Cesar Virata

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Cesar Enrique Aguinaldo Virata (b. December 12, 1930) is a former Prime Minister of the Philippines from 1981-1986 under the Interim Batasang Pambansa and the Regular Batasang Pambansa. One of the Philippines' business leaders and leading technocrats, he served as Finance Minister from 1970 during the Marcos regime and also through election became Prime Minister in 1981. He concurrently was Finance Minister throughout the 80's. He is the grandnephew of the first Philippine President, Emilio Aguinaldo.

He had a term as Minister of Finance from 1970 to 1986. It was during this time that the Philippines became economically strong through healthy trade and budgetary surpluses. However, other studies show budgetary deficits during the same period (PIDS, Budget Deficits, 2004, 4(1)), particularly during the later years of the Marcos regime. These deficits were precipitated by the oil crises' and the mass protests against the Marcos regime (supported by the international financial community) following the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr.

He was replaced as prime minister, eventually through revolution, by Salvador Laurel. Laurel became the Prime Minister in February 25, 1986, through the appointment of Corazon Aquino. The position was abolished one month later by Proclamation No. 3 of Aquino, and confirmed later by the 1987 Constitution.

He is married to Phylita Joy Gamboa, a popular stage actress, and has three children: Steven Cesar, a businessman, Gillian Joyce, an international policy analyst, and Michael Dean, a doctor specializing in infectious diseases. Virata is also an accomplished tennis player.