Jo's lung cancer won't make Noy quit smoking

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino won’t quit smoking despite the lessons learned from Josephine “Jo” Martinez Ramos, second daughter of former President Fidel Ramos and wife Ming, who succumbed to lung cancer last Monday.

“Not at this time. Not yet,” Aquino said in an interview when asked about the ex-president’s advice to smokers to kick the habit.

Aquino remained unfazed about the ill effects of smoking even after visiting Jo’s wake last Monday night at the Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Parañaque.

Aquino said he is not keen on kicking the habit even after Ramos attributed his daughter’s cancer to her heavy smoking for the past 25 years.

Jo was 54 when she died after battling lung cancer for about eight months.

At 51 years old, Aquino is also a heavy smoker.

Aquino was evasive when asked if Ramos was right in his assertion about the bad effects of smoking.

However, Aquino wondered if the disease can be “induced” by other factors such as stress, considering that the Ramoses and Aquinos occupied the presidency.

“Are there other (types of) stress that can induce (the disease)?” he asked.

In Aquino’s case, his family had experienced being in Malacañang when his mother Corazon Aquino was installed president after the 1986 people power uprising.

“I don’t feel right to comment on what Jo had to undergo,” he said. “I don’t want to cast judgment.”

Aquino asked if those who occupy Malacañang suffer the same amount of stress compared to their previous occupants.

Asked further if the Jo Ramos experience had an impact on his smoking, Aquino replied in the negative.

“Alam mo lahat naman may tadhana tayo (We each have our own destiny),” he said.

As far as his smoking is concerned, Aquino said he tries not to influence anybody with his habit and not to smoke in public “as much as possible.”

Samartino worries for son

Actor Lloyd Samartino is sad and shocked over the death of his former wife, Jo Ramos.

In an interview with GMA News, Samartino also expressed concerns about their 17-year-old son, Sergio, who has been living with his mom since his parents separated.

“I was very, very sad for my son because Jo and I have been apart for quite a long time already, and my son grew up practically with her and this happened very prematurely,” he said.

He would be giving Sergio the freedom to choose whether to remain with his mother’s or father’s side of the family, Samartino said.

Former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. relayed yesterday to Ramos and his wife Ming these comforting words: “The pain will never go away but take comfort in the knowledge that Jo is in heaven.”

De Venecia and his wife Gina lost their 16-year-old daughter, Kristina Cassandra or KC in a fire that razed their residence in Makati City in 2004.

De Venecia said up to now, they still feel the pain and have “attacks of grief” every once in a while.

“I know FVR and Ming are going through a very, very difficult time,” he said.

“The normal course of change is that the children lose their parents, but this is different. The pain for the parents is indescribable in this situation and it never goes away.

“But this is fate. All of us have to go sometime or the other. But I know FVR and Ming as a very strong couple and they will take comfort in prayers and their knowledge that their beloved Jo is in heaven.

“Those of us who live an upright life and are truly generous to our fellow human beings are assured of a place in heaven.”

Jo Ramos died at the Medical City in Pasig City where she had been undergoing treatment for the last several months.

Her remains lie in state at the Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Parañaque. Interment will take place on Friday at noon.

Ramos and Ming have four other daughters —Angela, Carolina, Cristine, and Margie. Carolina, nicknamed Chula, had an accident several years ago and she is still undergoing therapy.

De Venecia said she has known Jo as “a very fine lady, who is a natural when it comes to music.”

He said he could empathize with the grief of the former first lady as his wife was inconsolable when KC died.

“Sometimes it (grief) hits you when you least expect it and you shed tears by your lonesome,” he said.

De Venecia said they often visit the tomb of KC to alleviate their pain.

One thing the Ramos family could do is to continue Jo’s passion for music and the arts to keep her memory alive as what they did for KC, De Venecia said.

The De Venecias put up the INA Foundation for parents who have lost their children. The foundation has also partnered with the Haven, a center for abused women and children they had previously set up.

He also raised funds for firefighters for the acquisition of equipment.

Among the early visitors to the wake were President Aquino, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Bayani Fernando, former interior secretary Rafael Alunan, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, and former national security adviser Jose Almonte.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to visit the wake today.

Early Monday, Jo succumbed to lung cancer, an illness which she had been diagnosed with for eight months but had kept secret from her family until about five weeks ago.

 ‘Take cue from Jo’s death’

Anti-tobacco advocates, including former health secretary Esperanza Cabral, asked yesterday the administration to take a cue from the death of Jo Ramos and take a strong stand against smoking.

In a text message, Cabral said the death of Jo should push the leaders in all the three branches of government and the Filipino people to take quick action to warn the public about the evils of tobacco and to control its sale and use.

“We extend sincere condolences to the family of Jo Ramos and appreciate very much the effort of President Ramos to draw something good from this tragedy by using it as a means to warn the public of the hazards of smoking. Tobacco is indeed harmful to our health,” she said.

Cabral had sought the implementation of a Department of Health (DOH) administrative order requiring tobacco companies to print “graphic warnings” or pictures depicting the ill-effects of smoking on cigarette packs.

“I also call on the DOH to step up its campaign against smoking,” she said.

Cabral also pushed for an increase in tobacco taxes.

Cabral said Health Secretary Enrique Ona should implement the rules and regulations of the law transferring tobacco regulation to the Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines executive director, said Jo’s death underscores the need for effective tobacco control measures

“We need a stronger and firmer DOH ready to fulfill its mandate in protecting the right of Filipinos to health and our right to the highest standards of health as stipulated in our Constitution as well as in the convention of human rights,” she said

Evita Ricafort of non-governmental organization Health Justice, said graphic warnings have been proven effective to discourage people from smoking.

“Studies show a great decline in tobacco use in Brazil, Canada, Singapore, Thailand, among others,” she said.

“The United States also recently announced that they will also be implementing picture warnings. We should not wait any longer.”  —With Paolo Romero, Sheila Crisostomo