greatness of goding remembered
by: Ulysses V. Espartero
KALIBO, Aklan – It was an emotional day for the family of the late Cong. Godofredo “Goding” Peralta Ramos as Aklanons celebrated a dual significant historical event that marks the birth date of the “Father of Aklan” and the observance of the official inauguration of Aklan into a separate province.
Remembering the unquestioned legacy of a great man whom Aklanons call the “Father of Aklan”, the Aklan Historical and Cultural Society, Inc. (AHCSI) chaired by lawyer and former Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino officially launched 
Goding’s Birth Centennial on his 99th birthday on November 8.
The teary-eyed Anita Victoria “Vicky” M. Ramos-Antonino, chairperson of the Godofredo P. Ramos Foundation, Inc. and Regional Chairperson of the Regional Tourism Council, said her family is greatly honored for this splendid initiative of AHCSI of launching the Birth Centennial of their father.
“I express my deep and heartfelt appreciation for your honoring Daddy today … your enthusiastic and dedicated work in organizing the centennial celebration and more so for the evident love and respect you hold for him,” Antonino stressed.
The series of activities started with a Eucharistic Mass at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral followed by wreath laying ceremonies at the Goding Ramos Memorial Park at the Provincial Capitol Grounds. Guests then proceeded to the Museo it Akean for a program and the declaration of the official launching of the birth centennial.
Kalibo SB Member Soviet Russia dela Cruz, a trustee of AHCSI, presented the year-round activities all centered on the greatness of Goding Ramos to culminate on November 8, 2011.
The launching was attended by top officials of the province including SP Members Selwyn Ibarreta and Manuel Victor Garcia, Provincial Administrator and former Mayor Diego Luces, and Mayors Gene Fuentes (Tangalan), Adolfo Iligan (Numancia) and William Lachica (Kalibo) and Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado and Kalibo SB Members Nilda Tambong, Ariel Fernandez and Arnaldo Tejada.
PRAISES FOR GODING
During the program, testimonial speeches were delivered in honor of Goding with deep sense of gratitude and affection.
For Tolentino, Goding Ramos had a deep respect for the young and “a firm believer that the youth, by the force they exert and by the power and influence they assert and claim in our democracy, are a tremendous power of good.”
Former Assemblyman Jose “Soñing” Tumbokon said Goding Ramos is a distinguished son of Aklan whose legacy in public service at a higher level that embraced the whole spectrum of government - the Legislative Executive and Judicial branches and even the drafting of the 1973 Constitution - truly deserves to be remembered and documented for all times.
“Goding was a self-made man who struggled to secure his rightful place in our society. It was during his stint in Congress when Aklan representation started to surface in the center stage of national prominence and recognition,” Tumbokon stressed.
Lawyer and former SP Member Plaridel M. Morania said Goding was a great statesman, diplomat and an epitome of a dedicated public servant.
“He has left a legacy which every Aklanon can be proud of. He walked with great men with dignity and honor. As far as living memories can recall, he was never linked in any scandal involving misconduct in office or commission of graft and corruption which is the cancerous illness of the Philippine society,” he further said./TE
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