MANILA — Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who just celebrated his 90th birthday last month, spent part of the Holy Week by visiting fellow veterans confined at the Veterans Memorial Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City on Saturday.
After playing a round of golf at the VMC golf course, Ramos went straight to the veterans’ ward where retired soldiers are confined.
His visit was unannounced to fellow veterans like retired Rear Admiral Brillantes Ochoco, former chief of the Philippine Navy, and retired Army Col. Victor Erpe.
The veterans, who were caught by surprise, were nonetheless happy and privileged to be visited by the former President.
During the visit, Ramos acceded to be photographed through selfie with the veterans, their families and other people at the hospital.
He also gave them encouraging words of advice to prop up their condition towards full recovery.
A believer of God, Ramos had apparently in his mind the passage in the Bible that says: “I was sick and you visited me” (Matthew 25:36).
During the visit, Ramos was accompanied by Defense Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina, administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Dr. Dominador Chong, VMMC chief, retired Maj. Gen. Jose Magno, retired Rear Admiral Vic Agdamag, retired Brig. Gen. Gerry Kagaoan and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Raffy Alunan.
Last Wednesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also visited veterans during the blessing of the new hospital ward.
As a soldier, Ramos fought in Korea during the Korean War, against the Huks, and volunteered in Vietnam during the war, not as a combatant but as a warrior for peace conducting civic action works.
Highly trained in Special Forces, Ramos was the chief of the Philippine Constabulary and was concurrent vice chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the height of the Mindanao war waged by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from 1974 to 1986. (Ben Cal/PNA)
