By Cyrus A. Natividad

Former CPU BOT Chairman Perfecto Yasay served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines in an ad interim basis from June 30, 2016, until March 8, 2017.

On a quiet Friday morning of June 12, 2020, the Philippine flag was raised at Central Philippine University in observance of Philippine Independence Day.  As faculty and staff stay home due to the pandemic, they got the sad news about the demise of former CPU Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Perfecto “Jun” Yasay, Jr.

On Sunday, June 14, CPU hoisted the Philippine flag at half-mast. The University has officially mourned the death of Chairman Yasay due to pneumonia which was triggered by the recurrence of cancer.

“Jun Yasay was one of the great Centralians who had served his country”, reads one of the comments on CPU’s tribute post about Yasay on CPU’s Facebook page. He served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs during the first year of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and previously as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1995 to 2000. Early on, he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CPU from 2001 to 2005. He was also awarded the Distinguished Centralian Award on September 7, 1996.

His wife Cecile proclaimed: “Jun Yasay’s patriotism is renowned among many of his friends and associates. He continued the struggle for the return of freedom and democracy in the Philippines.”

In a media news briefing, it was mentioned that ” As Duterte’s  first Foreign Affairs Secretary, Yasay best articulated the new government’s independent foreign policy and improved multilateral and bilateral relations of the Philippines with the world’s community of nations.”

American State Secretary John Kerry cited Mr. Yasay as a “resolute defender of the country’s victory over the dispute on sovereign rights.” He properly paced himself in upholding the country’s quasi-judicial triumph,” Kerry added.

Nino Reyes, former Executive Assistant at the Department of Foreign Affairs said, “Secretary Yasay left a legacy of integrity and patriotism in public service.” Yasay also helped many of his countrymen during his exile in the United States.

Yasay finished his AB Political Science at Central Philippine University in 1966; earned his law degree from the University of the Philippines, and passed the Bar Examinations the following year. He passed the New York State Bar while in exile during the Martial Law Years. He joined the Movement for Free Philippines with then Senators Jovito Salonga and Raul Manglapus.

Jun Yasay was married to Cecile Joaquin of the illustrious Joaquin clan, whose father, Enrique “Ike” Joaquin was a trusted assistant of former President Corazon Aquino.  Cecile’s uncle is the famous National Artist Nick Joaquin.