Revered Inquirer columnist, women’s rights fighter Rina Jimenez-David dies

MANILA, Philippines — Journalist Rina Jimenez-David died at the age of 68 on Sunday morning, her daughter confirmed in a Facebook post.

“We are saddened to announce that our mother, the indefatigable Rina Jimenez David, passed away this morning from an illness. Details on the novena to come,” Miya David said.

David was a columnist at the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and was a known women’s rights advocate.

She graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1976, where she served as the editor-in-chief of its official student publication, The Varsitarian, from 1975 to 1976.

The veteran journalist was awarded Best Columnist for Excellence in Population Reporting at the Global Media Awards in 2004 and at the TOWNS Award in 2013.

David was also an honoree at Women Deliver, a global advocacy organization championing the health and rights of girls and women.

One of her most notable works was the book Woman at Large, which is a collection of her columns in PDI.

The book became a finalist in the Philippine National Book Awards in 1994.

She also wrote Nightmare Journeys: Filipina Sojourns Through the World of Trafficking.