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'He made do with what he had': Aquino pays tribute to tourism chief 'Mon' Jimenez

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/business/04/27/20160629-ramon-jimenez-jc-4.jpg"/><figcaption>Former Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News file photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Former President Benigno &#x27;Noynoy&#x27; Aquino III recalled the growth of the tourism industry during his administration as he paid tribute to former Tourism Secretary <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/20/former-tourism-chief-mon-jimenez-creator-of-its-more-fun-in-ph-passes-away" target="_blank">Ramon &#x27;Mon&#x27; Jimenez, Jr. who died</a> on Monday. In a press statement, Aquino recalled Jimenez&#x27; role in promoting tourism in the country, starting with his &quot;It&#x27;s more fun in the Philippines&quot; campaign.According to Aquino, he was a bit apprehensive upon seeing Jimenez&#x27; proposal, expecting it to be just a variation of previous campaigns.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/27/20/how-ph-advertising-rock-star-ramon-jimenezs-brainchild-transformed-philippine-tourism">How PH advertising &#x27;rock star&#x27; Ramon Jimenez’s brainchild transformed Philippine tourism</a></li></ul>He, however, was proven wrong after Jimenez&#x27; presentation, which &quot;fulfilled the need to promote the Philippines with a very limited budget.&quot;&quot;To my surprise, and that of everyone present at that meeting, the video that Mon presented was not just short and entertaining with its catchy music but was informative and very worthwhile,&quot; Aquino said.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ADNgEHFDYzo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>Aquino also lauded Jimenez for his achievements as tourism secretary &quot;without ever complaining about the lack of hotels, facilities, airports and infrastructure.&quot;&quot;He instead made do with what he had, and the results speak for themselves,&quot; he said.&quot;I was indeed fortunate to have a Cabinet whose members for the most part had a singular agenda: The improvement of the lot of our Bosses. Serving with them was so enriching, that we felt achieving the impossible would just take a little longer,&quot; Aquino added.For Aquino, aside from working as his tourism chief, Jimenez was also instrumental in &quot;crafting the messages&quot; of his administration.&quot;He helped unify the majority of our people towards achieving the successes that we could be proud of as a nation,&quot; he said.Jimenez also helped in Aquino&#x27;s election campaign, and was a marketing consultant for the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.Though saddened by the loss, Aquino said Jimenez lived his life well.&quot;Upon reflection of his life that was truly well lived, a life where he gave generously to the benefit of his fellowman, can we begrudge him for being in a better state now, back in the company of his beloved Abby,&quot; Aquino said.&quot;To Mon, Abby, and their daughters Nina and Sassa, we thank all of you,&quot; he added.Jimenez, who reportedly had a heart ailment, expired in his home Monday. His death was unrelated to COVID-19, his family said in a statement.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/20/former-tourism-chief-mon-jimenez-creator-of-its-more-fun-in-ph-passes-away">Former Tourism chief Mon Jimenez, creator of &#x27;It&#x27;s More Fun in PH,&#x27; passes away</a></li></ul>

"Upon reflection of his life that was truly well lived,....can we begrudge him for being in a better state now, back in the company of his beloved Abby," former Pres. Aquino said in a tribute to the late Tourism Secretary 'Mon' Jimenez.

"Upon reflection of his life that was truly well lived,....can we begrudge him for being in a better state now, back in the company of his beloved Abby," former Pres. Aquino said in a tribute to the late Tourism Secretary 'Mon' Jimenez.