Victor s. Barrios, 81, int’l banker, economist, patriot passes away

Victor S. Barrios. CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO – Victor S. Barrios, 81, Founder and Convenor of Global Filipino Nation, (GFN) and Chairman and CEO of LikeCash Asia & the Pacific Corporation, peacefully passed away in San Francisco surrounded by family on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Barrios was Founder and CEO of two notable financial institutions (an investment bank and development bank) in the Philippines, with financial participation from The World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and international investors.

He served as senior adviser to three community banks in California. As senior adviser at the World Bank over two decades, he was Team Leader/Member in financial sector initiatives in 12 countries covering, inter alia, financial sector/institutional diagnostics and restructuring, strategic planning, policy formulation, risk management, credit programs, SME development, and microfinance.

Barrios was a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University and Cornell University (MA Economics; advanced MBA studies; PhD Candidate), where he was a University Fellow, Scholar and Instructor. After graduate studies, he was a Management Trainee in various Wall Street firms.

LikeCashAsia & the Pacific Corporation is a financial technology company operating in the Philippines, with origins in Silicon Valley. The Company is focused on financial inclusion, especially of the unbanked and poor.

Victor S. Barrios had many titles, but first and foremost, he was a patriot of the first order. He was so passionate about the well-being of his Motherland that he formed GFN “which ventilates issues that contribute, inter alia, to effective governance of the Motherland and domains of its global citizens. GFN is a torch bearer of truth and what is right. It is inclusive of diversity of views and affiliations: it catalyzes discussions on a wide range of political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual issues at the international, national and local level. It is a non-partisan organization, based on its governance principle.  GFN neither supports nor opposes political persons or parties.”

Barrios is survived by Aida, his wife of 57 years; children Geraldine, Christine (Christopher), Victor Emille (Odette), Raymond (Angelica) and Valerie (Peter); and grandchildren Krista, Santiago, Antonio, Angelina, Luca, Nina and Isa.