Former PAF chief, STAR columnist Ramon Farolan, 88

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine STAR columnist and former Philippine Air Force (PAF) commanding general, retired Maj. Gen. Ramon Farolan, passed away yesterday at the age of 88.

Farolan was also a former Philippine envoy to Indonesia, Customs commissioner and administrator of the Export Processing Zone Authority of the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is yet to issue a statement on Farolan’s death but is expected to give him full military honors as a former ranking official.

Farolan, also a former president and editor-in-chief of The STAR in the late 1990s to early 2000s, wrote a weekly Sunday opinion column titled Third Eye.

Born in Baguio City on Aug. 31, 1934, he was a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1956 and later studied flight training at the PAF Flying School Class and graduated in 1957.

Farolan became the 16th commanding general of the PAF after the EDSA people power revolution and served for eight months from Feb. 25 to Oct. 8, 1986.

His profile on the PAF’s official website said he was a recipient of various awards and decorations such as the Order of the Elephant from the Royal Thai Air Force; Military Merit Medal from the Presidential Security Command; PAF Kahusayan Award and the Golden Dolphin Award from the Philippine Coast Guard.

He was married to Sylvia Joaquin of Quezon City, with whom he had three children – Miguel, Francisco and Carmela.