UP Cesar E.A. Virata

School of Business

The Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business (VSB) of the University of the Philippines in Diliman is the leading institution in management education in the Philippines. Established as the College of Business Administration in 1916, it has since been at the forefront of the formation of national business and educational leaders and breakthrough business research, all in pursuit of academic excellence.
Learn more about our academic and research programs.

News & Announcements

[ANNOUNCEMENT] PhD in Business Administration Application for AY 2024-25 is ONGOING!

The VSB PhD Program was established to train highly motivated people to conduct frontier research in business and prepare them for a career in the academic sector. Through a rigorous selection process, the program chooses the individual who has a strong inclination to teach and a drive to excel in research. The program has graduated thought leaders in Philippine and global business research, including stalwart faculty members of the VSB. 

The application for AY 2024-25 is ongoing until 30 April 2024. For application details, you may visit: https://www.vsb.upd.edu.ph/phd-program/admission

For more information, please email Dr. Lorna Paredes, PhD Program Officer-in-Charge at liparedes@up.edu.ph.

[INVITE] Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Workshop for VSB Students, Faculty, and Staff - Jan 22 (Mon), 9 AM

Microsoft Philippines is hosting a free orientation and laboratory workshop on Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, Microsoft's public cloud computing platform that provides tools and ML frameworks for developers to create their own machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) services, on January 22 (Monday), 9 AM-12 PM in the UP VSB Computer Lab. Ziggy Zulueta, a Microsoft-certified Azure Solutions Architect and AI Engineer, will handle the training and workshop. 

Interested attendees may register at tinyurl.com/VSBAzureWorkshop or scan the QR code below. Only 40 attendees will be allowed due to classroom size. Attendees may use computers in the Computer Lab or bring their own laptops for the workshop proper. MS Teams will be required.

[ANNOUNCEMENT] UP VSB Internal Shifting Application for the Second Semester AY 2023-24 is NOW OPEN!

Please note that only applicants from the BSBAA to BSBA program will be entertained this semester. Interested applicants can visit tinyurl.com/VSBshiftinginternall or scan the QR code below.

The deadline for submission of requirements through the online form is 26 January 2024, 11:59PM.

[NEWS] UP VSB finishes 1st Runner Up in 23rd ICFC

Five (5) BS Business Administration & Accountancy students of the Virata School of Business placed first runner-up nationwide in the final round of the recently concluded 23rd Intercollegiate Finance Competition (ICFC). The tilt was hosted by the Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX) last 24 November 2023 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Manila. The team was composed of Joyce R. Belleza, Rose May A. Denila, John Elrich R. Gamboa, Karla S. Lorena, and Nicole Valerie A. Tan.

The team was coached by Mr. John Lester H. Aratea from the Department of Accounting & Finance.

Congratulations to the team and their coach!

[INVITE] VSB Faculty Grant and Professorial Lecture Series (December 2023)

You are all cordially invited to attend the following research lectures.

[ANNOUNCEMENT] Less than a month to go before the UP VSB Alumni Homecoming 2023!

All UP VSB Alumni are invited to the Alumni Homecoming on 2 December 2023 (Saturday) in UP Diliman. Honoree batches may coordinate with their respective batch coordinators and RSVP by 20 November 2023. For Sponsorship Package inquiries and guests from other batches, email rmavante1@up.edu.ph.

[NEWS] VSB and OIL Diliman international exchange opportunities with Chonnam National University and Kasetsart University 

Last November 14 and 17, 2023, representatives from the UP Virata School of Business and the Office of International Linkages Diliman - OVCAA, UP Diliman met with their counterparts from 전남대학교 (Chonnam National University), South Korea, and Kasetsart University, Thailand. These two meetings explored future opportunities for international exchanges via student and faculty mobility. Through these, we hope we can expand our opportunities to have valuable international exchanges, for our students and our faculty and staff.

[ANNOUNCEMENT] Call for Nominations: 2023 UP VSB Distinguished Alumni Awards (DAA)

The school will honor its alumni who have outstanding accomplishments in the field of business management, and/or entrepreneurship, and/or public service. Nominations for the 2023 UP VSB Distinguished Alumni Awards are now open.

The awardees will be honored during the annual alumni homecoming on Saturday, December 2, 2023 (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) at the UP VSB Building. This year, the honoree classes are: 1973 (Golden), 1978 (Sapphire), 1983 (Ruby), 1988 (Coral), 1993 (Pearl), 1998 (Silver), Classes of 2003 (China), 2008, 2013, and 2018. All MBA, MS Finance, MS Management, PhD graduates, and graduates of Classes 2009-2023 are also cordially invited.

