The ashes of former Manila Bulletin News Editor Bing Torres will be flown in from Melbourne this Tuesday, February 9. His wife Josie and daughters will bring over his ashes for burial at the St. Therese Columbarium in Nichols, Pasay City, on February 14. Before that, from February 9 -10, his ashes will be at the Chapel of the Resurrection of Our Lady of Beautiful Love Parish in Merville Park.

Bing Torres died of emphysema last January 22 in Melbourne where he had resided since 1993. His son Dodo said he didn’t work there, as he was happy just babysitting his grandchildren.

Torres was schooled at the Lyceum but it was San Beda College where he graduated with an AB English (Journalism) degree. His first job at the Manila Bulletin was as police reporter. He developed a close friendship with General Jimmy Barbers, then chief of police of Manila.

From Manila Bulletin, Torres went on to become editor of Times Journal. He was elected president of the National Press Club (NPC) in 1975-76. It was during his term as NPC president that the traditional Gridiron was presented at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the first time after 20 years since the declaration of Martial Law. Torres was assisted in this project by Ms. Nelia Lim.

It was Bing Torres who interviewed me when I applied for a job at the Manila Bulletin. He was the news editor, and Ben Rodriguez, then the city editor to whom I sent my letter of application, left instructions for Bing Torres to interview me. But it was then Editor-in-Chief Felix “Judge” Gonzalez who finally decided to take me in and put me in charge of the entertainment page.