FVR: 'Jo' kept her lung cancer a secret

As the Ramos family grieves for their loss with the passing of musician and athlete Josephine “Jo" Ramos, former President Fidel Ramos revealed to reporters on Monday that immediate family members only came to know about his daughter’s disease five weeks ago. “Ayan pa ang nakakalungkot dahil sa matagal niyang inilihim [ang kanyang lung cancer]," said Ramos in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras."
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Jo Ramos, 54, succumbed to lung cancer Monday morning. Her remains lie in state at Funeraria Paz in Parañaque City. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/224580/nation/remains-of-fvr-daughter-jo-ramos-lie-in-state-in-parantildeaque The elder Ramos said that his daughter had been diagnosed eight months earlier, but chose to hide her real condition from her family. “Kung merong iniwan si Jo sa atin [ito] ay ‘yung a life of always caring, sharing and daring. Kasi ang batang ito, hindi lang very caring at sharing [with] whatever she had, very modest po ito, eh. But she was also daring kasi champion water skier [siya]," he said. His daughter’s death was also a reminder of the ill effects of smoking, said the former President. “Jo was a victim of a very vicious lung cancer na hindi naagapan ng modern medicine," he added. The former President, who use to hold a cigar between his fingers wherever he goes, quit cold turkey after the EDSA People Power revolution in 1986. He added that nowadays, he only keeps the cigar in his pocket and doesn’t light it up anymore. In previous interviews, Ramos said that he only carries around a cigar to promote the local tobacco industry. — With Bea Cupin/VS, GMA News