MANILA, Philippines – Isagani Yambot, publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, died Friday.

Below is the official statement of the Inquirer:

”It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved publisher Isagani “Gani” Yambot. He will surely be missed but his spirit lives on in the work we do to ensure editorial policies are closely followed.

“We are very grateful for all of his contributions and we applaud his passion and commitment to his work. We request that you join us in prayer for the eternal repose of his soul.”

PDI Publisher Isagani Yambot writes 30

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I was an Inquirer Researcher from 2007 till July of last year, but I first met him in college, while taking the exam for an Inquirer scholarship (which I later won with other classmates).

I remember hearing the news about his health scare, and his subsequent requests for articles about heart surgery, heart bypass, and maybe non-traditional procedures? He was still on leave then, recuperating, and he’d ask me to print out the documents and leave them at the front guard. I’ll have someone pick them up later.

He was looking at his options. He was trying to save his life.

I get sad whenever I think of those Sunday afternoons, him phoning and asking Research to look for articles that could save his life.

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You know what stress and deadlines and the daily grind could do to you. Editors have screamed at me over the phone, but not him.

I could say this: he was never mean.

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I hope you remain jolly wherever you are, sir. Rest in peace.

(Photo from Princess.)