Obit

Yap, 88

MEDIA TYCOON Emilio Yap died last April 7. He was 88.

Yap was chair of Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp., a post he had held since 1984. He was also the board chair of Liwayway Publishing Inc. and chair of the Manila Hotel Corp. and Centro Escolar University. (Bulletin’s ‘Don’ Emilio Yap passes away, The Philippine Star)

In a statement on Yap’s death, President Benigno Aquino III said: “He always upheld the deepest optimism and confidence in the abilities of the Filipino and in the success of the country. Indeed he was a true exponent of Philippine progress.” (Final rites, interment set Sunday for Chairman Yap, Manila Bulletin)

Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Rep. Gina de Venecia described Yap as “a publisher in the classic mold of the Americans William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer and the Australian Rupert Murdoch. All of these media titans built newspaper empires that came to exercise immense influence on opinion in their home markets.” (Don Emilio T. Yap chose the path of service to humanity as top priority – CBCP head, Manila Bulletin)

 

Madreguera-Parreno, 49

FILIPINO JOURNALIST Maria Aurora Madreguera-Parreno died of complications from severe kidney infections last April 4. She was 49.

Parreno was the person behind Usapang Pambata, a radio program aired weekly over DXND in Kidapawan City and DXMS in Cotabato City. DXND and DXMS are owned by the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. (NorthCot’s ‘champion’ of women’s  and children’s rights succumbs to illness, MindaNews)

From 2005 to 2008, Usapang Pambata was  the recipient of the Best Children’s Radio Program award of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas’ Golden Dove Awards. (KBP Golden Dove Awardee-Children Radio Program to resume airiing in April, Philippine Information Agency)

In a statement on Parreno’s death, North Cotabato governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza said: “I hope all women would be inspired of her work and commit to continue the advocacy of empowering and protecting women and children.” (NorthCot’s ‘champion’ of women’s  and children’s rights succumbs to illness, MindaNews)

Parreno is survived by her husband and three children.

 

Pepper, 96

AMERICAN JOURNALIST Curtis Bill Pepper died last April 4. He was 96.

Pepper started his journalistic career in 1938 as a copy boy for The New York World-Telegram. Later, he became a foreign correspondent in Italy for United Press and CBS.  He began working for Newsweek in 1986 and became its bureau chief in Rome for 11 years. (Curtis Bill Pepper, Author, Reporter and Taveler, Is Dead at 96, The New York Times)

He also wrote for Life, Look, Parade, and The New York Times magazines. (Curtis Bill Pepper, foreign correspondent and author, The Boston Globe)

His books include “The Pope’s Back Yard” (1996), “Kidnapped!” (1978), “Happiness.” (Notable deaths: Kumba Yala, Curtis Bill Pepper, The Washington Post)

Pepper is survived by his wife, two children, and three grandchildren.