Nelson Navarro, 71

COLUMNIST AND author Nelson Navarro passed away Sunday, September 22. He was 71.

Navarro had written for The Philippine Star, Malaya and Manila Standard. He also wrote and edited books, among them biographies of sportsman Moro Lorenzo, fellow journalist Max Soliven, educator Nemesio Prudente and former Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez. He was also co-anchor of “Options” which aired on ABS-CBN.

Hailing from Bukidnon, Navarro took Business Administration at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman where he wrote for the Philippine Collegian, the official student publication.

As a student activist, he joined protests against the Marcos administration during the First Quarter Storm. Navarro was implicated in the August 1971 plaza Miranda bombing and was charged with subversion while in the United States on an educational trip.

Navarro continued his studies in the US and graduated with a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University in 1976. He was granted political asylum and returned to the Philippines in 1986.

Family and friends mourned Navarro’s passing. “Throughout his life, he remained an advocate of the truth, of living life to the fullest and happiness whilst never losing his boyhood wonder of such pursuits,” his family said. Manila Bulletin Lifestyle editor Arnel Patawaran said via social media: “Your life has served us well.”

His remains lie in the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati City.

(An earlier version identified Arnel Patawaran as an Inquirer Lifestyle editor. This post has been updated to correct the error. Arnel Patawaran is Lifestyle editor for the Manila Bulletin.)