Mindanao journalist Lina Sagaral-Reyes passes away
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Lina Sagaral Reyes, an award-winning writer, a passionate advocate for women and children’s rights and a former correspondent of Philippine Daily Inquirer, died on Saturday at a hospital in this city. She was 63.
Reyes took to social media on Thursday to inform family and friends that she requested for an emergency transport service with Oro Rescue after she experienced breathing difficulties.
She was eventually confined at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center so her low blood pressure, the surge in sugar level and low oxygen could be fixed.
The death of one of Mindanao’s respected journalists came as a shock to many, particularly among her media colleagues from across the country, as she had announced several hours earlier that she was on her way out of the woods.
After attending college at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Reyes carved a career in writing and communications.
She won the prestigious Carlos Palanca award in 1987 for her poem, “Tree Without Leaves.”
Reyes’ byline used to grace the pages of the Inquirer, writing in-depth and investigative stories about the plight of women, children, farmers, and such controversial subjects as mining, coal-fired power plants, and the ecological impacts of fruit plantations.
Froilan Gallardo, president of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), said Reyes’ remains will be cremated on Tuesday after a two-day wake at St. Peter’s Chapels in Barangay Iponan of this city, per the wishes of her family.
Gallardo paid tribute to Reyes’ contributions to the growth of COPC’s Journalism Institute, which has trained local journalists with new skills.
