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Bacolod City, Philippines Wednesday, August 8, 2012
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Rafael Salas library
opens at museum

BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Rafael Montinola Salas Library at The Negros Museum in Bacolod City was inaugurated by RMS Foundation chairman and former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Salas’ wife, Carmencita, on his 84th birth anniversary yesterday.

Rafael “Paeng” Salas, who was born in Bago to a well-to-do landowning family, was former Executive Secretary and former Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.

There are 7,000 books housed at The Negros Museum out of the 10,000 personal books’ collection of Rafael Salas, which were his collection when he was still in college until his death on March 3, 1987.

His wife, Carmencita “Menchu” Salas, former ambassador to the Czechoslovakia Republic, said that, for her it is important that the books were kept as a collection because only as such would they speak of a man who would be an inspiration to the young.

She recalled that her husband was a voracious reader and had an enduring love for Japanese culture.

She said there was a discipline he maintained in reading even at the height of activities and scheduling when he was Executive Secretary during the Marcos regime.

His important values were scholarship, discipline, study and integrity, she said, which is why she believes there is a close link between former Senator Jun Magsaysay and her husband Paeng– the sense of good governance but with integrity.

“Paeng never waivered in his commitment to public service and that, always with integrity,” she added.

Magsaysay said he believes that the RMS Foundation, organized in 2009, is an offshoot of what the young Rafael Salas stood for when he started his public services under former President Ramon Magsaysay.

Menchu said the RMS Foundation has a small advocacy grant for population and development from the UN. But as a foundation, they decided to do an environment awareness student leadership training at the RMS Park in Bago City, she said.

An unanimous Bago City Council resolution 03-181 Series of 2003, remember Salas’ birthdate and anniversaries.

Bago commemorated the 84th birth anniversary of Rafael Salas with a fun walk called “Fun Walk for a Great Bagueño” led by Bago Mayor Ramon Torres and Vice Mayor Nicholas Yulo, with city and national offices employees, students, members of Soroptimist Metro-Bago, OISCA International and members of the Youth Commitment for Sustainable Development.*CGS

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