The amazing Ramon Ang of SMC
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There’s a son of a known politician who is in solar farm business who bought land of some twenty farmers in Tarlac on an agreed price.This young man maybe in the process destroying the family’s reputation by reneging on the agreement. He was only able to pay
20% of the total amount and for the past three years and the farmers have been waiting for the businessman to redeem his promise. Pero namuti na ang mga magsasaka sa kahihintay.
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Two weeks ago I went to Villa Maria, one of the five Aeta settlements in Porac to shoot a vlog there with my group headed by popular comedian Jimmy Santos, our producer Martin Hinson Vitug and ace cameraman Alessandro‘Sonny’ Canlas. I was surprised to find a dramatic improvement of the place. Kudos to the indefatigable Mayor Jing Capil. The roads are paved up to the peak and there are some few houses along the road. There are even two-storey houses which are usually you find on gated subdivisions.
Another thing I discovered is that there are many businessmen who were able to occupy large tracts. A fighting cock farm reportedly owned by a certain Gamboa occupies several hectares and is a sight to behold. My source told me that a Lapid was able to purchase wide areas also. I was just wondering how in heaven’s name how some people, aside from Gamboa and Lapid , were able to have so many lands. Turuan ninyo nga kami.
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Isn’t this true? There’s little attention by most voters on who are running for membership in the sanggunians. Just like in the 2019 mayoral elections in Angeles City. To recall, most voters were focused on the three cornered fight between Alex Caugiran, Bryan Nepomuceno and Carmelo ‘Pogi’Lazatin, Jr. This is one mayoral race that will go down the wire, I remember writing in this space. Pogi Lazatin won the race hands down. In choosing members of the council not much study is being done. Kung sino na lang ang kakilala.
What does it take to become a member of a council? For one thing you must have the facility of the language. Councils, assemblies and congress are debating bodies. The advocacies of a member can only be realized once he filed his resolutions and ordinances, and is ready to defend it during a debate in the plenary sessions. Or just be a member of the 'committee de silencio' and draw your salary paid for by the taxpayers. It’s a market place of ideas where rule of reasons should prevail. And not just standing there holding a microphone and just make a noise. It’s about governance.
What an amazing act of kindness and concern explicity shown by a successful and wealthy
businessman in nation building. I am referring to Mr. Ramon Ang, President and CEO of San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
I still remember the time when my late brother Bren was the Pampanga Provincial Governor, he recommended my daughter who graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines (UP) to him. Without much ado, Mr. Ramon Ang took her in. Out of gratitude, it is but appropriate for me to offer this piece of presentation in appreciation of his unparalleled gener osi ty.
Now, he is very much involved in cleaning and dredging of Pasig and Tullahan Rivers which remain stagnant and muddy for the last number of years. Informal settlers took upon themselves to occupy the banks of these rivers. They throw all kinds of garbage, plastic bags and others into the rivers. This bad habit of throwing garbage into the river brings severe damage to our environment, plugs waterways and drainage resulting in the flooding of main roads in Metro Manila Area. Realizing the worsening vehicular traffic in Metro Manila specially at EDSA, Mr. Ramon Ang initiated the construction of skyways with the ideal object of easing the traffic mess. These skyways now serve 36 access points, end to end, connecting several districts in Metro Manila, thus reducing the travel time of commuters and motorists. This advocacy that Mr. Ramon Ang has chosen is not that easy. It needs patience, sacrifice, dedication and huge resources and yet, he remains steadfast and resolute in his mission to help improve our glooming economy during the time of pandemic crisis.
He wholeheartedly believes in the saying: “One Act of Kindness Produces A Ripple Effect”
Aside from the free lands, beneficiaries can also avail of other support services extended by the DAR and the Department of Agriculture (DA), including the provision of loans, training, farm machinery and implements.