The Honorable Fidel Ramos was President and military leader
of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He is generally regarded as one
of the most effective Presidents in the nation's history. As President
he purged the national police force of corrupt officers; encouraged family-planning
practices to curb the growth of the country's population; and liberalized
the Philippines' heavily protected economy in order to spur economic growth.
These and other reforms helped revitalize the Philippines' economy, which
emerged from years of stagnation to grow at a rapid rate between 1994
and 1997.