Manila, March 14 -- Did you know why the late President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR), the 12th president of the Philippines -- the first democratic Republic in Asia -- was also called the country's Centennial president?

Well, because, it was during his six-year term from June 30, 1992 to June 30, 1998 that the Filipino people celebrated the first centennial or 100th anniversary of their independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

FVR, who hailed from Pangasinan, was preceded by 11 Filipino presidents, namely: Emilio F. Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, Sergio S. Osmena Sr., Jose P. Laurel Sr., Manuel A. Roxas, Elpidio R. Quirino, Ramon F. Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado P. Macapagal, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., and Corazon C. Aquino.

Aguinaldo was...