FVR to launch latest book Wednesday

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 14): FVR to launch latest book Wednesday

Former President Fidel V. Ramos will launch his latest book “FVR XYZ Files” at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City on Wednesday.

In an interview, Ramos popularly known as FVR said his newest book is “an Anthology of Controversies &, Anecdotes & Trivia” about him all these years spanning over six decades, starting as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, as a soldier, as Philippine president and as a statesman and ordinary citizen.

Ramos graduated from West Point, class 1950 and was commissioned as second lieutenant.

Eighteen days after graduation, he, together with 114 newly graduated cadets volunteered for combat during the Korean War.

It was in Korea where the young 2nd Lt. Ramos got his baptism of fire.

As a member of the famed Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK), Ramos led a reinforcement reconnaissance patrol from the 20th Infantry tasked to capture the most crucial ground called Eerie Hill occupied by Chinese communist troopers.

Eerie Hill’s landscape is like the plains of Central Luzon where the imposing Mount Arayat is located. Whoever occupies the strategic hill controls the roadways down the slopes and the connecting arterial roads spread over a mile and a half.

Despite being at the disadvantaged point, Ramos and his men fought a bloody close quarter battle against the Chinese troopers.

Before assaulting Eerie Hill, PEFTOK artillery pounded Chinese position. Seven United States F-86 Sabre fighter jets dropped bombs on Chinese position.

As soon as the bombing stopped, Ramos led his troops in assaulting the hill where they were met with heavy resistance from some Chinese who stayed put.

This triggered a fierce gun battle between Ramos’ group and the Chinese, but the Filipinos prevailed and captured the strategic Eerie Hill.

After returning from Korea, Ramos was given various assignments in fighting the Huks in Luzon.

Then he was assigned at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) before he was promoted and held various positions in the AFP as Constabulary chief and concurrent AFP vice chief of staff, later as AFP chief of staff and defense secretary.

Gen. Ramos is highly remembered during the People Power revolution in February 1986 when he defected to the military rebels of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Col. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan that toppled the 20-year strongman rule of President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

It was during his military career, and later as the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines that he had a vast experience in public service.

Ramos has plenty of jokes in his pocket and always a cynosure in any occasion when he tells jokes to make everyone laugh.

During his active duty, Ramos was always hands-on in his job. He always made it a point to visit his troops in far-flung areas in the country, particularly Sulu, Basilan, mainland Mindanao during the war in the 1970s and 1980s against the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF), and also in Eastern Visayas where the New People’s Army (NPA) had its headquarters.

As President he continued his travel to various points in the country to feel the people’s pulse and especially during disasters, including terrorist attacks, particularly in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur where the Abu Sayyaf burned the town.

His new book “FVR XYZ Files will be a fascinating book for the public to read.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=12&sid=&nid=12&rid=963883