VETERAN journalist and press freedom fighter Jose Jaime "Nonoy" Espina, son of a prominent journalist, the late Rolando Espina Sr., and of former pediatrician, the late Lourdes Llavore Espina, has peacefully joined his Creator on July 7.
He succumbed to liver cancer at 59 years old.
Before his demise, he survived the extreme threat of Covid-19 but was released from the hospital free from the virus.
He was among the 11 offspring of the Espina couple.
Inday Varona Espina, sister of Nonoy, announced the demise of her brother around 9:20 p.m. of July 7.
Nonoy was surrounded by his family when he bade goodbye to his mortal life.
Nonoy’s wife, Leny, and offspring Mayumi Liwayway and Daki Ojor Espina, his siblings, relatives, colleagues, and close friends grieved for his loss.
He is known as a freedom fighter and a tenacious advocate for a free press.
Espina's mortal body was cremated on July 8 at Rolling Hills Crematorium and his inurnment is scheduled for the next two weeks, Mate Espina said.
Rev. Fr. Baby Gordoncillo blessed his cremated remains at their house in Bacolod City in the presence of family members.
Nonoy served was the former chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), a member of the alternative media Cobra-ans, former editor of the local newspaper - Courier, a correspondent of national publications Today, Manila Standard, Inquirer.net, and Interaksyon.
Nonoy was active in fighting against media oppression, intimidation, and extrajudicial killings of active media practitioners.
He was a principled man who cannot be frightened by those in power.
Aside from being a press freedom fighter, music is his soft spot, as he sings well with his husky voice, plays musical instruments, a loving father, husband, and brother to his siblings.