Sheila Villaflores Crisostomo, 54

Reporting for three decades, she was loved by friends and colleagues

Photo from Sheila Crisostomo’s Facebook page.

SHEILA V. CRISOSTOMO, reporter for the daily newspaper, The Philippine Star, for more than three decades, died on January 15 at the East Avenue Medical Center two days after suffering from a stroke. Her brother, Allan Crisostomo, made the announcement on  Facebook.  

Sheila joined the Star on Dec. 1, 1990, covering the health beat for over 20 years. Her other beats included the police, education, transportation, and national and local elections. 

A graduate of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), she received an award from the institution for her reports on COVID-19 pandemic when she averaged nine stories per day attending press conferences and doing interviews during the crisis, the Starsobituary stated. 

Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sheila’s best friend and a fellow reporter at STAR, recalled how their friendship started in an article:  

 “I met Sheila in the CAMANAVA – Caloocan Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela – beat in December 1992, and our beautiful friendship blossomed into a bond that felt more like sisterhood. . . Over the years, we have shared countless memories, laughter and even tears, forging a connection that goes beyond words. Sheila’s nurturing nature and her ability to uplift those around her have made her not just a friend but truly a sister in every sense of the word. Twin na nga raw kami.”  

Quoted in the Stars’ obituary, Miguel Belmonte, Star‘s president and chief executive officer, remembered her as a hardworking employee. 

“So sad and sorry to hear about Sheila’s passing. She was a loyal and hardworking staff member of The STAR for so many decades. Most of all, she had a good heart, toward her co-workers and for the less fortunate. She will be greatly missed,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) expressed its condolences to Sheila’s family in a statement released to the Star‘s obituary:  

“The DOH extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of veteran journalist Sheila Crisostomo. She was always true to her duty – asking the right questions, gathering data and helping communicate health risks and information – so that Filipino public health may be better protected. She will be missed. Our condolences to the family.” 

Sheila’s friends and colleagues took to social media to remember her life and legacy.

Diana Mendoza, a colleague covering the DOH posted on Facebook: 

 “We were all hypochondriacs covering the health beat. We were next to each other in pre-dawn travels, often in helicopters and low-flying Fokker planes to cover plane crashes, environmental poisoning, disease outbreaks, mine spills, all while struggling to simplify medical jargon. There was an instance of being held at gunpoint in a news coverage,” 

Angela Chui’s FB message said: 

 “Paalam, Ate Sheila. Hindi pa natutuloy ang 4th GA ng Kdramadiks, iniwan mo na kami… Salamat sa maraming tawa, sa lahat ng tulong, lalo nang bago ako na nag co-cover ng DOH. Salamat sa pagpayag mong maging resource speaker sa klase ko at binitbit mo pa si Ate Cecille. Marami pang dapat ipagpasalamat pero alam mo na yun. . .Miss na miss ko ang patawag mo out of the blue about random things, maging sa mga school-related, Kdrama-related at kung ano ano pa. Mahal ka namin, Ate. Thank you sa lahat lahat,” Chui added.

(Goodbye, Ate Sheila. Our 4th GA as Kdramadiks has not yet pushed through but you left us already. Thank you for the laughters, especially for your help when I was still a beginner covering the DOH. Thank you for being a resource speaker in my class and you even brought Ate Cecille with you. There are many things that I am thankful for, but I no longer need to mention it. I will surely miss your calls out of the blue about random things whether it be school-related, kdrama-related and what nots. We love you, Ate. Thank you for everything.) 

Her remains were laid to rest at the Meycauayan Catholic Cemetery in Meycauayan, Bulacan on Sunday morning, January 19.