STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan - Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo V. Velasco (ret) has started a book donation project to various schools and libraries in Pangasinan by initially giving two coffee table books chronicling the inspiring and remarkable lives and times of the two most influential women on the life of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos.
The two historical books authored by a relative, Melandrew T. Velasco, are titled “In A Class of Her Own: The Life and Times of Angela Valdez Ramos,” and “Mommy: The Life and Times of Josefa Jara Martinez (The Pillar of Social Work in the Philippines)” published in January 2005 and September 2006, respectively.
In a ceremonial turn-over at the Banaoang Central Elementary School whose public library is adjudged as the best in the district, General Velasco underscored the importance of appreciating history, the value of education and informative books as relevant reference materials in school libraries and other institutions. The retired three-star general is an alumnus in this school who has made vast improvements with the construction of new school buildings worth P8-million through the help of his friends in both government and private sectors.
“These are not just simple biographies. These books chronicle the remarkable lives of two influential women who helped shape the values and molded the character of President Ramos to become one of the best Presidents this country ever had,” Velasco said.
He added that alongside with the PNP publications he helped produced while he was still in active service, it will be a continuing book donation that he will undertake to various schools in Pangasinan particularly in the third district covering the towns of Sta. Barbara, Mapandan, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Calasiao, and San Carlos City.
He made the donation shortly after the press conference on the upcoming 168-kilometer bikefest on October 29 dubbed as “Victorey Tour de Tercero: General Velasco Cycling Classic” sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Ginebra and Mr. D. Park.
Velasco developed a personal closeness with FVR’s mother-in-law Josefa and his mother Angela during his early years as a young officer in the Armed Forces serving as aide-de-camp to FVR and when he served as provincial commander in Negros Occidental in Bacolod. Former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos served as one of his principal sponsors in his church wedding to wife Fatima.
The 300-page book on Angela Valdez Ramos, mother of former President Ramos, details the story of an exemplary Filipina from Batac, Ilocos Norte who played a unique role in the 20th century Philippine history whose parents were foremost nationalists and patriots.
It also narrates her love affair and enduring relationship with a crusading journalist and lawyer from Pangasinan – Ambassador Narciso Rueca Ramos—who went on to become an undefeated five-term congressman and pioneer diplomat in the Philippine Foreign Service.
Mommy, on the other hand, is a 308-page coffee-table book on the life story of the first Filipino professional social worker, Josefa, mother of former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos. The book is a fitting tribute to all dedicated and unsung Filipino social workers and women leaders whose struggles are most pronounced to uplift the welfare of the less fortunate Filipinos.
It is also about the inspiring story of a great lady from the district of La Paz, Iloilo who introduced social welfare in the Philippines at the time when it was an unheard of profession. The book chronicles her story and the stories of her peers who just like her, fought for women’s equality and their right to vote.
The two books are available at major bookstores.
