Fidel Ramos daughter Jo dies of lung cancer

‘DON’T SMOKE’ Former President Ramos holds a portrait of his daughter Jo at Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Parañaque City, on Monday. Jess Yuson

In grief, former President Fidel V. Ramos has this message to those mourning his daughter’s death: Don’t smoke.

“This is her advice to all: Smoking is bad for you,” Ramos, ironically a cigar-chomping retired general, told reporters during the wake of his second child in La Funeraria Paz at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.

Josephine “Jo” Martinez Ramos succumbed to lung cancer on Monday morning at The Medical City hospital in Pasig City. She was 54.

The second of Ramos’ five daughters, Jo was remembered for her accomplishments in music and sports, mainly as a vocalist-musician and a bemedalled water skier.

“(Former first lady Amelita) Ramos stopped smoking cold turkey seven years ago, after 25 years of smoking. Me, I stopped 25 years ago. She (Jo) did not stop,” Ramos said.

“Paalala (remember), smoking is bad for the health because Jo was a victim of a very vicious lung cancer,” he stressed.

Kept secret

Ramos said he and his wife only learned about Jo’s condition five weeks ago because their daughter kept it from them after learning she had Stage 4 cancer in November last year. Jo started smoking 25 years ago, he said.

“Before that, she had been attending our Sunday dinners and the medication I saw was not for lung cancer,” Ramos recalled.

Even in grief, the elder statesman tried to make light of his own tobacco habit.

“This is made in the Philippines,” showing his day’s cigar to reporters. “I just keep it in my pocket since it is never lit.”

“Up north where I come from, we don’t just consider this is as herbal medicine but also a kind of amulet (anting-anting). You can also use it to rub your headaches away. You must have faith in the healing process,” Ramos said in Filipino.

Revolutionary pledge

The former President said he had never smoked since leading the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. Back then, he said, he promised before a fellow general, Jose Almonte, that he would quit smoking should the rebellion succeed.

“I said it was a fight to the death—patay kung patay—so we might as well have a smoke. But I also said I would quit and go cold turkey if we win. Same with Mrs. Ramos. So we quit,” he said.

Ramos described Jo as a “very caring, sharing and daring” person who was also “modest” in her achievements.

“Mana sa nanay (She got it from her mother),” he proudly said.

Jo was born on Jan. 18, 1957, at Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo. A single parent, Jo is survived by her 17-year-old son Sergio, a high school senior who is studying music, drama and dance.

Her interment is set on July 1 at noon.

Grave loss

President Aquino, a known smoker, was in Cebu when he learned of Jo Ramos’ passing. He extended his condolences to the former President and his wife Ming.

“The loss of any loved one is grave, indeed. The demise of a child is particularly painful for parents. The President assures former President and Mrs. Ramos that he will keep their entire family in his thoughts and prayers at this time of deep loss,” Malacañang said in a statement.

The Palace cited Jo Ramos’ accomplishments in music as “testimony to the musical passion she shared with her mother” and also her making it to a national team that “gained distinction for the country in the Southeast Asian Games in the 1970s.” With a report from Christine O. Avendaño