12 years in the making: Cesar Virata biography finally launched

Economist and educator Gerardo P. Sicat launched his new book, "Cesar Virata: Life and Times Through Four Decades of Philippine Economic History" on Friday at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

The author and the subject both agreed that the book is more than just a biography of the country's longest-serving finance secretary. Sicat re-examines not just Virata's life, but also the three decades of Philippine economic history from the 1960s to the 1980s—roughly, the Marcos years.

Virata served as a finance and prime minister under President Ferdinand Marcos during an era considered as both the best and worst times for the Philippine economy.  

Virata is very much part of UP

The book launch was opened by the dean of UP School of Economics, Ramon L. Clarete. He said that Sicat approached him to help launch the book. Clarete then asked UP's help, saying that the book launch should not just involve the school but also the university in general, as "Cesar Virata is very much part of the university."  

Before he became a statesman, Virata served as dean of the College of Business Administration of the University of the Philippines, which is now named after him—the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business (VSB)—despite criticisms and oppositions from 1960 to 1967.  

UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, who good-naturedly taunted the sheer size of the 843-page book, also graced the event.  

Pascual mentioned during his speech that those who questioned the renaming of the former CBA after Virata should take a good look at his credentials, which can all be found in the book. After all, Virata has been a vital part of the growth of UP's business school.

Case in point: during his time as dean of the then CBA, Virata sent young faculty members abroad to get their doctoral degrees at Harvard, Stanford, and other distinguished schools. All faculty members then went home to UP and fostered a new generation of economists and business leaders.  

The UP president also stressed that Sicat's book is a tribute to the man who was "unscathed and untainted" by the corruptions of his time.

Broader version of political-economic history during the Marcos years

Sicat has been working on Virata's biography since 2002. He said that after finishing the it, he felt like a parent after a baby is delivered. He also stressed that he was not commissioned by any individual or any organization to write the book, adding that he had always felt a compelling desire to write about the country's recent economic history.

He said that this history is often incomplete in its tellings.

Sicat shared that the economy during the Marcos era, helmed by Finance Secretary-turned-Prime Minister Virata was no bed of roses nor a house of torns and bad characters.

Aside from being an excellent paperweight or bookend, Sicat joked, the book also gives a broader version of the economic history during the Marcos years. He said that the book is not just his version of the events—it is a corroboration. It is a combination of Virata and all his resource persons' stories.

Also present was Cesar Virata himself. He opened his speech by thanking his biographer for his "tremendous effort, dedication, and patience."

Virata, who is also the grand-nephew of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, said that questions and criticisms will surely be fired toward him and Sicat, but he said that they are ready to face all of them.

More importantly, Sicat's work is a means of learning from the past, Virata said.

Virata as visionary leader

Also present to deliver their individual commentary on the book were economic historian and central banker Benito F. Legardo, Jr.; former senator and UP president Edgardo J. Angara; UP regent and former dean of CBA Magdaleno B. Albarracin, Jr.; and UP chancellor Michael Tan.

All reiterated the importance of the book and told anecdotes about Virata's accomplishments as an educator, a public servant, and a friend. They also lauded the author and the subject, who both "shaped the country's economic history."

They also agreed on one thing: Virata is a visionary leader.

According to Angara, Virata, as a public servant, was willing to take the hard decisions. He was not the type of person to "ponder on popular opinion."

Economists do fall in love

Theater stalwart and Virata's wife Joy also graced the event and sang one of the songs from "Miong," a musical based on the life of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Those who gave their commentaries did not fail to mention that Sicat's new book is not just about the Philippine economy. The author also wrote Cesar and Joy's love story, to which Tan commented, "Economists do fall in love."

When asked what made writing the 843-page biography for 12 years all worth it, Sicat told GMA News Online, "I can tell the story of the past." — VC, GMA News


"Cesar Virata: Life and Times Through Four Decades of Philippine Economic History" is published by the University of the Philippines Press. There will be a second stage of the book launch on August 27 at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City.