Soliven to get burial honors at Libingan

The family of the late Philippine STAR publisher and board chairman Max Soliven has accepted the government’s offer to bury Soliven with honors as a war veteran at noon on Friday, December 1, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

Soliven had joined and fought in the resistance against the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines as a guerrilla volunteer while he was a cadet at the Ateneo de Manila Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) during World War II.

He was stricken with acute pulmonary and cardiac arrest on his way back to Manila from Tokyo, Japan last Friday. Soliven was rushed to the Narita Red Cross Hospital but efforts to revive him failed. Doctors declared Soliven dead at 11:26 a.m. (10:26 a.m. Manila time).

Soliven’s father Benito was also a World War II veteran whose exploits during the War in the Pacific were immortalized in Soliven’s column "By the Way," which saw print in The STAR.

Soliven flew to Japan last week, where he delivered two major speeches, one before airline officials and the other before Japanese journalists in Osaka.

His widow, Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, is still in Japan making arrangements for the return of his remains. Ambassador Soliven said it was her husband’s wish that his remains be cremated.

Ambassador Soliven is scheduled to return to Manila at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday with the urn containing her husband’s ashes. Arrival honors will be provided for Soliven at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by the Philippine National Police (PNP), and escorted all the way to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, where Soliven will lie in state.

A Mass will be held immediately after arrival honors at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Mortuary at the St. Ignatius Cathedral in Camp Aguinaldo. Masses will be held nightly at 8 p.m. for the duration of the wake.

Final necrological rites for Soliven will be held on Friday, starting with a Mass at 8:00 a.m. Interment will follow immediately at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio.

The Soliven family has asked that donations to The STAR’s Operation Damayan be given in lieu of flowers.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Malacañang has already instructed AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to coordinate with the Soliven family regarding the wake and burial arrangements.

Esperon, meanwhile, expressed extreme sadness over the news of Soliven’s demise. "Nanghihina ako sa balita (I felt faint when I got the news)," Esperon said in a text message to The STAR. "Indeed, we offered in Jolo and Zamboanga one-minute prayers for Manong Max. My staff is coordinating the wake in GHQ (general headquarters)."

Acting on Esperon’s orders, AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Angel Honrado discussed the wake and burial honors for Soliven yesterday with Soliven’s daughter, STAR columnist Sarah Soliven de Guzman, who had gone to Camp Aguinaldo to finalize the details.

"My mom will have my dad cremated on Monday," de Guzman said. "Then they will fly back Tuesday. They will bring his ashes to the wake site, which is the AFP compound."

"We plan to have his wake until Friday, until we bury his remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani," she added.

Soliven’s views on the military establishment are well-respected by the officers and men of the AFP and his counsel was sought by even the rebel soldiers of the Magdalo group that occupied the Oakwood serviced apartments in Ayala Center, Makati City in July 2003. Soliven had gone to Oakwood and was instrumental in negotiating the peaceful end to the siege.

In an official statement issued by Malacañang, President Arroyo acknowledged Soliven’s contributions to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines as a journalist defending freedom of the press and his unrelenting fight on the side of the "forces of enlightenment" until his death.

"The nation is deeply saddened by the passage of an icon of freedom," the President said. "The post-war march of Philippine democracy under a free press could not have been as vibrant without Max Soliven, who fought beside the forces of enlightenment in the struggle against despotism and wrong."

"We grieve with his family and pray with the people for his eternal peace in the palms of the Lord," she said.

"Press freedom is a key linchpin of Philippine democracy, which thrives amidst many challenges, but now is the time to gather round and remember that the power of the pen is indeed mightier than the sword and that repression and dictatorship cannot put down the Filipino," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

"Max Soliven inspired many — not just with his words, but with his vigilance to fight for the truth," added Bunye, who was a journalist before his tenure as congressman and, later, Press secretary.

He said Soliven’s legacy will always evoke respect and pride among all practitioners of tough and responsible journalism: "We join the whole media community in paying respects to a man whom President Arroyo fittingly described as an icon of freedom."

Ambassador Benjamin Defensor, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Counter-Terrorism Task Force, said he "shares the nation’s grief (over) the untimely demise of Max Soliven," adding that the country has lost "a true freedom fighter, patriot and friend."

"Max was a writer par excellence with the heart of a righteous warrior, a tested champion of truth and freedom," said Defensor, a former chief of the AFP.

Defensor remembers Soliven as a journalist who "often seized the day with his penetrating commentaries, damning all torpedoes. Against enemies of the state he was our source of strength and force multiplier… he was our light and conscience."

