Cebu Citizens-Press Council’s official statement

Saturday, January 14, 2023

***

CEBU just lost a multi-media practitioner whose work in community media had spanned more than three decades. Elias O. Baquero died of cardiac arrest Saturday, January 14, 2023. He would've turned 64 this July 10.

Elias O. Baquero (EOB) was one of a few Cebu journalists whose work straddled multiple platforms: radio (Aksyon Radyo Cebu dyRC), television (CCTN 47 TV), print (SunStar, Business Week), and in the last few years, digital media.

Baquero helped the growth of Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ), one of the organizations under the umbrella of Cebu NewsWorkers Foundation (Cenewof).

He served for a number of terms as president of CFBJ and as chairman of Cebu NewsCoop, steering early growth and stability of the two media-allied organizations.

As program coordinator at 888 News Forum, he had pushed public conversation on major issues. That forum also led to the birth of Cebu Business Week, which Baquero founded and served as its finance and marketing head.

Even as it grieves over the passing of Mayor Ely -- he actually served as OIC mayor of his hometown Balilihan, Bohol in post-Edsa era and his friends loved to call him "Mayor" -- the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) recognizes and applauds his invaluable contribution and devoted service to community media.

Pachico A. Seares

CCPC Executive Director