Philippine journalism loses pioneer Eugenia Apostol, Inquirer co-founder

MANILA—The UP College of Media and Communication and the UP Gawad Plaridel Award program paid tribute to Eugenia Duran-Apostol following her death, describing her as a towering figure whose influence shaped generations of Philippine journalists.

Apostol, who co-founded the Philippine Daily Inquirer, made history in 2004 when she became the first recipient of the UP Gawad Plaridel Award, the nation's highest honor for print and broadcast journalism. The recognition underscored her foundational contributions to the profession during a transformative period in Philippine media.

The UP CMC and award administrators issued a statement emphasizing that Apostol's "legacy endures in every journalist," signaling her lasting impact on the industry beyond her role as a publisher and news executive.

Apostol's career spanned decades of Philippine journalism, beginning well before the establishment of the Inquirer, which grew to become one of the country's major broadsheet publications. Her work and editorial vision influenced the direction of investigative reporting and independent journalism in the Philippines during critical periods of the nation's modern history.

The Gawad Plaridel Award, established to honor excellence in journalism, continues to celebrate the standards and commitment to truth-telling that Apostol exemplified throughout her professional life.