Presidential adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio described Soliven as "a revered institution and beacon in professional journalism. His legacy, truth, courage and sheer literary magnificence will endure."

The French government conferred upon Soliven the rank of Officer of the French Legion of Honor (Legion d’Honneur) earlier this month.

Soliven received the award from French President Jacques Chirac through French ambassador to Manila Gerard Chesnel. Before this, Soliven was conferred the National Order of Merit with the rank of Chevalier by the late French President Francois Mitterand.

The Legion d’Honneur is an Order of Chivalry that was established by Napoleon Bonaparte, then First Consul of the French Republic, on May 19, 1802. The order is conferred upon men and women for outstanding achievements in the military or in civil life.

Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki expressed his shock and grief over Soliven’s demise in a letter to Ambassador Soliven: "I am at a loss for words to adequately express my feelings of sorrow at this passing away of Max."

Yamazaki recalled his first meeting with Soliven fondly: "He kindly came to my residence for a one-on-one lunch on Dec. 22, 2004, shortly after I arrived in Manila to assume my post. On that and many subsequent occasions, Max had been so generous with his advice and guidance and I always greatly valued his friendship and support."

"I vividly remember having meaningful discussions with Max concerning a wide range of issues, including Japan-Philippines relations," Yamazaki wrote. "On these many occasions I was touched by Max’s warm and open personality... The loss of Max, a great journalist and a good friend, will be very deeply felt."

The Philippine Navy, through Naval Public Information Officer Commander Giovanni Bacordo, also extended its condolences to the Soliven family through a letter addressed to STAR Editor-in-Chief Isaac Belmonte.

Bacordo wrote that "it is with great grief that we share this sad event. We hope that Mr. Soliven’s loved ones, friends and colleagues will take comfort in the reality that he is now at peace with the Lord Almighty."

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza paid tribute to Soliven, whom he described as a "Filipino whose sense of history helped his countrymen understand their roots and forge a sense of national identity."

According to Atienza, while Soliven spent five decades reporting the news "in his irrepressible way as storyteller," Soliven had also devoted the last few years of his life to helping Filipino journalists and the younger generation develop a "keener identification with the pillars of Philippine journalism," encouraging younger journalists to "emulate" these veterans "and appreciate the role of media in national development."

As chairman of the journalists’ group Samahang Plaridel, Soliven partnered with the City of Manila to set up a memorial to hero and father of Philippine journalism Marcelo H. Del Pilar at the redeveloped Paraiso ng Batang Maynila along Adriatico Street.

Soliven’s legacy as a journalist also reverberated with media practitioners and journalism students in Dagupan City, who have offered prayers and expressed their grief over his death.

Prior to the start of a one-day seminar titled "Responsive and Responsible Media" in that city initiated by the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC), seminar participants and NPC members led by NPC president Roy Mabasa offered prayers for Soliven.

Pangasinan Tri-Media Association (PATRIMA) president Bernie Errasquin and veteran journalist Leu Paragas said they were saddened by the news of Soliven’s death.

In Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley leaders and journalists also expressed sorrow over Soliven’s passing and described Soliven as "a journalism legend."

Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III said Soliven "is truly an epitome of fair and responsible journalism. On behalf of our family and the officialdom of Isabela, we extend our deep condolences over his death. Long live Manong Max."

Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca said: "I’ll never forget how he cheered me on by saying ‘ania la unayen? nakakalaing ka (what’s your problem? you’re very smart)’ when we first met during the awarding ceremonies for the 2004 People of the Year of Stargate publications."

Padaca said she met Soliven again last Sept. 29, during which time she "reiterated my invitation for him to visit Isabela so I can bring him to the town of Benito Soliven, which was named after his late father. I noticed he had lost a lot of weight but he was the same engaging, punching Manong Max in his speech."

Cagayan Gov. Edgar Lara, a relative of Soliven, said the death of Soliven "is a great loss to the Filipinos who follow his commentaries. He is fearless, fair and incisive. I lost a relative whom I have always been proud of. He stands tall above the rest."

Journalist Norma Navoa of the Vizcaya Advocate said Soliven is "every newsman’s dream. He’s our driving force for us to keep going despite the harsh environment for journalists, especially us provincial journalists." The Vizcaya Advocate is the oldest weekly newspaper in Nueva Vizcaya. — Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero, Aurea Calica, Cesar Ramirez and Charlie Lagasca