WEST POINT, N.Y. – Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos became the latest West Point alumnus to be honored with a room dedicated to his name at the Thayer Hotel in West Point, N.Y. on Sunday.
"Ito ay isang karangalan, hindi lamang para sa akin, ngunit para sa ating bansa, dahil sa hindi naman lahat ay nabibigyan ng ganitong parangal, at tayo naman ay hindi naging kulelat dito sa US Military Academy Class of 1950," Ramos said.
A West Point graduate in 1950, General Ramos became the 12th president and commander in chief of the Republic of the Philippines in June 1992.
Daniel Rice, president and co-founder of Thayer Hotel said, "We wanted to name the rooms not only after famous generals who fought for peace, but also for incredible leaders that had been created by West Point."
West Point has produced U.S. presidents, foreign heads of state, warrior leaders, and renowned astronauts such as Buzz Aldrin. But only the most accomplished and distinguished of graduates of the military academy can have a room named in their honor.
The walls of the Ramos suite are adorned with photos of the former president, handpicked by Ramos himself.
Seventy-one of the 151 rooms in the historic hotel are now mini-museums. The President Ramos Suite is decorated to reflect his legacy and significant contributions to the Philippines and the world.
"If you look at all the luminaries who have rooms, he’s the first foreigner. He’s the first president," said Sunny Busa, a West Point graduate of 1976.
Former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos said, "I think there were three or four presidents that graduated from here, but he’s the only one with a room here."
Honorees like Ramos are now part of the hotel’s history.
"We hope, as I said, will be not just a sanctuary for all our friends, kababayans, but also a place to remind all of us that there is such a thing as a very strong US-Philippines alliance forged in blood and in many historic battles in our joint history," Ramos said.
The Ramos suite will be seen and enjoyed by hotel guests, mostly world leaders, dignitaries, returning war heroes, active duty officers, tourists, and business leaders.
Read more from Balitang America:
Top Stories,Global Filipino,FVR,Ramos,Fidel V. Ramos,West Point,philippine president,heroes