Former BSP Gov. Singson, 87, passes away

Gabriel Singson, former governor at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), died early Tuesday, the central bank said in a text message to media organizations.

Singson was 87.

He was the first governor of the BSP, under the New Central Bank Act of 1993. He held the post from July 6, 1993 to July 5, 1999.

A prominent figure in the banking industry, one of Singson's notable achievements was helping the Philippines tide over the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997.

Singson graduated valedictorian and magna cum laude from the College of Liberal Arts at the Ateneo de Manila University. He obtained his Master of Law Degree from the University of Michigan Law School as a Dewitt Fellow and Fulbright scholar.

He was awarded the "Management Man of the Year" in 1998 by the Management Association of the Philippines, and "Central Bank Governor of the Year" in 1996 and 1997 by regional magazine Asiamoney.

The central bank will hold a Requiem Mass and necrological service at the BSP Assembly Hall on Wednesday.

His interment is scheduled on Friday, at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. – Jessica Bartolome/VDS, GMA News