Vicente P. Jayme
Vicente P. Jayme was a dedicated public servant who worked primarily in the government and financial industries. He worked closely under former President Corazon Aquino as the Secretary of Finance from 1987 to 1989.[1] Before that, he served as the Secretary of Public Works and Highways from 1986 to 1987[2] and as the Presidential Coordinating Assistant for Agro-Industrial Economic and Financial Affairs of the same administration.[3]
Jayme is a key player in national financial institutions who served as the president of the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Bank. More so, he was also the Founding Chair of the Association of Development Finance Institutions in Asia and the Pacific and the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions. He also served as the Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank, the Governor of the Philippine Stock Exchange, and the Chairperson of the Land Bank of the Philippines.[4]
Aside from his positions in the government and financial institutions, Jayme was also known for his contributions to various civic and people’s organizations. He was the Chairperson Emeritus of the Peasant Fund Incorporated, the former Director of the Spirit of EDSA Foundation, a former adviser of the Institute of Corporate Directors, and the former Vice Chairperson for the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement. Further, he is the former Trustee and Chairperson for both Philippine Business for Social Progress, and Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation, and the Founding Chair for the Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation of the Philippines. For business organizations, Jayme is the former President of the Philippine Chamber of Industries, the Management Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Economic Society.[4] Alongside these, he is known to have co-founded the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) in 1957 with Jose S. Concepcion Jr. where he served as the National Vice-Chair.[5]
His contributions to the government and financial industries ensued in honors and citations. He was the recipient of the Gawad Ugnay for the private sector from the National Social Action Council, the Gintong Ama Award for business and industry (Outstanding Father of the Year), from the Gintong Magulang Foundation – National Father’s Day Council, Achievement Award in recognition and appreciation of lifetime dedication and valuable contribution to the Federation of Free Workers, and Knighthood of Saint Sylvester granted by Pope John Paul II.[4]
In his earlier career, Jayme was one of the associate writers and editors of Katilingban, a publication claimed to be the leading vernacular in the Visayas and Mindanao.[6] Through the years, his publications revolved around business and economic industry. Some of these are published under the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines including ‘The Outlook for Business and Industry in 1970’, and ‘Social Upheaval: The Asian Challenge that We Face’.[7] Both his undergraduate and graduate degrees were earned at Ateneo de Manila University where he also received an Honorary Degree as Doctor of Humane Letters in 1987.[8]
[1] Sausa, R. S. (2013). DOF mourns passing of Vicente Jayme. The Manila Times.
[2] Masterlist of Cabinet Secretaries Ministers. (n.d.). Official Gazette.
[3] Ex-finance chief Vicente Jayme dies. (2013, April). Rappler.
[4] Forest as logs and developments: Vicente Jayme, Economist. Environmental Science for Social Change.
[5] Hedman, E. L. (1998). Whose Business Is it Anyway? Free and Fair Elections in the Philippines.
[6] Oaminal, C. P. (2018). The writers of the Ylaya Clan. The Philippine Star.
