By Cyrus A. Nativdad

Dr. Anatalio Viray

The late Anatalio Viray (a.k.a.) “Talyo” or the “Grand Old Man of CPU” was born on December 1, 1913. He was raised in the coastal town of Makato, Aklan by his loving parents Juanito Viray and Turibia Tabaca. He helped his parents in their business. His mother sold fish in the market while his father gathered sap from the coconut to produce wine called ‘tuba’. This, Talyo sold in the market.

They lived a very simple life. Livelihood came only from their toils with nature. He loved the sea, the tuba gathering and his trade. Talyo could have stayed in Makato until he grew old; if only what his friend had told him that, “You don’t need to go to school and earn a degree-because the “mananguete” (tuba gatherer) is the tallest profession of all” – is true. But it was not.
Talyo grew up with his parents. While he loved Makato very much, he was also aware of the need to learn. So in order to study, Talyo paddled a dugout boat to reach his elementary school across the river. The hunger for knowledge began his journey to success. Armed with the determination to study in college, Viray pursued a college degree in Accountancy through the work study program of CPU.

Viray became a banker, a treasurer, a general manager; he held an array of executive positions before he became Chairman of the CPU Board of Trustees of Central Philippine University, one of the country’s prestigious schools. On May 25, 2003, CPU conferred upon Him the Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa. As a member of the CPU Corporation, Viray introduced financial management concepts that have helped CPU become what it is today. Foremost of this is that CPU Retirement Plan which was his brainchild.

Viray was instrumental in bringing back CPU after the war and installing the First Filipino President Dr. Rex Drilon. Thus, he was also known as the “Grand Old Man of Central.” He once said, “I love my Central very much. I dream CPU, I wake up with CPU; I have breakfast, lunch and dinner with CPU.”

He was blessed with His wife, the late Luz Reyes who gave him four professional sons and daughters – a medical doctor, an actor, an insurance executive and a real estate broker.  From his humble beginnings as a “tuba” gatherer, work student, janitor, waiter, cook, houseboy, road keeper and bookkeeper, he eventually became a Certified Public Accountant.

In sharing his journey in life, Viray quoted this line from a song, “…never be dismayed, whatever betide, God will take care of you.”