Selection Criteria

Past recipients of the DAA will no longer be considered for this award. The nomination form can be accomplished through: https://tinyurl.com/VSBDAA2023. Complete nominations should be accomplished no later than Monday, October 30, 2023, 5:00 PM.


[ANNOUNCEMENT] New Email Addresses for the Office of the Department Chairs

For ease of communication, please use the following addresses for all communication to the respective Department Chairs of VSB:

Department of Accounting and Finance - daf.upd@up.edu.ph

Department of Business Administration - dba.upd@up.edu.ph

You may also reach the Office of the Department Chairs at +632 8981 8500 local 3458 or visit us at Rm 101, UP Virata School of Business, Diliman, Quezon City

[NEWS] Cases in Risk Management in the Philippines

Dear colleagues,

We are proud to announce the launch of Cases in Risk Management in the Philippines, published by the UP Business Research Foundation, Inc. and Development Center for Finance, Inc., edited by Arthur S. Cayanan, Corazon R. Estrella, and Helena Agnes S. Valderrama.

The book contains a selection of 19 case studies that were chosen to cover a wide variety of risks that companies in the Philippines face. The volume includes cases from the following authors: John Lester H. Aratea • Daniel Vincent H. Borja • Erik Paolo S. Capistrano • Arthur S. Cayanan • Rhey Joseph S. Daway • Diogenes C. Dy • Rowena N. de Guzman • Erlinda S. Echanis • Corazon R. Estrella • Jerold Jay M. Flores • Ben Paul B. Gutierrez • Luis Diego Dans Lee • Calen Martin Legaspi • Regina M. Lizares • Mikhael Anjelu B. Magana • Marc Kevin L. Morales • Justin Reginald Nery • Elisabeth Joan A. Ognita • Josel Richa Ann D. Rivera • Mia Pang-Rey • Rafael A. Rodriguez • Dani Rose C. Salazar • Ivy D.C. Suan • Helena Agnes S. Valderrama • Lawrence G. Velasco • Al-Habbyel B. Yusoph. 

Congratulations to the editors, authors, and the project team behind the book!

The book is available through the UP Business Research Foundation, 2nd Floor, UP Cesar EA Virata School of Business, UP Diliman, Diliman, Quezon City.

[ANNOUNCEMENT] Conditionally Accepted Applicants to the MBA & MSFin Programs for AY 2023-24

All conditionally accepted applicants must check their email inbox for further instructions.

Master of Business Administration Program

Master of Science in Finance Program

[INVITE] VSB Ph.D. Dissertation Public Lecture, Final Defense, and Faculty Grant Lecture Schedules (June-July 2023)

You are all cordially invited to attend various research lectures of the VSB faculty for June and July 2023. For Zoom lectures, kindly register for the events by clicking on the links below. 

Prof. Pamela Lloren-Alcantara (Ph.D. Candidate)

Prof. Andrei Relente (Ph.D. Candidate)

Prof. Manuel C. Manuel III (Ph.D. Candidate)

VSB Faculty Grant Lectures

[ANNOUNCEMENT] UP VSB Shifting Applications 2023 are NOW OPEN!

For applicants from UP Diliman and other UP units, visit https://tinyurl.com/VSBShifting.

For applicants within VSB, visit https://tinyurl.com/VSBShiftingInternal.

Deadline for submission of requirements (via online form) is on 12 July 2023, 11:59PM.

Applicants from other universities should apply directly at the UP Diliman Office of the University Registrar. You may check the FAQs on their website at https://www.our.upd.edu.ph/faqars.php for transfer requirements.

In case the above links do not work:

https://www.vsb.upd.edu.ph/undergraduate-program/transfer

https://www.vsb.upd.edu.ph/undergraduate-program/internal-shifting

[NEWS] UP Diliman is the Top-Performing School in the May 2023 CPALE

We congratulate the 55 graduates of the BS Business Administration & Accountancy program who passed the recent Certified Public Accountants Licensure Examination (CPALE) held on May 21-23, 2023.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the results on May 30. 2,239 out of 7,376 examinees passed the examination for a national passing rate of 30.36%.

PRC also announced that the University of the Philippines Diliman is the lone top-performing school with a passing rate of 93.22%. This award is the first for the CPALE since October 2019 when UP Diliman was also the only top-performing school

To all our new CPAs, PADAYON!

