Veteran journalist Crispulo “Jun” Icban Jr., editor-in-chief/publisher of the Manila Bulletin and chairman of the Association of Philippine Journalists-Samahang Plaridel Foundation Inc., passed away Monday afternoon. He was 85.
Icban served as Press Secretary during the Arroyo administration in 2010.
A 1967 Nieman Fellow, he was named as one of the most outstanding citizens of Quezon City for his "legacy of courage in Philippine journalism."
He has also bestowed the Most Outstanding Kapampangan award and was chairman of the Capampangan in Media Inc.
His remains will be cremated on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, according to the Bulletin in a post on its website.
Icban wrote the book "Philippine Mass Media in Perspective," which is used as a textbook in Philippine communication schools.
He finished his Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, from the University of the Philippines where he served as editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian.
Icban was editor-in-chief for the last 18 years and devoted 47 years of his career in journalism to the Manila Bulletin.
“He will be missed. We have always looked up to him for his guidance in these times of transformation. The men and women of Manila Bulletin mourn the loss of a pillar in Philippine journalism,” said Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, president and vice chairman of the Manila Bulletin.
His career in journalism started in 1954 when he joined the Manila Times as an editorial assistant, as a reporter covering the Foreign Affairs beat, and as an editorial writer.
He was named news editor in 1968 up to 1972 when the paper was closed down due to the imposition of martial law.
He worked as an editorial consultant at the Manila Bulletin in 1974 and was later named news editor.
In 2003, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Manila Bulletin.
In 2020, he was named concurrent publisher and editor-in-chief.