The life of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, esteemed editor in chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, can be summed up by three words, which were uttered by the journalism icon herself—“courage beyond words.”
Thus said the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) as it paid tribute to Magsanoc, who passed away on Christmas Eve due to cardiac arrest.
“The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC), and most especially the Department of Journalism, joins the media community in mourning the passing of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, the iconic editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,” UP-CMC said in a statement.
“Her recently inspired motto, ‘courage beyond words,’ (said during the 30th anniversary of the paper she had devoted her best years in journalism) is an apropos summation of a life that inspires the next generation of journalists. Indeed, LJM’s contribution to Philippine journalism gives her a place in the history of the Philippine press,” it added.
READ: Magsanoc, who led the Inquirer for 24 years, writes 30 | Esteemed PDI editor in chief Letty J. Magsanoc passes away
The UP-CMC also recalled the vital role that Magsanoc played in toppling the Marcos dictatorship during the martial law years and lauded her commitment to press freedom.
“LJM, as she is widely and lovingly known, was one of the freedom fighters during the Marcos years even as her forced resignation as editor-in-chief of the Panorama magazine, for writing an article that was critical of Marcos. She continued this fight when she joined Eugenia Apostol in founding the PDI and became is editor-in-chief in 1991,” the statement read.
“Even post-dictatorship, LJM remained a staunch advocate of press freedom. During the Estrada Administration, PDI did not back down its critique of his regime despite its attempt to silence media via an advertising boycott,” it said.
The college also thanked Magsanoc for making time out of her busy schedule and accommodating students as interns at the PDI, saying that she “had a way of making them comfortable as they sat in awe of this giant in Philippine Journalism.”
“These efforts at mentoring student with generosity of time and stories of lessons learned has benefitted and inspired those young people. UP CMC is also grateful for the yearly scholarship that the Inquirer – under LJM’s leadership – gives to its Journalism students,” the college said. “The UP-CMC sends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the Inquirer for their loss even as she will be remembered in perpetua in class lessons.”
A vigil wake for Magsanoc is being held at Aeternum in Heritage Park until Dec. 29.
RELATED STORIES
Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc: The Last Interview
Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc’s spirituality remembered at requiem mass