[ANNOUNCEMENT] UP VSB SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS 2023

Through the continuing support of our alumni and other benevolent donors, we are once again opening applications for various VSB scholarships. This is open to all enrolled BS BA and BS BAA students this 2nd Semester A.Y. 2022-2023.


Selected scholars must maintain a good scholastic standing, carry a full semester load during the period of scholarship, and must not enjoy any other similar financial assistance, grant or scholarship from other sources.


To apply, just fill up the scholarship form https://tinyurl.com/UPVSBScholarship (you will be required to submit an application form, cover letter, and a copy of your grades from CRS) on or before 03 April 2023.

Remembering Professor Manuel S. Alba, PhD

Former UP College of Business Administration Professor Manuel S. Alba, PhD. passed away on March 19, 2023. He previously served the College as Chairman of the Department of Accounting and Business Administration (1963-1964), Director of Graduate Studies (1964-1965; 1969-1970), Chairman of the Department of Marketing (1968-1971; 1972-1973), and Chief of the Division of Business Research (1968-1969). He taught Public Policy and Business, Marketing Management, Introduction to Management, and Philippine Business Environment.


He also facilitated the approval of Executive Order 714, which pushed for the fiscal control and the management of funds of the University of the Philippines, in his capacity as Minister of the Budget and Management in the 1970s. This has ensured the fiscal autonomy of the University to control its internally-generated resources. 


He also served as the Quezon City Administrator (1992-2001), as Chief of the Staff to the Department of Trade and Industry Secretary (2002) and as Board of Investments Governor (2002).

The community extends its condolences to Dr. Alba's family, friends, and loved ones.

[NEWS] UP alumni conferred Accountancy Centenary Awards of Excellence and Recognition Awards

Alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) were proclaimed recipients of “Centenary Awards of Excellence” and “Recognition Awards for the Board of Accountancy Members” during the celebration of the Centenary Year of the Accountancy Profession in the Philippines, led by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).


Several are graduates and active alumni of the Cesar EA Virata School of Business. Congratulations to the awardees!


The full article can be viewed here: https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-conferred-accountancy-centenary-awards-of-excellence-and-recognition-awards/

[NEWS] VSB Distinguished Alumni Awards 2021

[NEWS] VSB Distinguished Alumni Awards 2022

[NEWS] VSB WINS THE 15TH CFA IRC CHALLENGE LOCAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Five BS Business Administration & Accountancy students of the Virata School of Business bagged the Local Championship of the 15th CFA Institute Research Challenge hosted by the CFA Society Philippines last 16 February 2023. The team, composed of Gracylyn Mikhaela D. Arada, Hector F. Deato, Marnelle Maxine G. Ortiz, Julianne Nicole L. Vitug, and Christian Martin R. Salgado, bested five other schools in the Local Finals.

The team will represent the Philippines in the Subregional stage later this year. The VSB team was coached by Kevin John D. Dela Cruz of the Department of Accounting & Finance.

 

Congratulations to the team and their coach, and best of luck in the Subregional stage!

[REMINDER] 2022 Alumni Homecoming - 11 February 2023

Less than a month to go before the 2022 Alumni Homecoming on 11 February 2023 (Saturday), 10 AM at the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business in UP Diliman. Honoree batches are invited to RSVP through your batch coordinators in the attached list. Ticket prices at Php 1,500. For interested corporate sponsors, sponsorship packages are available through Raquel Avante at rmavante1@up.edu.ph. Thanks and see you there!

VSB Internal Shifting for 2nd Semester AY 2022-23

UP VSB Internal Shifting Applications for 2nd Semester 2022-2023 are NOW OPEN!


Only applicants transferring from BA BAA to BA BA will be entertained. Visit https://tinyurl.com/VSBShiftingInternal or scan the QR code to access shifting requirements.


Deadline for submission of requirements through the online form is on 31 January 2023 (Tuesday), 11:59 PM.

[NEWS] 2023 VSB Executive Committee

The Cesar EA Virata School of Business welcomes the new year with a refreshed slate of administration leadership, helmed by the new Dean, Dr. Maria Regina Lucia M. Lizares.


In the photo are the members of the VSB Executive Committee, from left to right:

The team completed its Strategic Planning for 2023 and beyond last 9 January 2023, and is looking forward to serving the VSB community.


UP/VSB Academic Calendar

UP VSB MBA/MSFin Academic Calendar

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