Filipino Expats Blog in Thailand

‘When a banana has sprouted and bore fruits, it’s time to cut it down’, this, was one of FVR’s (former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos) messages to the Pinoys working and living abroad, expressed at the dialogue with the Filipino community at the Philippine Embassy on August 18, 2009.

FVR KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AIT’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Like most Filipinos who have been living and working abroad for a good number of years now, I too, am disillusioned with the current political situation in our country. And so with heavy shoulders, I went to the Philippine Embassy last August 19, 2009, expecting more of the same scene when politicians come to visit: a lot of BS, nothing substantial.

Surprisingly however, FVR (Fidel V. Ramos), our former Philippine President, turned out to be a breath of fresh air. I’ve witnessed his quick and ready humor on television for several occasions in the past. And who could ever forget the image of him making a jump with arms raised in triumph at EDSA during the 1986 People Power Revolution?

FVR started his dialogue with leaders of the Pinoy community in Thailand by going back memory lane, wisely reminding everyone in the room of the fact that the Philippines became the first ever democracy in Asia in 1898.

With that, he went on to allay fears that he was here in Thailand to start his political campaign or to endorse somebody in the upcoming elections. He was invited by the Asian Institute of Technology to come to Thailand and be AIT’s keynote speaker at its 50th Anniversary. Along with that, FVR is also to receive an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Technology.

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