Titans of the 1980’s Philippine People Powered Revolution: Where Are They Now?

Do you recognize this distinguished looking Filipino political figure in a recent photo? I'll give you a hint, one of the characters in Steel's Treasure is loosely based on him.

If you guessed Lt. Col. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, the renegade Reform the Armed Forces (RAM) leader, poster-boy for the 1987 People Powered Revolution, then you were right.  He is pictured above in the Senate where he has served since 1995. I wonder if he ever actually retired from the Philippine army and received a pension. 

A graduate of Philippine Military Academy class of ’81, Honasan figured in a series of uprisings against Marcos and then later against President Corazon Aquino, whom he helped install in 1986. He was granted amnesty in 1992 by President Fidel Ramos, a fellow soldier and key player in the first Edsa Revolution of 1986. 

While admirers regard Honasan as idealistic with a strong political will, critics view him as an agitator with a messianic complex.  Since 1995, though, voters have supported the former RAM leader, electing him to the Senate in 1995 and again in 2001 and 2007. The results of the elections on May 13th are not yet official, but all signs point to the Gringo keeping his seat for another term.

The Gringo has a twitter account, @gringo_honasan.  The banner on his site reads:  “Father of five wonderful children. Spoiling and doting grandfather of two grandchildren.”   He has been married to the same woman for a number of years.   

Here's the bio from Senator Gringo's campaign website:

He is principal author and co-author of, among others, the Clean Air Act of 1999, Clean Water Act, the National Security Policy, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2009, the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law (CARPER). He is shepherding the Freedom of Information Act which he now refers to as the POGI Bill – People’s Ownership of Government Information Act, the National Mapping and Resource Authority Law and the Land Use Act. Senator Honasan has also proposed a Mini-Marshall Plan for Mindanao to help jumpstart economic development, peace and order, and political unity. The proposal will also help end centuries of armed conflict and terrorism.

Senator Honasan is currently the Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Agrarian Reform, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Public Information and Mass Media. He likewise chairs three oversight committees, specifically the Congressional Oversight Committees on Agrarian Reform and Dangerous Drugs, as well as the Joint Oversight Committee on the Human Security Act. He is Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Local Government, Civil Service and Government Reorganization, Health and Demography, National Defense and Security, Public Works, Rules, and Amateur Sports Competitiveness and a member of 19 major permanent committees and ten oversight committees.

Senator Honasan is for God, Country and Family as core principles of citizenship coupled with values of Faith, Hope and Love. He is a staunch advocate for the environment, social reforms, national security, good governance, education and public health, youth and sports development recognizing that as a proud sovereign nation our most strategic and precious resource are our children.