02/10/2026
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines joins the family, friends, and loved ones in mourning the passing of Cesar E.A. Virata earlier today, 2 October 2026.
Virata began his long career as a faculty member of the College of Business Administration of the University of the Philippines in the 1950s later earning an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He would later serve as the Dean of the UP CBA. An astute businessman and technocrat, he served as Secretary/Minister of Finance (1970-1986), Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA, now the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development or DEPDEV) and Prime Minister (1981-1986) during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. After the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, he returned to teaching in the academe.
As a descendant of General Baldomero Aguinaldo, he became very active in promoting the history and heritage of the nation and his home province of Cavite. On 21 June 1984, he donated the house of Baldomero Aguinaldo in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite to the National Historical Institute. It is now managed as the NHCP Baldomero Aguinaldo Shrine and he has been a constant supporter and benefactor of the Shrine. PM Virata is also an instrumental figure in the research, preservation, and promotion of the local history of Cavite, heading the Cavite Historical Society in various capacities, including attending the NHCPโs Local Historical Committees Network in the 2010s.
