Advocacy Mindanao: FVR forever

BY JESS DUREZA

FORMER President Fidel V. Ramos was hit to the nationwide members of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) who gathered at Traders Hotel in Metro Manila to celebrate its 50th year founding anniversary recently.

He was 30 minutes early and at the hotel entrance was already bantering with some well-wishers (among them former congressman Bert Lumauig of Banaue).

When Atty. Raul Pangalangan, publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and I came down to welcome him, he welcomed us instead.

He was clad in his favorite barong, with the native Igorot material lining the seams and cuffs. He called his Igorotchi and asserted it was much better than Gucci.

FVR was in his usual jovial self. When I addressed him from the rostrum, “Mr. President,” he interrupted me by calling out aloud from his seat, “Ex-president, ex-president!” as if somebody would be displeased if he used the title. So I had to correct myself!

He listened intently in his seat when Publisher Raul, in briefly introducing him, reminded everyone about the milestones during his presidency that many of us might have forgotten, like today’s cell phones and the landmark opening up of the Philippine economy made possible by his liberalization policy, the progress brought about by the military bases conversion, and his being a “warrior for peace” due to his unprecedented peace initiatives despite being a soldier.

When FVR went to the rostrum to give his message, he first called on everyone to please stand up and warmly hug the next person con todo amour (with all the love).

“Go ahead, embrace each other con todo amour because it is perhaps this way that you can convince our legislators to pass the Freedom of Information Bill,” he quipped.

To further demonstrate his point, he came down from the rostrum and brought up the stage a lady guest and showed everyone how to do it. Naughty him, he got away with several kisses!

When he started his message, he first appeared as if he was looking for his prepared speech. He then reached down to his socks where his papers were tucked, saying: “During the early days, this was where we hid our .45s and ammos.”

CREDIBLE, NOT RESPONSIBLE

He then turned serious and talked about the responsibilities of media and the basic need to be accurate, independent and accountable – hallmarks of a credible press.

No, he preferred not to describe media as “responsible press.”

“It might sound all right at first blush but then, it may be relevant to ask: What do you mean when we say responsible? By whose standards or by what measure do we consider the press responsible? If you ask those in government or in politics, being a responsible press may mean being less a critic and more a publicist. Being called a credible press is better as credibility is earned,” he said.

Touching on the challenges posed by social media on the printed press, he noted: “Today’s social media, as a rule, falls short of this imperative (of veracity or accuracy). For example, one who finds a post in Facebook and immediately shares or reposts or likes what someone else posted without verification falls short of this rigorous attribute.”

WATCHING ‘WATCHDOGS’

He related his natural affection for the press which started when he was still a young boy and his father, the former Foreign Affairs Secretary Narciso Ramos, was himself a journalist, having published the community paper, the Pangasinan News in Lingayen, Pangasinan in the early 1930s.

He called on the media to continue addressing the challenges of press freedom, security and media killings, professionalization and capacitation, redress and self-policing mechanisms, among others.

He welcomed PPI’s planned activation of press councils that would not only provide a grievance mechanism for the public but shall be an ombudsman of sorts to watch over the press.

PRESIDENT AS JUGGLER

FVR then described the difficult role of the Philippine president as a juggler who had to do balancing acts in the air and keeping aloft “at least 10 balls of national problems.”

He stressed: “More importantly, the President himself must never fall off from uncoordinated movements, panic or lack of focus – because the whole nation will also crash with him.”

His message was clearly directed at President Benigno Aquino III, admonishing him not to falter while describing the difficulty and the complexity of being in Malacañang. And he asked everyone to help plug the holes in the “ship of state” lest the whole ship sinks with everyone on board.

He talked of the common challenge for a higher quality of life for Filipinos. He traced our heroes’ defiance of Spanish rule – our early unspoken  longing for freedom.

He stressed that today’s clamor is for independence from poverty and bad governance.  He concluded: “This is why — in a democracy — the country’s business is every citizen’s business, as it is the business of the press.”

And in his trademark call, he asked, at the end of his speech in a booming voice: “Kaya ba natin ito?”

The crowd chorused: “Kayang-kaya!”

But he was not satisfied. Slamming with his hand the rostrum, he barked:  “Napakahina ng sagot nyo dito!”

Of course, the second call got a loud reply from the audience.

He then presided over the awarding of the 2013 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards under the sponsorship of Coca-Cola Philippines. (He was looking for Atty. Adel Tamano, Coke’s Public Affairs and Communications director who was in the Visayas and was able to send only his video message.)

After the program, FVR was literally blocked from leaving the hall by the journalists who swarmed around him. He gamely posed for souvenir pictures and selfies. He stayed and chatted for more than one hour after the program.

STAYING POWER

Many members of the media who had covered him even during his incumbency commented about FVR’s staying power despite his age. He still plays regular golf and prompts everyone to do push ups.

He  continues to hold sway at his lofty office complex at the RPDEV in Makati where he receives regular callers and mulls over with his stream of visitors current national and international issues and events, except during times when he is somewhere abroad sharing his expertise and experience on the global stage.

By force of habit, he has a piece of paper in his pocket where his never-ending schedules are listed. His old bulging wallet, held together with a rubber band, still has giveaway copies of printed Philippine Navy Golf Club score cards showing his golf score of 80 with a teaser: Can you shoot your age in golf or lower?

Yes, FVR (at 85 years old ) has done it eight times!

Can Tiger Woods? No, lacks seniority!

Then, of course, he hands out discreetly, especially to the seniors, a yellow-colored pocket-sized Great Truths About Growing Old which contains saucy data like counting calories when removing a woman’s clothes, etc. etc.

When finally he was able to head for the exit door that night, he told the accompanying ladies who were persistent in asking him about his political plans: “Please, don;t vote for me. Baka manalo ako!”

Then he flashed his thumbs-up sign and familiar grin.

Someone shouted, “FVR, forever!” as he waived goodbye and headed for the stairs. (Nope, not the elevator, folks!)/PN