VERA Files announces with deep sorrow the demise of VERA Files co-founder and trustee Lourdes Estella- Simbulan. She was 54.
A full-time faculty member of the Journalism Department of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Simbulan, more known as Chit Estella, was killed in a car accident in front of the UP Ayala TechnoHub on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City at 6 p.m. today. A passenger bus rammed the taxi she was in.
She is survived by her husband, UP professor Roland Simbulan.
Simbulan, a graduate of journalism from UP Diliman and holder of a master’s degree in public management from the UP Open University, started her journalistic career as a reporter of the Manila Evening Post in the early 1980s. She joined Tempo and later Ang Pahayagang Malaya where she was a senior reporter.
She spent a short stint at the news desk of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 1994 before she moved to Manila Times to become its managing editor. She was editor in chief of Pinoy Times, the Filipino-language tabloid that put out stories on the excesses of then president Joseph Estrada. Simbulan was also former editor of the Philippine Journalism Review Reports.
There will be a mass at 10 a.m Saturday, May 14 at Arlington Funeral Homes She will be cremated right after the service. Her remains will remain at Arlington until Monday. On Tuesday, at 10 a.m., the UP College of Mass Communication will hold a memorial service for her.
NUJP Statement:
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines grieves the loss of esteemed colleague, good friend, and respected mentor Lourdes E. Simbulan, or Chit Estella, as we all knew her both professionally and personally.
Chit died when the taxi she was riding in was rammed by a speeding bus near the Ayala Technohub in Philcoa, Quezon City around 6 p.m. on May 13, 2011.
She was one of the founders of VERA Files, the respected and fiercely independent investigative journalism outfit, and also worked as editor-in-chief of Pinoy Times and managing editor of The Manila Times.
Notwithstanding the name she had made and the respect she had earned in the profession, Chit was never one to stint at sharing her knowledge and wisdom with others, especially journalists of the emerging generation.
This is why she also chose to become a journalism professor at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
Her passing will leave a void in Philippine journalism that will be hard, if ever, to fill.
To everyone who knew, loved, and respected Chit our heartfelt condolences
Ang lungkot nito.
Ang bibilis ng mga bus sa lugar na yan, kinukuha sa laki, walang pakundangan! Natira kami malapit dyan at naopakadalas meron aksidente dahil sa harabas ng mga bus. Kundi man holdapan ay ganyan nga, halos tinutupi ang maliliit na sasakyan ng malalaling bus.
My condolences to her family and friends. We lost another good one.
May deepest condolences to the family of Chit Estella, to her Vera Files family and friends.
I extend my condolences to the family of Chit Estella. She is a great loss to VERA Files which all follow because of its contribution to press freedom and stories that touches the heart.
Sincerest condolences to Roland Simbulan and to their families…
Miss Ellen, I’m one of those lucky enough to have been under her during my days as a journalism student in UP. Talaga pong shocked ako when I learned of this last night. I remember asking her to pose with me for a picture after my graduation. I learned a lot from her class, and her legacy in the Philippine media would live on forever.
– Mark Pere Madrona (batch 2010)
You are privileged to have been mentored by Chit, Mark.
Tomorrow, Sunday, there will be a tribute by media friends at 6 pm.
My condolences sa mga naulila. Grave na talaga ang mga bus driver sa atin. always na lang sila ang may sala. Dapat nang gumawa ng kaukulang mga hakbangin ang administration ni Pnoy. Sa USA hindi ka basta basta maka pagmamaneho ng bus nang walang certificate na ikaw ay qualified at pumasa sa pag-aaral at examination both writen and actual driving ng public bus. Two weeks ago isang bus driver ang nasisante or tanggal sa trabajo dahil lang nag text habang nag mamaneho.
Hindi ko alam na nagpunta ka pala dito sa USA ate Ellen. Sayang nakita ko sana in person ang hinahangaan kong manunulat. Dito ako sa Bay Area California. Saan ka ba dito nag paunta ate Ellen. Is it a business or a pleasure trip.
Yes, Mam Ellen. Not only me, but many other former students of hers who are future journalists. I mentioned that po to Mr. Roland Simbulan when I visited Mam Chit’s wake yesterday.
It’s also a rare privilege to talk to you (and have a picture, too) yesterday, Miss Ellen.
Pagtuunan sana ng pansin ng gobyerno na ang mga driver ng mga pampasaherong sasakyan ay magkaroon ng disiplina sa sarili. Huwag maging mabilis sa pagmaneho at siguruhin na hindi makakadisgrasya. Parusahan ang may kasalanan.
Isa pang dapat parusahan ay LTO. They keep on issuing licenses to unqualified drivers. No, let me rephrase that – they keep on issuing licenses to IDIOTS and MORONS. It’s about time LTO be held accountable.
My deepest condolences to Chit’s family.
When one loses a professional family member, it is like losing a very close blood relative. Afterall, we spend so much time with them over the years.
I condole with the family of Chit, this includes you Ellen.
In the late 70s, I had a taxi accident. I had multiple fracture on my collar bone. I already healed but the phobia of riding in public transportation in the Philippines has remained. Drivers are driving recklessly!
Thanks to everyone who sent messages of condolence. Will relay to Roland.
Kulang talaga sa disiplina ang mga drivers ng bus. Nung araw, nakagilid sila sa Philcoa pag nagbababa. Huli akong napadpad sa UP, halos tatlong lanes ang okupado ng nagbababa at nagsasakay. Sa dami nila, una-unahang makapasok sa campus. Nung araw ay yung bus na lawanit ang katawan (JD Transit) na makupad at Metro Transit lang ang biyahe doon, walang agawan.
Suwapang kasi ang mga nag-iissue ng prangkisa, pihado may padulas kaya sobrang dami ng bus na nag-aagawan sa iilang pasahero. Kung isang bus lang ang nakasagi sa taksi malamang buhay pa si Prof. Estella-Simbulan kaso sinundan pa ng isa. Malinaw na paspasan talaga yang dalawang bus na yan.
Lagi na lang ganito, reactive. May kikilos lang kung may namamatay. Kelan pa tayo magbabago?