Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima finding joy in simple things

MANILA, Philippines - Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has a daunting task of fixing the government’s fiscal position.

But little do many people know that beneath the tough exterior, the no-nonsense stance, round-the-clock schedule and the powerful position is someone who also finds time to relax and enjoy the comforts of living a “normal” life.

Just look at Purisima’s home. The STAR once visited the finance chief in his home inside an exclusive village in the metro. It’s a spacious two-story house that is cozy and homey, no floor-to-ceiling stacks of paperwork brought home from the office, at least on the day The STAR visited him one warm Saturday afternoon. He served a platter of green mangoes and bibingka.

Purisima says he likes to spend time at home with his wife, HSBC Philippines head for Global Banking Corrie, enjoying home-cooked dishes. He says he enjoys going to the grocery and walking the dog on weekends when his schedule permits.

Purisima, who can rarely grant an interview when he is hungry, has a voracious appetite. He enjoys gastronomic delights but not the exotic ones.  “I like food generally but I prefer Japanese and Filipino cuisine,” Purisima says.

Despite being a food lover, Purisima is not that fond of cooking. “Once in a while I grill steak on weekends and that is as close to cooking as I can get,” Purisima says.

In the late 80s when he was living in the US, he had to cook but says he never really enjoyed it as much as he enjoyed eating.

Aside from eating at home, he also listens to music a lot.  He likes to surf the Internet, too. He is an active social media user and tweets updates through his account CVP1960.

He also reads books and watches television a lot when he just wants to spend a lazy afternoon or night at home.

When they’re not home, Purisima and his wife enjoy biking and going to the gym together.  

They also travel a lot. “My  wife and I like to travel a lot,” he says.

Another favorite pastime is to walk their dogs.

But Purisima, although he enjoys just relaxing in his home, is very much fulfilled with his job.

He says the Cabinet as a team is very inspired and energized by President Aquino.

The whole country saw how in 2005, Purisima led a group of disgruntled Cabinet officials, who came to be known as the Hyatt 10, in leaving the corruption-ridden administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Purisima was appointed as Finance Secretary then after a successful stint at the Department of Trade and Industry in 2004 in place of former Trade chief Manuel Roxas II who in turn quit the Cabinet to run as Senator in the 2004 elections.

Since his appointment to the Finance portfolio in 2010, he has reaped awards for doing a “good job.”

In October last year, Purisima has been named Finance Minister Award of the Year for 2012 by global financial magazine Euromoney.

Euromoney cited Purisima for his “careful and successful stewardship of the economy in the Philippines.”

In 2011, Purisima was also named Finance Minister of the Year Award for Asia by London-based financial news source Emerging Markets.

Prior to this work in public office, Purisima belonged to the prestigious and possibly the country’s largest auditing firm Sycip, Gorres & Velayo (SGV & Co).

His portfolio lists long years of experience in accounting. He was Area Managing Partner as head of the Asia Pacific Assurance Practice of Andersen Worldwide from 2001 to 2002.

He was Regional Managing Partner as head of the Asean operation from 2000 to 2001 and was member of the Global Board of Andersen Worldwide from 1999 to 2002 and the Global Executive Board of Ernst & Young from 2002 to 2004.

He was chairman and managing partner of SGV & Co until January 2004.

His extensive experience in public accounting is also backed by extensive education here and abroad.

Purisima obtained his Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Majors in Accounting and Management of Financial Institutions from De La Salle University in 1979 and his MBA from JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 1983.

In 1979, he was among the top placers in the Philippine Board Examinations for Certified Public Accountants.

But then again, despite the accolades, Purisima enjoys being a “normal” guy.  “When we do the grocery, my wife tells me to push the cart,” he says with a big smile.