Our readers speak up on the loss of Sir Max

The death of our dear friend and mentor and Chairman of the Board and Publisher of the Philippine Star Max V. Soliven has been heard by most of our faithful readers and the readers of Sir Max and they too expressed their sense of loss through the e-mailed letters they sent to me. The latest news concerning Sir Max was that Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) would confer a posthumous honor on him... the Order of Lakandula the highest award to be given to a civilian. Pres. Gloria was very close to Sir Max, as he knew her when she was still eight years old, while he was covering her dad, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal.

Since we are in mourning for the loss of Sir Max and I will be in Manila for the rest of the week to attend necrological services and funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, allow me to reprint the messages of sympathy that I got also from our faithful readers.

Here's one faithful ardent reader from Long Island, New York, a Cebuano friend Mr. Oscar Corona whom I finally met a month ago.

"Dear Bobit, Just to let you know that I also grieved the sudden demise of our nation's most revered and talented journalist - Max Soliven. It stunned me while I was watching the Pilipino TV channel here! I've been following his articles since the days of Martial Law thru the Philippine Star newspaper while I was in the Philippines. Then, thru the Internet right here in the U. S.

With his vast knowledge of historical events, politics and the latest issues of the day, it would be hard to find a guy to his peer. The Beltrans, the Benignos had passed away and now Mr. Soliven is gone, I would just hope someone would fill in his shoes. Tsk, Tsk, I will be really missing Mr. Soliven's "Alikabok", "Sanamagan" and "Susmariosep" expressions! My deep sympathy to his grieving family, may GOD rest his soul. GOD Bless you! Oscar."

This letter came from Mr. Oscar Mabilog, that fearless anti-drug campaigner and fighter and a good friend of Sir Max who now lives in Cebu. Just like Sir Max and those born during their time, they are computer illiterate. Oskie's letter was typewritten and sent directly to my home, as he lives not far from my house.

"Dear Bobit, The icon of Philippine Journalism is home with his Maker. He ran the race and fought the good fight just like his own father who was an exemplar of a model public servant in his lifetime. Maxie is coming home in an urn in the next few days in the arms of Precious, his devoted wife. He was journalist's model of truth and speed in the delivery of news. No wonder he had his last breathe in an international airport. This time it was in Tokyo at the Narita Airport because he was always running a race and he wanted to reach his destination the fastest way possible and available.

As one of my colleagues during the College Editor's Guild (CEG) days when he was editor of the Ateneo "Guidon" and I steered the "Augustinian Mirror" of the Iloilo University of San Agustin, I will cherish the many days of conferences during our college days. We had the late Monching Mitra, Jr. in our crowd of young college editors or former Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo Gutierrez, Jr. or the late ex-Congressman Leonie Perez of Nueva Ecija that was under the perennial Presidency of Ernie Rodriquez, Jr.

Maxie (as we called him) stood out in national campus journalism because he always wielded his pen in truth coupled by speed and even with his vitriol. Like Doroy Valencia or other Philippine columnists who have crossed the finish line, he maybe forgotten through the years, but his powerful play of words in both the local and international scene will be missed by both his friends and the subjects of his pen.

Goodbye Maxie, I do remember our CEG days in Zamboanga or Iloilo! I remember our debates on daily issues at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati less than a decade ago. You were always faster on the draw with your words and you pen. I know many of us will get there soon without knowing it just like what you did. You have even out-raced your mentor, Fr. James Reuter, S.J.

Extra-Sincerely Oscar C. Mabilog Philippine Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (PhilOsap).

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Aside from the e-mailed letters, we also got a lot of texted messages, but we are running out of space. So here are two texted messages. From Mr. Sonny Mirasol who used to work in the Star and often edited my column.

"What a sad day 4 us. What a great loss 2 the Star, journalism and the country! We can only console ourselves with d thought that our dear Max died with his boots on!"

From Department of Justice Undersecretary Macabangkit Lanto, "It's a great loss not only 2 d industry but 2 d entire nation. He ws n institution himself who helped shape public opinions that r translated into national policy."

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit's columns can also be accessed at www.shootinginsidecebu.blogspot.com