  Aquino was then installed as president.  She then appointed Ramos as the Armed Forces chief of staff.  Two years later, Ramos became the Secretary of National Defense in 1992.
In 1992, he ran and won in the presidential election.  As president, he prioritized the restructuring of the bureaucracy that gave significant increase in the power of the provincial administrations. He encourage more foreign investment, particularly in tourism, as part of the thrust of the growth strategy.
Fidel V. Ramos is married to Amelita Martinez and the father of five daughters.

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Category: Philippine Presidents