Obit

Vet Vitug with wife, Marites. | Photo grabbed from positivelyfilipino.com

Virgilio Vitug, 65

JOURNALIST AND POET Virgilio “Vet” Vitug died after a lingering illness Monday, Sept. 26. He was 65.

Vitug was a reporter and columnist for several newspapers including the Times Journal, Tempo, Manila Times, and Manila Chronicle. He also served as associate editor for Sagisag and Kaligiran magazines and head writer for the children’s television program Batibot.

As a poet, Vitug was co-founder and former chairperson of Galian at Arte sa Tula (GAT). He won various awards from different literature award-giving bodies such as Surian ng Wikang Pambansa and the National Sarzuela Writing Contest. (“Virgilio V. Vitug,” Panitikan.com.ph)

Vitug also served as a media consultant for various government agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the North Luzon Railways Corporation.

Vitug suffered a stroke in Oct. 2015. He was on his way to recovery but succumbed to pneumonia April this year. He was in a coma for five months before passing away peacefully on Monday (“Vet Vitug writes 30,” BusinessMirror.com.ph, Sept. 26, 2016).

Vitug is survived by his wife Marites, a son, and grandchildren. Marites Vitug is herself a noted journalist.

Waweru Mburu

KENYAN RADIO REPORTER Waweru Mburu died while undergoing treatment for gastric cancer Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Mburu was among the pioneers in radio commentary in Kenya. He hosted the Yaliyotendeka show of  Citizen Radio in which he dealt with socio-political issues across the country. Prior to joining the media, Mburu was  in the academe, teaching Swahili. Mburu also announced recently his plans to vie for a parliamentary seat (“Citizen Radio journalist Waweru Mburu is dead,” The-Star.co.ke, Sept. 28, 2016).

Friends and colleagues mourned the passing of Mburu. Machakos Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala described the Mburu as the one of the best radio journalists Kenya has ever produced. “He was also a strong crusader for human rights especially for the poor in our society,” Kiala added (“Kiala mourns journalist Waweru Mburu,” Hivisasa.com, Sept. 29, 2016).