Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sun.Star Cebu sports columnist dies
Manuel Oyson Jr., acknowledged as the dean of Cebu sportswriters, died at dawn last Monday after three months and a week of confinement at Cebu Velez General Hospital. He was 71 years old.
Oyson, whose column, “Counterpunch,” had appeared on Sun.Star Cebu’s sports pages since the paper’s inaugural issue on Nov. 25, 1982, suffered a massive heart attack last Nov. 12 during a gathering at Casino Español. He was declared brain dead after oxygen supply to his brain was cut off for 35 minutes while he was on the way to the hospital.
Outburst
The heart attack was said to have followed an emotional outburst. Oyson was in the middle of a legal battle with an insurance company over payments for one of his properties, which had been destroyed by fire. Oyson brought up the subject during the gathering.
After a month in the intensive care unit, Oyson was able to open his eyes, but he could not speak, said his wife, Katherine. She said that was the best he could do in his struggle to survive the ordeal.
His body now lies in state at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Lahug, Cebu City. A memorial service has been set for 10 a.m. tomorrow to be followed by his interment at the Angelicum Garden of Angels in Canduman, Mandaue City.
Oyson had been in the media industry for 50 years and was still actively writing for Sun. Star Cebu until his confinement last year.
Considered one of the pioneers of Cebu media, Oyson started as a cub reporter with various Cebu publications in the 1950s, such as Morning Times, Daily News and Republic Daily.
Although he was a lawyer and served as Commission on Elections 7 assistant director until his retirement from government work, sports writing was clearly Oyson’s passion. He spent most of his life as a wordsmith, penning numerous articles that praised the deserving and boldly criticized those he thought were undeserving.
Not afraid
While some of his opinions were unpopular, he was not afraid to make them known through his columns. One of his daring forecasts was the victory of Mexico’s Erik Morales over Filipino sentimental favorite Manny Pacquiao in the two boxers’ first encounter last year.
Oyson is survived by his wife, Katherine, sons Salvador, Manuel III, Raymund and Michael, daughter Shanette and 11 grandchildren. (JCT/ML/RCM)
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