Eric Catipon writes 30

Journalist and artist Eric Catipon, 47, died yesterday of complications of the kidney and liver. He is survived by his brother Eugene, sister Eloisa Catipon-Balino, nephew Dominic and niece Pauline.

Eric was a sub-editor at the Lifestyle Section of The Philippine STAR. He has been covering the arts and culture beat for more than 20 years. He took up BA Communication major in Journalism and BS Fine Arts major in Art History at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He also studied French at Alliance Francaise.

Eric started his career by joining a five-year research program on traditional arts in Northern Luzon with UP Professors Ruben Defeo and Virginia Dandan. After that, he joined the Manila Times as a lifestyle writer and editor, The Manila Standard, and The Philippine STAR in 1998.

At the STAR, Eric handled The Arts & Culture section while also illustrating articles for the Young Star and Sunday Life sections. Sometimes, he would do cartoons of the entire staff – minus all their extra pounds – and one of his works hangs in the Lifestyle section of the office. He also loved to play practical jokes like drawing a mustache on a female columnist’s picture or making the male columnists look like drag queens.

Eric loved to travel, particularly to the art centers of Europe and the United States. He also loved the theater – he was one to break into a Broadway song (or a Barbra Streisand tune) at the drop of a hat and translate French songs for the staff. Yet he made time to serve at his parish, Mt. Carmel Church, in Project 6, Quezon City. A deeply religious person, he served as lector or reader during Mass.

Eric Catipon lived life the way he preached it: Filled with fun, laughter and love.

His body lies in state at Funeraria Paz on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.