Radio Broadcaster Leonilo Mila of Samar, shot dead

In another depressing news, Leonilo Mila, a radio personality in Northern Samar reportedly died of gunshot wounds inflicted by unidentified men on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 outside his office in San Roque, Napares, Barangay Zone 3.

Mila reportedly died on site of the shooting with wounds from a 45-caliber pistol on his torso, legs, and head.

The announcer of Radio Natin had been known for his expressed opposition against taxation leveled by the National People’s Army (NPA) on villagers in the area, an angle of the senseless killing the local police is investigating. No suspects to this day is in custody. —Inqurer (12/03/08, Kwok, Abigail)

The brazenness and brutality of this killing again reminds the government and the people of the dangerous path the country is taking. Without a sincere effort by the government and the citizenry to curb these murders and ferret out justice, living in the Philippines will be at one’s own peril. (Photo Credit: Backroad+drifter)=0=

RELATED BLOGS:RELATED BLOGS: Another gruesome journalist’s slay Posted by mesiamd at 11/17/2008; “RP’s 2008 Press Freedom Rank: 142nd out of 173 nations,” Posted by mesiamd at 10/26/2008; “Deteriorating Human Rights Record: another journalist shot dead in Camarines Sur,” posted by mesiamd at 08/16/08.)

UPDATE: “The horrific pattern of antagonism and violence against journalists in the Philippines is a disgrace and must end,” said the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ Asia-Pacific) said in a reaction to the death of Aristeo Padrigao, a staunched critic of illegal logging in Mindanao.

Calling for justice, IFJ, bewails the helplessness of RP to stop the killings which have claimed the lives of 61 journalists since 2001 according to the Nuational Union of Jounrnalists in the Philippines NUJP. Inquirer (11/18/08, Kwok, A)

Tiya Dely: giving away advices like lollipops and candies

If a name could mirror one’s life and vocation, it might apply to Fidela “Tiya Dely” Magpayo. A popular broadcast personality in Manila, she dispensed advices (payo) to radio listeners as if she gave away lollipops and candies. She was known as a commentator, dramatist, on-the-air counselor, singer, and patron of Filipino music. The public admired her as a familiar consoling voice in the airwaves.

Many radio listeners with diverse dilemmas, running from personal to political, came to Tiya Dely for a piece of her mind, alleviating their insecurity, brushing aside distress, giving them common sense suggestions to approach life’s mundane challenges.

Stricken with massive cerebral bleed, Tiya Dely, the soft-hearted grand dame of local radio who dispensed public information and popularized Filipino music, quietly died at the age of 87 at the Manila Doctors Hospital on September 1, 2008.

The DzRh broadcaster with a long professional career spanning 6 decades had a big heart and ear for people with problems. Leaving a legacy of compassion and public service, she had been an epitome of a simple life made larger as an aunt, a mother, a sister, a wife, and a friend who was always willing to listen.

So long Tiya Dely! May God shower you with the love you gave away when you were with us!