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Fidel RamosPhilippine general and president of the country.
Date of Birth: 01.01.1928
Country:  Philippines |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Fidel Valdez Ramos was born on March 18, 1928, in Lingayen, Pangasinan. His father, Narciso Ramos, was a parliament member and foreign minister. In 1946, Fidel ("Eddie") Ramos received a government scholarship to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Military Career
Ramos graduated from West Point in 1950 and earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois in the same year. He served with the Philippine Expeditionary Force in Korea in 1952 and was the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Civic Action Group in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. As the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary in 1972, Ramos enforced President Marcos's declaration of martial law.
EDSA Revolution
In 1986, when Marcos attempted to rig elections, the military conspired against him, led by Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. Enrile and Ramos rallied their supporters and pledged their support to Corazon Aquino. Mass defections of military units to Aquino's side and widespread demonstrations led to the collapse of the regime; the dictator and his family fled the country.
Ramos was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, while Enrile became Minister of Defense in Aquino's new government. They convinced her to abandon negotiations with communist rebels and to remove leftist cabinet members. Ramos remained loyal to Aquino and successfully quelled coup attempts, becoming Defense Minister in January 1988.
Presidency (1992-1998)
Aquino endorsed Ramos as her successor, and he became President on June 30, 1992. His economic program focused on privatization and foreign investment, and vital power plants were built during his tenure. The Philippine economy continued to grow in 1994-1995, helping Ramos's coalition win a majority in the 1995 congressional elections. Ramos declined to run for a second presidential term, stepping down in 1998.
