Inquirer’s Apostol, Magsanoc share People Power Award

The family of the late PDI Editor in Chief Letty Jimenez- Magsanoc receives the award from President Benigno Aquino III and Exec. Sec. Paquito Ochoa during the 30th anniversary celebration of the edsa People power. JOAN S. BONDOC

EUGENIA Duran-Apostol, Inquirer founding chair, and Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, the late Inquirer editor in chief, shared the People Power Award this year for their courage in fighting martial law through their journalism that stirred up protests against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The Edsa People Power Commission (EPPC) spokesperson, Celso Santiago, said it was “unfortunate” that the award was given to Magsanoc posthumously.

Magsanoc—LJM to the Inquirer family—died on Christmas Eve last year, leaving behind the paper, which she named and headed for 24 years.

She had said that the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship was in the Inquirer’s DNA and that the paper, born less than three months before the uprising, was the “keeper of the Edsa flame.”

In fact, it was Magsanoc herself, who helped kept the Edsa spirit alive by pushing the paper to pursue stories of abuse and corruption in government, and make those who did wrong accountable for their actions.

LJM’s husband, Dr. Carlitos Magsanoc, and their children—Kara, Nikko and Marty—received the People Power Award from President Aquino and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

Photographer Mandy Navasero received the award on behalf of Apostol.

Santiago said the EPPC wanted to “honor and acknowledge the contributions” of Apostol and Magsanoc in the Filipino people’s fight for freedom and democracy.

In choosing Apostol and Magsanoc to be the recipients of the award on the 30th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution, Santiago said the commission also wanted to “introduce them to the young people” and “impress” on them the contributions of the two fearless journalists.

Passing the torch

“Our theme this year is geared toward the young and actually has two parts—honoring the sacrifices of the Filipinos for freedom and the passing of the torch to the youth,” Santiago said.

He said the young people needed to know that Apostol and Magsanoc had dared to print the “correct information” during martial law by being part of the “mosquito press,” which exposed the wrongdoings of the dictatorship at a time when the citizens “were fed propaganda” materials.

“These two courageous women did not let fear stop them,” Santiago said.

With the rise of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., only son and namesake of the dictator, in the race for the vice presidency, Santiago said “there was a need more than ever” for journalists like Apostol and Magsanoc.

“The commission is not endorsing a candidate. We are endorsing the truth. Young journalists should follow their (Apostol and Magsanoc) example,” he said.

In his speech, the President told young Filipinos in the audience that it might be difficult for them to understand how freedom of speech was suppressed during martial rule given that information was readily available today.

Propaganda

“Back then, apart from the comics section, there was a movie page in the newspapers, and that was the only accurate news you would be able to read. Everything else was propaganda.

“Back then, if you had the good fortune of attaining a copy of forbidden articles, you would do everything you could to conceal it from the agents of martial law, because if you were caught with the mere possession of such articles, it was enough for them to imprison you with no fixed term, without even a court case.

“In fact, back then, if three friends were found gathered together, it was enough for the state to file a case for illegal assembly against them,” Mr. Aquino said.

Santiago said the People Power Award was not given annually. The last time an award was given was at the 27th anniversary of the peaceful revolution.

It was given to broadcaster June Keithley, one of those behind the Radyo Bandido station, which aired updates on the Edsa uprising. Keithley passed away in 2013.