‘A light has gone out in Mindanao’

I’ve read her work long before I even met her, in awe of the stories she told from faraway Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi – tales of love and war, life and death, conflict and peace and, in between, the daily lives of the people of Mindanao.

I was even more impressed when I met the courageous woman behind the name many years ago during an event organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Iligan City, if I remember correctly.

Here was Julie Alipala, the fearless, well-known journalist from Zamboanga who was actually very friendly, down-to-earth and tender, even.

At some point during that event, I lost a stud earring. It wasn’t expensive at all, but it was a gift from my late grandfather, and because of that, it meant a lot to me.

Julie, whom I had just met, said almost nonchalantly that I would find it. She explained that anything given by a person who has passed on never really gets lost – or something like that.

She then helped me find my missing stud, looking under the tables and chairs. We had just met that night. It was embarrassing that this well-known senior journalist was wasting her time on me because I was clumsy and stupid enough to lose that gift from my grandfather. I told her not to bother; I’d just do it myself.

But lo and behold, to my pleasant surprise, Julie found my tiny piece of jewelry. We had a shared experience, mundane as it was, thanks to my moment of stupidity.

Fast forward to Women’s Day weekend last month.

The Movement for the Safety and Welfare of Women Journalists, or WE-Move, held its third annual gathering in Boracay, and Julie was there.

WE-Move, put together by veteran journalist Luz Rimban, is a group of women journalists from all over the country, many of whom are alumni of the Asian Center for Journalism. It’s a sisterhood of sorts and a safe space for women journalists to come together and discuss the threats and challenges we face in the course of our work.

The Boracay event focused on women’s health, inspired by Julie’s battle with cancer.

I was so happy to see her again, just as I was happy to see her at the previous WE-Move gathering in Cebu in 2024.

She had lost her hair this time, but in her eyes, you could still see the same strong and courageous Julie. She seemed fine, smiling all the time, with some jokes and banter on the side.

There at the Boracay event, she even stayed up late for the farewell dinner, which turned into a mini-concert as WE-Movers took turns at the mic, belting out song after song.

That afternoon, she also talked about her health journey – boldly, honestly and courageously.

I remember her saying that she wasn’t afraid to die because she’d had a meaningful and happy life, but that she was determined to live, especially because so many people were helping her.

She didn’t want to accept help, she said, because she felt that others deserved it more than she did – like the children of Mindanao, for example.

That was Julie – a woman with a big, big heart for other people, especially the marginalized.

On Thursday morning, I was so shocked to hear that she had died. We had lost not just a fearless colleague but a caring sister. She is a big loss to Philippine journalism.

As former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said, a light has gone out in Mindanao with the passing of Julie.

“Julie was more than a journalist; she was a force of nature, a woman who charted the often-stormy political and economic seas of our region with unwavering integrity and a heart anchored in truth.

“She was a journalist of rare strength – brave, principled and unwavering. Yet, beneath her formidable exterior lay an artist’s soul, one that found beauty in the world’s most subtle hues.

“Her voice, her spirit, her enduring legacy will be deeply missed,” Zarate said in a tribute published by MindaNews.

Keeping Julie’s legacy alive

Fellow journalist Sonia Soto, in her tribute published by CLTV36, said Julie’s legacy endures through our work and the resolution we continue to pursue in the fight for women in media.

“Julie’s work and her passion for this cause are the reasons why we, as WE-Movers, must not let her legacy fade. The resolutions we put forward – demanding better protections, fair compensation and more leadership roles for women in media – must be brought to fruition. These are not just lofty ideals; they must become our actions.”

Sonia said we must honor Julie’s memory by continuing the work she believed in – creating a world where women journalists are empowered, protected and celebrated – and this, we shall do.

You were right all along, Julie – gifts from those who have passed on are never lost. Your gift of courage and inspiration will stay with us, guiding us in the relentless pursuit of truth.

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Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.