Journalism icon dies in two cities

As I blogged about discounted funeral services on 23 November 006, I could not know that somebody well known in the Philippines would die the next day. Max Soliven passed away on 24 November.

Max Soliven was one of the most influential columnists in the Philippines. He wrote Gloria's father Diosdado Macapagal into the presidency in 1961. He was arrested in 1972 after Ferdinand Marcos promulgated martial law. Released after a couple of months, he later co-founded (according to some sources) the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which immediately became a prominent voice in the fight against the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines. He also co-founded the Philippine Star from where the above photo was taken.

Let’s ask a basic journalistic question: Where did Max Soliven die?

Philippine’s most influential newspaper, the Inquirer (print version) from 25 November 2006, provides the answer:

“…. In a sense, his death in Tokyo yesterday was in keeping with his character: He died in harness, still at work gathering material for the lengthy and influential columns he wrote with such ease and undiminished grace. And he dies abroad, a true citizen of the world.” (page A12)

“Philippine journalism lost a major pillar yesterday when Star publisher and columnist Max Soliven passed away in Osaka from double pneumonia…..” (page A13)