TORCH BEARERS Magsanoc and INQUIRER founding chair Eggie Apostol carried the torch
from Edsa I.
NETIZENS expressed shock at the passing of Inquirer editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, widely considered an icon of press freedom, just as the nation was celebrating Christmas Eve.
Posted Inquirer columnist and singer-actress Lea Salonga on her Facebook account:
“Dear Tita Letty,
I just wanted to say thank you … 7 years ago, through (your daughter) Kara (Magsanoc-Alikpala), you asked if I would be interested in penning a weekly column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Entertainment section. Before I had faith that this was something I could actually accomplish, you already had faith in me.
“For this (and for the people I got to work with regularly at PDI—Emmie Velarde and Bayani San Diego), thank you, for your trust, and your believing in me. I won’t ever forget you.
“Oh, how her faith in me went up a step when she entrusted a front-page article to me. Pressure!”
“A rare writer-editor who combine(d) courage always with humanity and compassion,” was how award-winning scriptwriter Ricky Lee described the Inquirer’s beloved editor since 1991.
Broken hearts
Other public figures, among them Senators Loren Legarda, Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino and Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon also posted their condolences on social media.
Said Supreme Court spokesperson, Theodore Te about Magsanoc: “Anyone who knew news knew who she was. On Christmas Eve 2015, LJM (wrote) 30, leaving behind stunned staff and broken hearts,” he posted.
In 2006, Time Magazine named the late editor, along with the Inquirer’s founding chair, Eggie Duran-Apostol, billiards champion Efren “Bata” Reyes and former President Corazon Aquino, as among Asia’s heroes of the last 60 years.
In 2000, BusinessWeek international magazine cited Magsanoc as one of 50 Asians trumpeting change in the continent.
First on her list
Despite her stature, she remained accessible. Recalled comedienne Cynthia Patag on Facebook:
“Oh, Letty! You graciously invited me to dinner the next time I’m in Manila, when I rang you up at your PDI office months ago, regarding a presidential debate to be sponsored by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Official). November and December are horrendous traffic months in Manila. January 2016 puede na, planned my itinerary, first on my list was dinner with you.
“How was I to know you were going to die? Rest in peace, Letty. The nation mourns you.”
Posted actress-scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza: “Thinking of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc. As a member of I Can Serve Foundation, I wouldn’t let her daughter Kara’s birthdays pass without calling Letty, to thank her for giving birth to the singular force that put up our breast cancer information advocacy group.
“We met through her sister, Lourdes (Carvajal), aka (TV entertainment talk show host) Inday Badiday: ‘Magugustuhan ka ng kapatid ko. Magaling ka mag-English. Aktibista ka. Ipapakilala kita.’ (My sister will like you. You speak good English and you’re an activist, Carvajal said). Finally introduced to each other, I told (Letty) I had a crush on her doctor-husband.
“That’s my Carlitos,” she said. “Look for your own Carlitos.”’
“Letty, Letty, Letty. There’s comfort knowing you are with Nich, Lala, Naty, Vict,” Orteza said.
Too sad
“I am in shock. Our dearest Tita Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc of @Team_Inquirer passed away! Awwww this is too too sad,” talent manager Angeli Valenciano said on Twitter.
Veteran actress Nora Aunor had good words, too, on this Philippine democracy icon.
“Siya ay isang napakabait, mahusay na manunulat, mapagmahal na kaibigan. Bigla naman po akong nalungkot sa balita. Ngayon pa namang ipinagdiriwang natin ang kapanganakan ng ating Panginoon.
“Isang kawalan na naman sa industriya ang kanyang pagpanaw. Sa lahat ng kanyang mga naiwan lalo na sa kanyang pamilya, ang aking taos sa pusong pakikiramay.
(LJM is a good and loving friend, one of the best writers around. I was saddened by the news, just when people are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. One more loss to the industry. My heartfelt condolences to those she had left behind, especially her family.)
“I am sorry to hear the news,” said actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos. “I met Ms Letty Magsanoc through her sister Ate Luds. Social meeting years ago. My deepest condolences to the family.
“I knew her as the sister of Ate Luds and aunt of … Dolly (Carvajal, Entertainment columnist at the Inquirer) and as the editor of Inquirer. I didn’t have the chance to get close to her but met her through Ate Luds (Carvajal). Will pray for the repose of her soul.”
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. also posted on social media regarding Magsanoc’s loss.
“Nakikiramay ako sa pamilya at mga katrabaho ni Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc. She will surely be missed. (I condole with the family and work colleagues of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc.),” Romualdez said.
“Ang aming pakikiramay sa mga kaibigan sa Philippine Daily Inquirer sa pagpanaw ng kanilang punong patnugot na si Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc. (Our condolences to our friends at the Philippine Daily Inquirer for the death of its editor in chief, Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc.),” Reyes tweeted.