Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 No 19 | Page 22

22
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY October 1 - 15, 2017
Washington SyCip,
bookkeeper, leader






Washington
SyCip
always described himself as
just a bookkeeper. But when
he died, he was larger than
life, hailed as a legendary
leader,
business
icon,
statesman, pillar, and one of
the old guards of the country’s
economic development.
Indeed, he might as well
be the business community’s
version of Jedi Master Yoda: 
small in body build but wise
and powerful.
SyCip died on Saturday
on a Philippine Airlines flight
to New York at the age of
96, leaving members of
the business community,
diplomatic
corps,
and
government and social circles
deeply saddened.
The
world-renowned
accountant, philanthropist,
diplomat, mentor, and adviser
to generations of businessmen,
tycoons and the country’s top
executives was brought to the
Richmond General Hospital in
Vancouver where the coroner
confirmed his death at 12:30
p.m., Oct. 7 (3:30 a.m., Oct.
8, Philippine time).
He was on board PR
126, the flight from Manila to
New York via Vancouver. He
died quietly on the plane but
he was brought to the hospital
in Vancouver where he was
legally confirmed dead.
SyCip was the founder
of the accounting giant
SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Co.
as well as the Asian Institute
of Management (AIM). He also
served as an honorary consul
general of Austria.
Philippine STAR and
Starweek editor Doreen Yu,
SyCip’s cousin-in-law, said
he was an American citizen
but he always stood up and
fought for the Philippines.
“He always stood up
for the Philippines. He stood
against the Chinese,” Yu said.
Yu also said SyCip was
known all over the world
because he sat on the boards
of many global corporations
and foundations.
“Uncle Wash, he was
short, just around five feet but
he was a towering figure,” Yu
[SRVWHU
-XO\30
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
said.
SyCip was a 2012 Ramon
Magsaysay Awardee, Asia’s
version of the Nobel prize, “for
fostering economic growth
and mutual understanding in
Asia through professionalism,
public-spirited enterprise, and
his own esteemed example.”
The Ramon Magsaysay
Foundation hailed SyCip as
“one of the most revered and
beloved industrialists in the
Philippines and in Asia.”
He was also honored
with the Edmonds Award for
International Understanding
by the New York-based
International House, a non-
profit residence and program
center for graduate students
from all over the world.
The government of
Japan also conferred on him
The Order of the Rising Sun,
Gold and Silver Star for his
contribution in promoting
stronger business relations
between the Philippines and
Japan, the country’s envoy
to Washington, Ambassador
Jose “Babe” Romualdez said
in a recent article.
SyCip
also
joined
the ranks of iconic Bench
models, agreeing to appear
on a Bench billboard in 2015
on the condition that the fee
would be used to advance
his advocacy of promoting
education.
Highly respected by
members of the business
community, SyCip’s presence
in companies is regarded as a
seal of good housekeeping.
Even Malacañang and
politicians
mourned
the
passing of SyCip.
“On behalf of the Filipino
nation, we condole with the
family, friends and colleagues
of Mr. Washington SyCip.
He was a respected voice in
corporate governance and
staunch believer in Filipino
talent…He is already missed,”
presidential
spokesman
Ernesto Abella said in a
statement.
Details of his wake
were not yet available as of
this writing.  (I. Gonzales with
A. Romero, P. Romero, R.
Santos. PS)