STAR’s Sheila Crisostomo writes ‘30’

MANILA, Philippines —  Philippine STAR reporter Sheila Villaflores Crisostomo was usually described as “walang masamang tinapay” – a Tagalog phrase which means “someone really optimistic and positive.”

Allan Crisostomo, Sheila’s younger brother, said she was declared dead at 10:53 p.m. on Jan. 15, at the East Avenue Medical Center, two days after she suffered a stroke.

Sheila joined her father Angel, who died in October 2024, and youngest brother Arman, who passed away in April 2003. She is survived by her mother Luzviminda, younger brother Allan, sister-in-law Acel and nieces Abby and Alecs.

Sheila joined The STAR on Dec. 1, 1990 and had covered several beats, including police, education, transportation and national and local elections. She spent over 20 years of her career covering the health beat.

STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte expressed condolences. “So sad and sorry to hear about Sheila’s passing. She was a loyal and hardworking staff member of The STAR for so many decades. Most of all, she had a good heart, toward her co-workers and for the less fortunate. She will be greatly missed,” he said.

“The Department of Health (DOH) extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of veteran journalist Sheila Crisostomo. She was always true to her duty – asking the right questions, gathering data and helping communicate health risks and information – so that Filipino public health may be better protected. She will be missed. Our condolences to the family,” the DOH said in a statement.

Former secretary Francisco Duque III said, “I am sorry to hear that! Condolences and prayers to her bereaved family and for the eternal repose of a dearly beloved Sheila.”

US Ambassador MaryKay Clarkson also expressed her personal sympathies during her visit to The STAR office in Parañaque yesterday.

In a sit-down talk with Belmonte and The STAR editors, Clarkson relayed her condolences to the family.

“We have learned about the loss and we express our heartfelt condolences to the family, as well as The STAR family, on the passing of your reporter,” she said.

During the pandemic that started in March 2020, Sheila had submitted an average of nine stories a day from interviews and press conferences she had covered online as the government imposed a lockdown.

Writing multiple stories is no daunting task for Sheila, who can effortlessly type on a laptop keyboard without even looking, a skill she proudly attributes to her education at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

As a STAR senior reporter, Sheila was honored by PUP as one of its 10 outstanding media workers for continuously informing and educating the public about the pandemic.

Sheila was also upbeat when she covered and wrote stories about Operation Damayan, The Philippine STAR’s social arm, mobilizing a quick-response fund drive to reach out to communities hit by disasters and calamities.

In 2023, Sheila was transferred to cover the House of Representatives, especially the quad committee that conducted a comprehensive joint investigation into the possible connection between illegal POGOs and drugs.

Condolences

Sheila’s stroke and hospital confinement earlier this week shocked her friends.

Cecille Suerte Felipe, her best friend, said, “I met Sheila in the CAMANAVA – Caloocan Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela – beat in December 1992, and our beautiful friendship blossomed into a bond that felt more like sisterhood.”

“If it’s a secret, even if you pressure her, she won’t reveal the information. But when it’s just the two of us, of course there’re no secrets,” Cecille said. “Sheila has always been a source of unwavering support, offering her wisdom, encouragement and kindness in every situation. She is the kind of friend who listens without judgment, celebrates your successes as if they were her own and stands by you during the toughest times,” she said.

“Over the years, we have shared countless memories, laughter and even tears, forging a connection that goes beyond words. Sheila’s nurturing nature and her ability to uplift those around her have made her not just a friend but truly a sister in every sense of the word. Twin na nga raw kami,” Cecille noted.
James Mananghaya, a former STAR reporter, said, “What I remember with Sheila is that she is always laughing. She is always supportive even if I am her alalay in Comelec, DOH, DOLE. We did the midterm elections coverage at the National Board of Canvassers.”

“It was one of the most memorable experiences I had because we were there at PICC every day, eating their tinola and sweet and sour fish fillet. We almost did a story about that back then. And her kindness is what made work really stress-free,” Mananghaya added.

Blanche Rivera, a former reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said, “We called her a ‘champion ng masa’ because she would do random acts of kindness to strangers. That started when someone approached her at SM North asking for money for medicines for his kid. She asked if it was really for medicines. To be sure, she went with him to the drugstore and bought the medicine herself.”

Reporter Diana Mendoza posted on her Facebook wall, “We were all hypochondriacs covering the health beat. We were next to each other in pre-dawn travels, often in helicopters and low-flying Fokker planes to cover plane crashes, environmental poisoning, disease outbreaks, mine spills, all while struggling to simplify medical jargon. There was an instance of being held at gunpoint in a news coverage.”

Mendoza said, “I remember Sheila interviewing a DOH Usec while on board a plane and analog-phoning in her story amid the loud whirr. She wanted to make sure her nagging editor had the details in case we all die when the Fokker crashes…

“We shared meals and she was fond of dinuguan and pork chops until her doctors disallowed meat. She’s the perfect companion during cheat days when you crave for burgers or hakaw,” Mendoza added.

She noted, “In a friendship that spans three decades, I will always be comforted by her kindness and her being sweetly makulit, malambing, malakas mang-asar. In the other universe where I hope to see you again, Sheila, let’s enjoy dinuguan, pork chop, lechon baka and sisig, which will feel wonderful because they’re allowed.”

“I will cherish the dreams that you shared with me and telling me, ‘hindi halata, pramis,’ when I told you in our last chat a day before you were rushed to the hospital that I will be turning 60 this year. You’re 54 and you’re going already. How come? We were just chatting. In the meantime, you can rest,” Mendoza said.

Angie Chui also posted on her FB account, “Paalam, Ate Sheila. Hindi pa natutuloy ang 4th GA ng Kdramadiks, iniwan mo na kami… Salamat sa maraming tawa, sa lahat ng tulong, lalo nang bago ako na nag co-cover ng DOH. Salamat sa pagpayag mong maging resource speaker sa klase ko at binitbit mo pa si Ate Cecille. Marami pang dapat ipagpasalamat pero alam mo na yun.”

“Mami-miss ko ang patawag mo out of the blue about random things, maging sa mga school-related, Kdrama-related at kung ano ano pa. Mahal ka namin, Ate. Thank you sa lahat lahat.”