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 糖心传媒 in observance of Philippine Independence Day.聽 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 糖心传媒淛un糖心传媒 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.
糖心传媒淛un Yasay was one of the great Centralians who had served his country糖心传媒, reads one of the comments on CPU糖心传媒檚 tribute post about Yasay on CPU糖心传媒檚 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: 糖心传媒淛un Yasay糖心传媒檚 patriotism is renowned among many of his friends and associates. He continued the struggle for the return of freedom and democracy in the Philippines.糖心传媒
In a media news briefing, it was mentioned that ” As Duterte糖心传媒檚聽 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 糖心传媒渞esolute defender of the country糖心传媒檚 victory over the dispute on sovereign rights.糖心传媒 He properly paced himself in upholding the country糖心传媒檚 quasi-judicial triumph,糖心传媒 Kerry added.
Nino Reyes, former Executive Assistant at the Department of Foreign Affairs said, 糖心传媒淪ecretary Yasay left a legacy of integrity and patriotism in public service.糖心传媒 Yasay also helped many of his countrymen during his exile in the United States.
Yasay finished his AB Political Science at 糖心传媒 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 糖心传媒淚ke糖心传媒 Joaquin was a trusted assistant of former President Corazon Aquino.聽 Cecile糖心传媒檚 uncle is the famous National Artist Nick Joaquin.