In loving memory of Marian Arcinas

On August 7, 2026, we had to say goodbye to our dear friend Marian, a TRAIL+ alumna from the Philippines and a deeply loved member of our WTI family.

Marian showed extraordinary grace, strength, and dignity until the very end. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know her will remember not only her brilliant mind and determination, but also the warmth, humour, and genuine care she brought into the lives of the people she loved.

Marian was an overachiever in the very best sense of the word. She was incredibly bright, ambitious, and always setting the bar high for herself and somehow making it all look effortless. But beyond everything she achieved, she was also an extraordinary friend: funny, warm, generous with her affection, and deeply devoted to the people who mattered most to her. When Marian cared about you, you knew it.

Her journey in Switzerland began at the Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization, where she gained first-hand experience in international trade law, a field she would come to love deeply. In 2022, she moved to Bern, where she pursued the TRAIL+ programme at the World Trade Institute. It was there that our paths crossed and where a friendship began that would soon become much more than a friendship. We were far from our families and loved ones, and Marian made Switzerland feel more like home.

From Bern, life took her back to Geneva, where she joined the WTO’s Trade in Services and Investment Division. We went from being classmates to roommates and coworkers, sharing not only an important stage in our careers, but also our everyday lives.

That year and a half gave us some of our happiest memories with Marian. She had a way of making ordinary days memorable through her laughter, long conversations, trips, and all the small moments that, in the end, become the ones you treasure the most.

After her time in Geneva, Marian returned to the Philippines and continued pursuing her passion for international trade through her work with the Philippine government. Even in the last few months she was eager to discover new topics and collaborate with us on some projects. Her intelligence, discipline, and commitment were evident in everything she did, and there is no doubt that she still had so much more to contribute.

The world has lost a brilliant and remarkable woman, and we have lost one of the dearest friends we could ever have asked for. We feel incredibly lucky to have shared such an important chapter of our lives with her. Marian left us far too soon, but the joy, love, laughter, and memories she gave us will remain with us always.

To her family and to Sam, we send our deepest love and strength. Thank you for sharing Marian with the world, and with us.

We will miss her more than words can say, and we will carry her in our hearts wherever life takes us.