Two great Filipino leaders

A fellowship program that aims to cultivate and inculcate the enduring legacy of the late president Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) was launched yesterday at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman in Quezon City. Named after him, the UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and The FVR Legacy Initiative officially unveiled FIDEL V. RAMOS LEAD4R Fellowship Program on Advanced Governance and Leadership for Public Sector Reform.

In simple ceremonies, the fellowship program was launched to mark the 96th birth anniversary of the late president. Born on March 18, 1928, FVR died on July 31, 2022 at age 94. His wife, former first lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, received the plaque of appreciation on behalf of the rest of the family.

The State University is very close to the heart of FVR, who studied at the UP High School in Manila, which is now the UP Integrated School in Diliman. Ramos received 28 honorary doctorate degrees in his lifetime, including a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, from the UP.

A soldier who became a statesman through various leadership roles he played for his beloved country, the newly launched fellowship program cited FVR for having “solidly affixed democratic principles to economic development, and in succeeding, gave his nation, the region and the world a leadership model worthy of emulation.”

“He undertook these roles by systematically attending to both political and economic empowerment. The economic growth that he thought to be the true foundation for democratic reform defined his presidency, both in his home country and internationally,” the fellowship program further cited.

The fellowship program is a public-private sector partnership that advances the FVR Legacy of Leadership, Governance and Reform. The UP-NCPAG will implement it, through its Center for Leadership Citizenship and Democracy (CLCD) in collaboration with the MAP and The FVR Legacy Initiative co-chaired by FVR’s daughter Angel Ramos and former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo.

The program consists of an advanced governance and leadership course for continuing professional education. It is