Del Rosario corrects Almonte

Nene Pimentel, Juan Ponce Enrile, Cesar Virata, Ramon del Rosario Sr., Eugenio Lopez Jr and Jose Almonte are some of the more prominent personalities whose lives have been written about in the past decade. Some, like the books of Pimentel, Lopez and Del Rosario, have been welcomed as enriching the history of contemporary Philippines.

There are other memoirs that have been received with much controversy and have even been accused of trying to rewrite Philippine history. The story of the Enrile ambush has changed dramatically through the years. At one time it was the reason for the declaration of martial law. Then it became a “staged” ambush to be used simply as an excuse. In the book it again became an allegedly true story.

Recently, the publication of the biography of a former top Ramos official — Jose T. Almonte — has again raised the spectre of history being rewritten. The former leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), led by Gringo Honasan, have accused Almonte of fabricating stories about his role in the EDSA People Power movement. In fact, RAM leaders claim that Almonte was not even a member of their organization although Almonte clearly states in his book (page 27): “After I (Almonte) joined the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) in the late, 1970s, I found to my dismay, that the young officers who organized it were motivated by the same grievances that had moved my platoon to mutiny.”

Recently, Ramon del Rosario Jr., president of the Makati Business Club, sent a private letter to former President Fidel Ramos debunking another claim made in the biography. In Chapter 23 (“Crushing A Monopoly”), on pages 237-238, Almonte wrote that the Ramos cabinet, in its first meeting on June 30, 1992, extended the grant of zero-duty on cement imports which was due to expire on July 1 or the following day.

According to the Almonte biography, the Executive Secretary — Peter Garrucho — and the Secretary of Finance — Ramon del Rosario Jr. — said that if the executive order was not renewed, there would be “a shortage of cement and the construction industry would suffer. This would have a multiplier effect on suppliers as well as many in the labor force.”

The story continues: “Peter [Garrucho} showed a prepared executive order and Ramos signed it. This became Executive Order No. 2.” However, Almonte recounts that after the cabinet meeting, he met some cement traders who told him that PHINMA, which is owned by the Del Rosario family, was the biggest cement manufacturing company and would be the principal beneficiary from the EO on zero duty for cement imports. He then said, in his book, that this was “the opposite of what we were supposed to do — to level the playing field.”

He then informed President Ramos who shortened the period of duty free importation from three years to one year. This was supposed to be one of the administration’s balancing acts because they recognized the contribution of Ramon del Rosario Jr. to the campaign.

In his personal letter to former President Ramos, Del Rosario says that although the event happened 23 years ago, he felt he had to rectify the erroneous reports primarily to protect the integrity of the family’s reputation which his father Ramon del Rosario Sr. and family had protected and nurtured all their lives. Here are excerpts from the letter of Ramon Del Rosario Jr.:

First, he says: “...as the largest manufacturers of cement in the country, the PHINMA Group would have realized huge windfall profits if there had been a cement shortage...If I had only PHINMA’s interest in mind, I would have found every reason to block zero-duty cement imports in order for PHINMA to realize huge windfall profits.”

Second, he clearly asserts: “I had no hand in drafting the EO. The first time I saw it was when Frank Drilon and Peter Garrucho showed the draft to me right at that first cabinet meeting. They told me the EO had to be enacted or we might face a cement shortage. And as the EO had to do with customs duties, it was my role as Finance Secretary to present the EO to the Cabinet.”

Third, he saw the wisdom of the EO “which would reinvigorate also the construction industry by ensuring adequate cement supply at reasonable prices.”

Finally, he says: “I told myself that this would be a great start for both the Ramos administration and for me — that one of its first acts would be for the good of the country but contrary to the interests of the new finance secretary’s family.”

Biographies are not just stories intended to glorify the lives of personalities but rather to become part of history. Unlike filmmakers or novelists, biographers and historian as are not supposed to invent events that did not happen. Screenwriters and playwrights can make up dialogue or use their imagination to make their subject more heroic. This seems to be the greatest temptation for all those personalities who are consumed with writing their own personal versions of history.

So what is history? Put simply, it is supposed to be a study of the past to learn the truth based on facts. Anything else is fiction.

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Summer Creative Writing Classes for Kids and Teens

The Wonder of Words: Stories, Graphic Lit, Poetry and more.

Where The Write Things Are’s summer creative writing workshop will be held on May 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15 (6 sessions), 1pm-3pm (for 7-10 year olds) and 3:30pm-5:30pm (for 11-17 year olds) at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street. Facilitators are Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Roel Cruz with guest authors Mabi David and Dean Alfar.

While the Young Writers’ Hangout with published authors continues on April 18, and 25, May 23 and 30, 1pm-2:30pm (for 7-17 year olds) at Canadian American School, Alphaland, Makati. 

For registration and fee details contact 0917-6240196 or [email protected]

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