Broadcast journalist dies at 37 of ailment

CEBU, Philippines - The Dumaguete City Press is mourning the death of a media colleague, Jufill Mira, fondly called as "Dong" by his friends and peers, at the age of 37, due to a massive brain aneurysm.

Dong died at 11 a.m. on July 28 (Thursday) after a two-day confinement at the Intensive Care Unit of the Silliman Medical Center, with a life support system. Attending physicians said they could assure Dong will survive if he will undergo surgery.

He was taken to the hospital on July 25 (Monday), after he went to the convent in Tanjay City where the Feast of Senior Santiago was celebrated.

Dong has been a broadcast journalist for more than a decade, serving the diocesan radio and establishing his name as an anchorman of a program over DyWC Radyo Bandilyo.

Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete, who officiated the Mass for Dong at 10 a.m. yesterday morning, said Dong was a journalist who he knew was a simple and passionate man, dedicated about his work in the search for truth.

Dong, a religious Catholic, started as a worker for the basic ecclesial communities in Tanjay. which somehow provided the tenor of his later job as a media practitioner, the bishop added.

For DyWC and the media circle in Negros Oriental, the death of Dong was a big loss to the profession. DyWC station manager, Father Ramonito Maata, said Dong was not just an employee of the radio station but also a family member.

Dong is survived by his wife En-en and only daughter Jamjam. His remains is laid at the St. Peter new chapel at Barangay Banilad in Bacong town where nightly Masses were held.

Dong will be brought to Tanjay City on Tuesday next week and will be interred on August 6 (Saturday). (FREEMAN)