He’s one prominent person who never sought recognition, which was why his peers, colleagues and friends welcomed the news that Dr. Jaime C. Laya would be conferred the Orden del Mérito Civil, of the high rank of Commander, Encomienda de Número, by King Juan Carlos I of Spain and the Spanish government, through the Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Domecq.
This was in recognition of Laya’s role in heritage preservation, which has spanned at least four decades, through several political administrations.
Through his various positions in government, as Budget Minister, then as Bangko Central governor and finally as Education and Culture Minister, Laya not only stayed involved in the promotion and preservation of Philippine culture and heritage, he also made crucial moves that would leave an impact on present and future generations.
Foremost of these were the preservation and development of Intramuros as a culture destination—he was head of the newly instituted Intramuros Administration in the early ’80s—and the acquisition of comprehensive Philippine art and ancient gold collections for Bangko Sentral.
These collections continue to be a source of art education and appreciation for the current generation both here and abroad (some of the artworks and gold pieces have been exhibited abroad). They continue to inform the world of the richness and significance of Philippine art and culture.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) and Stanford University, this accountant became the youngest Business Administration dean of UP, and the youngest Bangko Sentral governor. He was in his 40s then—the distinction of youth he has reduced into a quip now: “Youngest, a long time ago. I’m now the oldest in my family, in yoga class and in just about any organization I’m in.”
Laya does Bikram yoga, and is in the board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and various culture groups. He is chair of the newly created Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc., which benefits the school in Intramuros established under a grant from the Spanish government, and which, in the past few years, has been training young Filipino artisans and craftsmen. They benefit from centuries of craftsmanship and artisanship which Spain shares in courses and workshops.
Laya can shuttle between these activities while serving as chair of Philtrust Bank.
Indeed, especially in his most active years in government in the mid-’70s to the ’80s, and to this day, what has distinguished him from other technocrats and the rest of his peers is his passion for and continuous involvement in culture, particularly Filipiniana. He’s one banker and finance expert who can use the discipline and knowledge of banking, finance and management—including the network—and make culture and the arts benefit from it.
During the conferment at the residence of the Spanish ambassador, Ambassador Domecq began his remarks by noting, first and foremost, the awardee’s humility and how reliable he is, whether it be a matter of finance or culture.
“He is also a fantastic manager,” Domecq added.
The conferment, he said, “underscores the importance of culture heritage preservation.”
Before his family, friends and peers who gathered at the diplomat’s residence in Makati on April 23, Laya thanked Ambassador Domecq and his wife, Rosa Rufino de Domecq.
Stressing the importance of cultural and historical heritage preservation, Laya said the “visible and tangible evidence of the great achievements of minds and hands now still makes the past live, makes a people hold their heads higher, fuels the imagination of the young, makes them aspire to greater heights.
“Even as a young boy I was interested in history and in objects that were witness to past events. Good fortune made me head of the country’s two “richest” organizations—the budget ministry and the Central Bank…
“My bosses, President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Prime Minister Cesar E.A. Virata, either didn’t notice or just ignored as harmless caprichos that my areas of interest—books and archives, artwork, museum objects, heritage buildings—received more than usual funding.
“I have been fortunate in having outstanding and devoted coworkers and I accept this recognition also in their behalf.
“At Intramuros, a hardworking group including Esperanza B. Gatbonton and Conrado ‘Ado’ A. Escudero worked at the fortifications, Plaza San Luis and Casa Manila, the collection of Spanish Colonial Period art meant to be housed in a restored San Ignacio Church, now at last being realized…
“Colleagues at the Central Bank of the Philippines, including then Secretary of Finance Cesar Virata and then Deputy Governor Benito Legarda Jr., helped build the art and pre-Hispanic gold collections.
“At the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, colleagues including chairperson Felipe de Leon Jr., Emily Tiongco, Adel Suemith, Tessa Carlos and Susan Calo-Medina helped make the dangerous art of arts management a pleasure.
“It was also a responsibility that unexpectedly led to my present challenging involvement as chair of the newly created Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc., one of Ambassador Domecq’s lasting legacies.
“I also thank my family, my late wife Alice, and children represented here by Sandra Laya Zinampan, who never complained how I devoted excessive time and attention to all these extracurricular activities, often more than my real-life, revenue-producing work as certified public accountant and finance man.”
Leading the select gathering of about 50 guests were Virata, who came with wife Joy, the esteemed theater actress who’s now working on the biography of her educator-mom; business titan Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; NCCA head Felipe de Leon Jr.; Pedro and Gina Roxas; Doris Magsaysay-Ho; National Museum head Jeremy Barns; Escudero; Gatbonton, Medina, among others.