Letty Jimenez Magsanoc (September 13, 1941 – December 24, 2015) was a Filipino journalist and editor, best known for her role in opposing the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and for serving as editor-in-chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer from 1991 until her death in 2015. She is recognized as an icon of democracy in the Philippines.
Early Life and Education
Born Leticia Jimenez in Manila, she was the eldest of nine children of Colonel Nicanor Jimenez, a former Philippine National Railways manager and later Philippine ambassador to Korea. She began contributing features to the Philippine Sunday Times Magazine while a senior at St. Teresa's College. She earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. In 1963, she married Dr. Carlos Magsanoc, with whom she had three children, including broadcast journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala.
Career
Manila Bulletin and Panorama
After returning to the Philippines in 1969, Magsanoc joined the Manila Bulletin. She wrote a thrice-weekly column, The Passing Scene, and later her own column, Not for People Only, through which she began to draw the ire of the Marcos government for her critical commentary. From 1976 to 1981, she served as editor of Panorama, the Philippines' largest-circulating magazine at the time. In 1981, she was forced to resign after writing a tongue-in-cheek article about Marcos's third inauguration, which opened with a line from Handel's Messiah: "And he shall reign forever and ever." Marcos reportedly found the piece blasphemous and pressured the publisher to remove her.
Mr & Ms Special Edition
Following the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983, Magsanoc was invited by publisher Eugenia Apostol to edit Mr & Ms Special Edition, a weekly opposition tabloid that became a key outlet for anti-Marcos journalism. The publication played a significant role in documenting civilian protests and the growing resistance to martial law.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Magsanoc was the first editor-in-chief of the Sunday Inquirer Magazine from 1986 to 1987. She became editor-in-chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 1991, serving for 24 years until her death. She was the first woman and the longest-serving editor-in-chief of the country's leading newspaper. Almost a month after her death, she was named Filipino of the Year for 2015 by the Inquirer.
Awards and Recognition
- 1981: Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (Ten Outstanding Women of the New Society)
- 1993: Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism, University of Missouri
- 2000: Named one of "50 Stars of Asia" by BusinessWeek
- 2006: Named by Time International as one of "60 Years of Asian Heroes"
- 2013: Ninoy Aquino Medal of Valor
- 2015: Journalist of the Year, 19th Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards
In 2016, Magsanoc was among three journalists added to the Bantayog ng mga Bayani (Monument of Heroes) Wall of Remembrance, cited for "speaking truth to power without fear" and "testing the limits of press freedom as writer and editor" under martial rule. The Senate of the Philippines also passed a resolution recognizing her contribution to the restoration of freedom in the country.
Death
Magsanoc died on December 24, 2015, at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig, after suffering from cardiac arrest. She was 74 years old.
