Soliven to be conferred Order of Lakandula

President Arroyo will confer the Order of Lakandula on the late STAR publisher and board chairman Max Soliven for his significant contribution to the journalism profession and to the restoration of democracy in the country.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the announcement after Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor earlier said Mrs. Arroyo would give a presidential citation to the man whom she described as an "icon of freedom."

"The President informed me through text message that she will bestow upon Mr. Soliven the Order of Lakandula (posthumous with the rank of Grand Officer or Marangal Na Pinuno," Bunye said.

Soliven’s family earlier accepted the Palace offer to have him buried with honors at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio.

Bunye explained that the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Officer is among the highest awards given by the President to a civilian.

The award, he said, is bestowed for "lifelong dedication to civic welfare of society."

The posthumous award will be presented to Soliven’s family once his remains arrive in Manila from Tokyo this afternoon, he said.

Immediately upon learning of Soliven’s untimely death last Friday, the President issued a statement describing Soliven as "an icon of freedom" who had fought with the "forces of enlightenment in the struggle against despotism and wrong."

Bunye, a former journalist, said earlier said that "the legacy of Max Soliven will always evoke respect and pride among all practitioners of tough and responsible journalism."

He said Soliven "inspired many, not just with his words but with his vigilance to fight for the truth."

The first degree in the Order of Lakandula is the Grand Collar or Supremo, given to former heads of state or governments. The second degree is the Grand Cross or Bayani, which is given to crown princes and the like. And the third degree is Grand Officer, which is given to individuals who have demonstrated a life-long dedication to society.

Defensor said "Soliven has been fighting for the rights of the downtrodden and for the restoration of democracy and he was even imprisoned for his beliefs (during the martial law years)."

He added that The STAR publisher was among those who fought the Marcos dictatorship and continued to watch for any signs of erosion of the country’s democracy through his incisive and hard-hitting columns.  

He said Soliven’s decades of service to the Filipino people even as a private citizen deserve recognition from the government.

Soliven’s cremated remains will arrive at around 1:25 p.m. from Tokyo.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has accorded his widow, Philippine Ambassador to the UNESCO Preciosa Soliven, a pass and accommodation at the VIP Lounge the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Ambassador Soliven will arrive via Philippines Airlines flight PR 431.

Alfonso Cusi, MIAA general manager, has expressed his condolences to the Soliven family and The STAR for the demise of the late journalist.

More tributes

Senate President Manuel Villar took some time off the Senate’s busy schedule yesterday to pay tribute to Soliven.

Shortly after the start of the Senate session, Villar delivered a free speech where he described the late STAR publisher as "a guiding light in Philippine journalism."

"Max to his many friends, readers and admirers is too much of a presence simply to walk away. He was so full of life, humor and knowledge that not having him around anymore is unthinkable," Villar said.

According to Villar, no other Filipino journalist of our generation had wielded as much influence in molding public opinion as Soliven did.

"He wrote with authority, with candor and conviction. And he wrote from the heart," he said.

Villar made the speech as the Senate moved to pass the resolutions separately filed by Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., chairman of the committee on public information and mass media, and Pia Cayetano, whose father was a friend of Soliven.

Villar also filed a resolution expressing the Senate’s sympathies over Soliven’s death.

For his part, former senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad said that Filipinos he met in New York and Washington DC in the last two days were uniformly stunned and genuinely grieved to hear of Soliven’s passing.

"Max was an inimitable presence in Philippine journalism, a political force all his own. One of the last breed of working journalists of the old school, he had no difficulty adapting to the new school and becoming the envy of the younger members of the profession," he said in a statement sent to The STAR.

In Davao, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the people mourn the death of Soliven, whom they consider an adopted son.

"We will never forget the wonderful words he has said and written about Davao," he said.

In his last visit to Davao City in November 2004, an orchid was named after him, which was later brought to grow up at the Malagos Garden Resort here.

Duterte disclosed that Soliven was the only one the city government has declared as an adopted son.

"We cited him for helping promote Davao City as a tourist destination and investment haven in the south," Davao City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus said.

Schedule of Masses

A Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Louie David, S. J. at 3 p.m. today at the St. Ignatius Cathedral of the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo where Soliven’s remains will lie in state.

There will be another Mass at 8 p.m., which will be celebrated by Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., president of the Ateneo de Manila University. Members of the Soliven family will give a eulogy on the first night of the wake.

A Mass will be held everyday at 8 p.m. until his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Friday morning. Fr. Junji Zarate, S.D.B., and Fr. Jerry Orbos, S.V.D. will celebrate the Masses scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Soliven’s friends from the press will give eulogies on Wednesday evening while The STAR family will pay him tribute on Thursday.

On the day of interment, Fr. James Reuter, S.J., and Fr. Louie David, S. J., will be the celebrants. Lea Salonga, a famous alumna of the OB Montessori Center, will sing at the service.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers, the UP Singing Ambassadors, singer and violinist Jay Cayuca, violinists Gil Lopez Kabayao and Lawrence and LA Arquierro, the Choir Company of Magallanes Parish, and another choir to be provided by the Cultural Center of the Philippines will perform during the vigils.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The STAR’s Operation Damayan will be accepted at the wake or at The STAR office in Port Area. — With Rainier Allan Ronda, Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado