Our Mr. Icban

Mr. Icban, as we all call him here in Manila Bulletin, was our treasure. We presented him with pride to any dignitary who came to visit, and we protected him from the merely curious who could waste his precious time.

- Pinky Concha Colmenares

To us, Mr. Icban was not only the editor-in-chief of Manila Bulletin, he was an icon in Philippine journalism — respected by government and private sector leaders, adored like a rock star by journalism students who had the privilege to sit in one of his impromptu lectures, and in the newsroom, he was the boss who started the afternoon with the story conference.

Last Monday, April 5, 2021, our treasure and national icon in journalism, Crispulo J. Icban Jr., passed away. He was 85 years old.

It would be an understatement to say that he had touched many lives. In the 47 years that he worked with the Manila Bulletin, Mr. Icban had inspired at least two generations of working journalists and could have-been newsmen.

Among them are the editors and reporters of Manila Bulletin, the students in his journalism class at the University of the Philippines many of them joining media; and the many visitors who took time to visit him. Those I have personally escorted out of his office would remark at Mr. Icban’s wisdom and wit. Among them were consuls, civic leaders, and corporate giants.

But best of all, Mr. Icban was the “heart of the editorial office,” Emil C. Yap, president of Manila Bulletin, said.

He was the heart that inspired us to be committed to our craft.

No flood, typhoon, or holidays have kept him from going to the office. When he finally took a day off about five years ago, he would call the office to ask how we were doing.

“A big loss to Manila Bulletin and the journalism profession,”Loreto Cabanes, business editor said.

Secretary Sonny Coloma, EVP of Manila Bulletin, said he will miss Mr. Icban’s “jovial friendship.”