Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc ‘a giver,’ longtime friend recalls

Natalie Palanca, a family friend of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc for three decades. FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net

“Everybody loves her because she’s a giver.”

This was how a longtime friend described Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, Inquirer editor in chief who passed away on Christmas eve, leaving the Philippine media industry stunned.

Natalie Palanca, a family friend of Magsanoc for three decades, said they used to help out a small family together.

“Our friendship is more on charity and spirituality kaya kami nagkikita sa EDSA Shrine,” she recalled.

Palanca, a 74-year-old blood cancer survivor, said Magsanoc prayed for her a lot.

“She always prays for me. She considers me a miracle kasi nine years survivor ako ng cancer. She prays for me a lot kaya she’s more than a friend. She’s like my sister,” she said.

“Walang nakakaalam nung aming beautiful relationship. Kami lang at ang Diyos, alam din nung anak niya. Hindi nila alam na ganung ka deep kasi nga spiritual. She goes to mass everyday,” she said.

She said they last saw each other last November at EDSA Shrine after she arrived from the US.

“After mass, she handed me money to buy Jollibee for those children asking her for money. I told her to give food instead they might buy something else like rugby,” she said.

A week before Magsanoc died, Palanca said she had been planning to visit her but postponed it.

“I am also in grief. My daughter died from leukemia last April and my mother in August. So I was thinking of many things. And now she’s also gone,” she said in tears.

When Palanca heard mass on Christmas eve, she said she felt her friend’s presence after she received her communion.

“Parang may nag-touch sa akin na spirit, parang touched by an angel,” she said, not knowing immediately that Magsanoc died on that same day.