Ramos, Fidel Valdez (1928-2022), was president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He succeeded Corazon Aquino, who had become president in 1986 after an election in which she had forced the resignation of Ferdinand Marcos. Ramos increased the democratic and economic reforms begun during Aquino’s presidency. He also was the first Protestant to be elected as president of the country, where most of the people are Roman Catholics.
Ramos was born on March 18, 1928, in Lingayen, in Pangasinan province. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in the United States in 1950 and completed a master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Illinois in 1951. After returning to the Philippines, he became an officer in the Philippine army. Under President Marcos, he became commanding general of the Philippines Constabulary in 1972 and was vice chief of staff of the armed forces. In 1986, Ramos supported Aquino’s bid for the presidency, and he became chief of staff of the armed forces during her administration. In November 1986, he demonstrated his loyalty to the new president by refusing to join a right-wing attempt to overthrow the government.
As president, Ramos increased stability in the nation. He reached peace agreements with two antigovernment guerrilla groups, one a Communist organization and the other a Muslim separatist organization in the southern Philippines. His policies strengthened and improved the Philippine economy. Ramos died on July 31, 2022.
