MANILA — At 87, former President Fidel V. Ramos is still full of vigor — playing golf twice a week, writing his weekly column for the Manila Bulletin, but most of all reading the Holy Bible daily and going to church to sustain his spiritual growth.
Ramos, who is popularly called FVR, celebrates his 87th birthday on Wednesday with members of his family and close friends, according to Mae Gapud of the Ramos Peace Development Foundation Inc. (RPDEV), a non-partisan, non-profit, non-stock organization dedicated to the promotion of peace and development in the Philippines and in the Asia-Pacific region.
On weekend, FVR sets aside Saturday and Sunday to play an 18-hole golf game with friends. Despite his advancing age, FVR is tireless hitting the golf ball hard like a young golf player.
As former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and later as Defense secretary, Ramos travelled a lot visiting frontline troops fighting rebel groups in Mindanao and other parts of the country to give his moral support.
When he was elected the 12th President of the Philippines, FVR also travelled a lot, visiting the countryside and across the globe to promote the Philippines and invite foreign investors to invest in the country.
Now that he is retired, FVR’s pastime is writing his weekly column for the Manila Bulletin and book writing.
So far, FVR has written 19 books and counting. He still travels a lot abroad as guest of prestigious organizations in the United States and Asia.
His latest foreign travel was in Myanmar where he spoke before the Yangon International Water Group.
As a senior statesman, FVR’s battle cry is “Sharing, daring and caring” for the good of the country.