Focap chairman emeritus Tabuñar, 94
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:50:09 +0000
VETERAN journalist Gabino “Gaby” Tabuñar passed away on Tuesday. He was 94.
Tabuñar, founding chairman and chairman emeritus of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap), succumbed to pneumonia at 1:59 p.m. at the Makati Medical Center, the organization wrote on its social media platforms.
According to Focap, Tabuñar “died peacefully in the embrace of his children”, while listening to his favorite song, Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind”.
“Even when he was in pain, he was very kind to the people who were taking care of him. He hardly complained — whatever pain he was feeling he kept to himself,” Tabuñar’s daughter was quoted as saying on the Focap Facebook page.
The Focap described Tabuñar as a friend, father, and mentor to journalists.
“Gaby was a true friend to many, a father and mentor to countless journalists, and most importantly, one of the founders of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, or Focap, which continues to be a vanguard of press freedom to this day,” the Focap said.
Tabuñar and fellow journalist Teodoro “Teddy” Benigno founded the Focap in 1974, two years after the lated president Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in the country. He had also worked for CBS News in the United States as a correspondent.
The veteran journalist’s remains will be at the presidential suite of the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati, where viewing will start on Wednesday. According to his son, Manuel, his remains will be cremated on Saturday. ARIC JOHN SY CUA