Remembering Mike Varela

Philippine business was in mourning when it lost one of its eminent leaders two years ago.

Miguel B. Varela, Mike to all who knew him, was present during the critical moments when government needed a reliable business leader as a partner.

Martial law was imposed and it decreed a single voice for business.

At that time, two major organizations represented Philippine business, namely, Philippine Chamber of Industries and Philippine Chamber of Commerce. They were merged to become the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry or PCCI.

Then followed the Employers Confederation of the Philippines or ECOP as the single voice of employers.

Mike was there as one of the founders of both associations.

He ably led both with integrity and forged a tight alliance between business, government, and labor unions, including the radical sector.

He was one of the strongest supporters in my ascent to the presidency of PCCI and ECOP.

Mike was a perfect gentleman, a caring father, a devoted husband, a loyal friend and a strong pillar in the business community.

As a commisioner of NLRC he handed down fair and equitable decisions for employers and complaining workers in the many labor cases he handled.

To those who did not know Mike, he seemed formal and distant.

But, up close, he was witty and full of humor even if sometimes the joke was on him.

He is known for his selflessness, sincerity and willingness to help a friend in need, spending his precious political capital in the process.

But he had a fatalistic view of life. He claimed to have durable genes as he devoured half of a Cebu lechon by himself during lunch and saving the other half for dinner.

During my watch in PCCI, I was able to convince some directors, Mike included, to play golf.

All fell in love with the game, except Mike.

He only played twice. First, in branded attire as he was about to tee off, his caddy asked him, “Sir, first time ninyong mag-golf?” Mike surprisingly asked how she knew. “Kasi sir, may plastic cover pa po ang driver ninyo.”

The second and last time he played was a disaster. He had a cart, but was forced to walk 18 holes or 20 kilometers as his ball rolled a few yards each time he hit and zigzagged along the fairway.

That ended Mike’s second career as a golfer.

One anecdote he was fond of retelling happened during the time of FVR. Mike as head of PCCI was invited by FVR on stage as a trophy to the foreign investors in the audience.

FVR was bragging about making the country a tiger economy with PCCI as his partner and pointed to Mike, who was starting to fall from the stage with his chair at that most awkward moment.

Unperturbed, Mike climbed back on stage and calmly announced, “The economy has recovered.”

As head of PCCI and ECOP, he ably steered the organizations as steady partners of government for almost five decades from Marcos, Cory, Ramos, Erap, Macapagal and Noynoy.

He successfully positioned PCCI and ECOP as apolitical and earned the trust and respect of all six successive Philippine presidents.

Even when his health faltered, he faithfully attended all official functions, including the yearly ILO conferences in Geneva.

He was visibly suffering, but his sense of humor never disappeared. His presence lightened serious meetings and he struggled to give speeches when asked.

Sick as he was, he continued to nurture my career in PCCI and ECOP.

Then came the dreadful moment – he fell into a coma and began his final journey to join his maker.

But he left an indelible mark in ECOP and PCCI with his legacy of seamless and orderly transition of leadership.

I miss you, my friend, my mentor and my big brother. Two years have passed and I know I could never fill the big shoes you left behind.

Mike, in my eulogy, I never said goodbye. Today, let me bid you again au revoir, ci vediamo, hasta la vista, which all mean the same in English: until we meet again!