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"Along EDSA: yellow,
Cory Aquino's campaign color, also associated with the hope surrounding Ninoy's return,
was everywhere. Venders were selling yellow ribbons, yellow t-shirts, yellow fans and
umbrellas, yellow pennants, yellow everything. Because this is the Philippines, the
people's faith was as eloquent as the yellow emblems . . ." Sister Sheila Lucey |
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home > the people > fidel v. ramos
 Fidel Ramos was one of the highest
ranking officers in armed forces during the rule of Marcos. He headed the Philippine
Constabulary and served as the vice chief of staff for the AFP (Armed Forces of the
Philippines). Ramos also belonged to a special circle of associates the president, known
as the Rolex 12 (the name Rolex 12 was coined up because there were 12 members of the
circle and they all received Rolex watches in return for their allegiance with Marcos).
Things made a sudden
180-degree turn during the late weeks of February 1986, as the revolution against the
government grew in momentum. Along with Juan Ponce Enrile (another high-ranking official
in the Marcos government), they sided with Corazon Aquino in dethroning Ferdinand Marcos
during the revolution with the resistance centered in Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo along
EDSA.
After the revolution, Ramos
was promoted to the position of chief of staff in the armed forces, then in 1988 as the
defense minister of the Philippines. He also helped the resistance against a series of
coup attempts against the Aquino government, which boosted his popularity with the people.
In 1992, he won a narrow victory for the presidential seat during the elections and became
the 12th president of the republic.
During his term, Ramos
eventually ended the energy crisis problem plaguing the country and was able to boost the
economy into a new height of progress. Unfortunately, he was still faced with rebellion
from Communist and Muslim factions.
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