‘She had capacity to discern like a prophet’

By: Kristine Felisse Mangunay, Marlon Ramos - 9 years ago

ASHES TO ASHES Ariana Magsanoc Alikpala, granddaughter of Inquirer editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, gently puts the urn containing her grandmother’s ashes in the Aeternum chapel at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City on Sunday for a wake that will last up to Tuesday. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Under her leadership, the Inquirer became a “prophet” that reminded people “that somehow we have to be working for a just and humane society,” Msgr. Manny Gabriel said of the paper’s editor in chief, Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, during a Requiem Mass on Sunday afternoon at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

Magsanoc succumbed to cardiac arrest on Christmas Eve. She was 74.

In his homily, the Catholic priest paid tribute to Magsanoc for the brand of journalism she espoused during the dark years of the Marcos dictatorship.

“To me, Letty’s contribution to Philippine history is that she guided the Inquirer during those years when people had to be reminded of where we came from,” said the priest whose friendship with Magsanoc started in 1977 when he was still parish priest of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

“I’d like to believe that Letty’s charism as a person and as a believer lies in that capacity to discern like a prophet,” Gabriel told Magsanoc’s relatives and friends who came to the wake.

The late editor’s work at Mr. & Ms. Special Edition, the precursor of the Inquirer, influenced many young political activists in the fight against the iron-hand rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos, Gabriel added.

“It took a woman of courage like Letty to put everything right there in the open,” Gabriel said.

Compassionate journalism

He said Magsanoc’s “creativity, fearlessness and sense of compassion” helped create what he described as the Inquirer’s compassionate journalism.

READ: Keeper of the Edsa flame

Among the mourners spotted at the wake were Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, Chef Jessie Sincioco, Inquirer columnists Randy David, Conrad de Quiros and Vergel Santos, and cancer survivor Natalie Palanca.

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

“I used to complain to her (about the Inquirer’s coverage),” Abad recalled with a laugh. “She never failed to attend to questions raised or suggestions made. Somehow I got the impression that she welcomed them. But she was very firm. I do have a lot of respect for her for that.”

He also recounted how Magsanoc once called his attention to tell then presidential contender Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to smile during the campaign in the 2010 elections.

“She didn’t care who you are if she thought she was right, even if you’re the President. I think what made her different was that she earned it,” the budget official said, adding that Magsanoc “will always be remembered for the very difficult effort of dismantling the dictatorship and restoring our democracy.”

Crusading

Santos similarly hailed Magsanoc’s contributions as a crusading journalist. “(The Inquirer) wouldn’t be the premier newspaper today if not for her. I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to fill her shoes,” he added.

National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose said he came to know Magsanoc through her father, the late Ambassador Nicanor Jimenez. “She was an activist (that’s why) she was always a fighter. She had great courage and integrity like her father,” he said.

Former Gilas coach Chot Reyes, whose wife Cherry is a close friend of Magsanoc’s daughter Kara, said he had always regarded the late Inquirer boss as a brave woman.

“She was a bedrock of journalism. Everyone knows what she did for her (profession),” Reyes said. “And I like her philosophy of having fun in what she was doing.”

Softer side

But what friends and relatives remembered and cherished most was the softer side of the feisty editor.

Cora Jimenez, who was at the Aeternum chapel as early as 8 a.m. to receive the flowers being sent by those offering their condolences, recalled how her cousin-in-law thoughtfully sent her a “big white box” when her husband—Magsanoc’s first cousin—died in 2007.

“It had five sets of clothes. As in black, and in different styles. You know her, very stylish. And brand new… Maybe for her, it was like, you no longer have to worry about what to wear (during the five-day wake),” said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager.

“I mean, who would do that? I was really surprised!” she laughed.

Palanca, who had known Magsanoc for 30 years, recounted how accommodating the editor was, even when she submitted an article late “because I wrote about my mom who turned 100 years old.”

Religious

Apart from being “very generous and giving,” Magsanoc was so religious she inspired the clan to continue with the tradition of paying “homage” to the Virgin Mary during Flores de Mayo, Jimenez said.

The result was that, every day from May 1 to May 31 of every year, the Jimenezes take turns offering flowers to the religious figure.

Palanca said Magsanoc, whom she would meet during Mass at the Edsa Shrine everyday, always prayed for her “because she considered me a miracle, being a nine-year cancer survivor.”

As early as 9 a.m., flowers from government officials and other prominent personalities started piling up outside the chapel where Magsanoc’s ashes were held.

Unexpected, sudden

The flowers came from Sen. Cynthia Villar, husband Manny and son Rep. Mark Villar; Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri; business leader Manuel Pangilinan; Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte; Sen. Alan Cayetano; Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Abigail Valte and Edwin Lacierda.

A huge bouquet from President Aquino was positioned beside the “altar.”

The atmosphere was anything but glum, however, as many of the mourners—clad in either white or black as requested by the family—fondly shared memories about Magsanoc and expressed shock at her unexpected and sudden demise.

Past 1 p.m., an urn containing Magsanoc’s ashes was brought inside the chapel by her granddaughter, Ariana Magsanoc Alikpala, and placed in the middle of the altar, surrounded by flowers.

Jimenez said the public viewing would be until Dec. 29.