160. FVR & NYP
Our country’s 12th president was laid to rest today at the Libingan ng mga
Bayani situated within Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Metro Manila. It was
during the incumbency of President Fidel Valdez Ramos when I started my
youth-related journeys beginning when I was chosen as one of the delegates to
the ever 1st National Youth Parliament (NYP), one of the programs of the
National Youth Commission (NYC).
The NYC is a government agency that specifically addresses issues concerning
the Filipino youth. It was founded on June 30, 1995 by virtue of Republic Act
8044 or the "Youth in Nation-Building Act of 1995". One of the
mandates of the Commission is to convene the NYP every two years. The NYP is a
three-day convention of youth leaders wherein policy recommendations are
formulated to address youth issues, and serve as the government’s guide in
policy formulation and program development. Since 1996, youth leaders gathered
every two years to share ideas and gain valuable insights and networks to aid
them in their youth development efforts.
On December 10, 1996, this humble representation, together with 190 men and
women youth leaders from all over the 16 regions (now 17 regions) of the
country plus 60 delegates from the national organizations, special youth,
out-of-school youth, in-school youth and working youth submitted to President
Ramos 116 Resolutions concerning the Philippine youth of our era at Malacañang,
Manila. I was a delegate for the National Organizations representing the
Jaycees (now formally known as Junior Chamber International or JCI) and
authored a Resolution establishing the National Youth Parliament Alumni
Association (NYPAA). The Parliament commenced on December 8 and lasted for
three days.
Fidel Valdez Ramos (March 18, 1928-July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and
Eddie Ramos, served as President of the Philippines from June 30, 1992 to June
30, 1998. He was the only career military officer who reached the rank of
five-star general/admiral de jure. Ramos rose through the ranks in the
Philippine military early in his career from second lieutenant, became Chief of
the Philippine Constabulary and Vice Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines during the term of President (1965-1986) Ferdinand E. Marcos.
During the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Ramos was hailed as a hero by
many Filipinos for his decision to break away from the administration of
President Marcos and pledge allegiance and loyalty to the newly established
government of President (1986-1992) Corazon C. Aquino. Ramos served in the
cabinet of President Aquino, first as Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), and later as Secretary of National Defense from 1986 to
1991. He was credited with the creation of the Philippine Army's Special Forces
and the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.
FVR was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing
international confidence in the Philippine economy during his six years in the
presidency under the Philippines 2000, his socio-economic program earning us
the moniker ‘Tiger Cub Economy in Asia.’ He is also remembered for steadfastly
promoting the principles of people empowerment and global competitiveness. In
1993, he put an end to the power crisis that crippled Filipino homes and
industries for two years. After his retirement, he remained active in politics,
serving as adviser to his successors. Last July 31, FVR, or may I christen him,
Tiger Eddie, died at the age of 94 from complications of COVID-19.
A couple of days ago, from July 28 to 29, the 13th National Youth Parliament
(NYP) – Region 2 Assembly convened with 95 youth parliamentarians coming from
the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. The Assembly
hosted by the Province of Isabela wrapped-up with the turn-over of nine
Resolutions, an output of discussions and workshops from the two-day lecture on
parliamentary procedures and resolution writing held at the Isabela Convention
Center (ICON) in Cauayan City. Chairman of the 13th NYP-R2 Charlene C. Laggui,
presided the turn-over of the resolutions to the National Youth Commission
represented by ASec Laurence Anthony D. Diestro, NYC Commissioner-at-Large and
the Provincial Government of Isabela led by SK Provincial Federation President
Dax Paolo C. Binag on
July 30, 2022 at the Provincial Capitol in Alibagu, City of Ilagan, Isabela.
Our office, the Isabela Tourism Office was tasked to arrange tours in the City
of Ilagan and Reina Mercedes town for the delegates.
Anchored on the nine centers of participation identified in the Philippine
Youth Development Plan to maximize youth involvement in nation-building, the
NYP-R2 Resolutions include policy recommendations on pressing issues affecting
the youth in the region namely in the following fields: education, health,
social inclusion and equity, peace-building and security, active citizenship,
global mobility, environment, governance, and economic empowerment.
The 1st NYP was a very memorable event in my life for it was in this youth
assembly when I felt the power of being a Filipino youth who must give his time
and efforts for nation building. It was during this period when I coined the
term: “The Role Of Youth in nation building” or “TROY in nation building.” I
used this phrase in my campaign as a local legislator during the May 11, 1998
national and local elections. Many of my colleagues in the Youth Parliament ran
for public office and became councilors, vice mayors, mayors, provincial board
members and others held appointed positions in the national government. The NYC
then (1995-1998) was chaired by Amina Rasul-Bernardo (daughter of Senator
Santanina T. Rasul) who organized the newly established NYC and one of the six
Commissioners eventually became Senate President - Aquilino Martin D. Pimentel
III.
During the last two years of the Ramos administration, I was a regular fixture
at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang Palace whenever there were national gatherings
pertaining to the environment, culture and the arts and politics particularly
with regards to the activities of the political party of the President. I took
my oath as a member of the dominant ruling party, the Lakas ng Tao–National
Union of Christian Democrats–United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines
(Lakas–NUCD–UMDP), now known as Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas–CMD).
This was my first and only political party since I first ran for office as
Councilor of Cabatuan until I resigned my elective post in 2015. Also in the
same year, my wife was inducted as a member of the Lakas up to present. In
1998, I personally campaigned for the LAKAD Party-list, the youth arm of Lakas chaired
by Joey De Venecia (Jose III), the son of Speaker Jose C. De Venecia, Jr.
However, the party-list lost. This was the first election for the party-list
and people are not aware of this system. It was only on March 3, 1995 when
Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act was born.
FVR was my idol right from the very moment when I had a picture with him in the
palace during the NYP. I saw and felt his stamina and dynamism first hand as he
talked to us in a fatherly manner urging us to be instruments for building a
better Philippines. He stressed the importance of unity, solidarity and
teamwork (UST) by all sectors to resolve any problem confronting the country.
The last time I saw FVR was during the Tripartite Conference on the Philippine
Roadmap for the Paris Accord, Transition to Climate Economy at the Manila Hotel
last May 29, 2017. He wore his traditional veterans cap dotted with numerous
military medals, insignias and patches. I took the chance to have a selfie with
him and congratulated him for his services to the country. He strongly gripped
my hand and said “Kaya natin ‘to!” (We can do it!).
Mga Komento
Mag-post ng isang Komento