Mr. Icban, as we all call him here in Manila Bulletin, was our treasure.  We presented him with pride to any dignitary who came to visit, and we protected him from the merely curious who could waste his precious time.

To us, Mr. Icban was not only the editor-in-chief of Manila Bulletin, he was an icon in Philippine journalism — respected by government and private sector leaders, adored like a rock star by journalism students who had the privilege to sit in one of his impromptu lectures, and in the newsroom, he was the boss who started the afternoon with the story conference.

Last Monday, April 5, 2021, our treasure and national icon in journalism, Crispulo M. Icban Jr., passed away.  He was 85 years old.

It would be an understatement to say that he had touched many lives.  In the 47 years that he worked with the Manila Bulletin, Mr. Icban had inspired at least two generations of working journalists and could-have-been newsmen.

Among them are the editors and reporters of Manila Bulletin, the students in his journalism class at the University of the Philippines many of them joining media; and the many visitors who took time to visit him.  Those I have personally escorted out of his office would remark at Mr. Icban’s wisdom and wit. Among them were consuls, civic leaders, and corporate giants.

But best of all, Mr. Icban was the “heart of the editorial office,” Emil C. Yap, president of  Manila Bulletin, said.

He was the heart that inspired us to be committed to our craft.  

No flood, typhoon, or holidays have kept him from going to the office.  When he finally took a dayoff about five years ago, he would call the office to ask how we were doing. 

“ A big loss to Manila Bulletin and the journalism profession,”Loreto Cabanes, business editor said.

Secretary Sonny Coloma, EVP of Manila Bulletin, said he will miss Mr. Icban’s “jovial friendship.” 

“He shared with me his recollection of how challenging it was to write and come out with every issue of what was then called Bulletin Today under strict restraint of the authorities — and how important it was to keep the spirit of journalism alive.  He described himself as a liberal whose personal philosophy was anchored on the principles of “liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law.”

Of course there were also those who would visit him to vent an issue against a story that hurt a reputation. Mr. Icban would take away his attention from writing an editorial to attend to that, oftentimes to call me to complete the task. For Mr. Icban always had a soft spot for those who felt disadvantaged, especially those who came for financial assistance.

In the newsroom, Mr. Icban was a giant image. He walked around the newsroom quietly, bringing pages he had seen, and stopping beside an editor to show a correction he made in that editor’s page.  His humble manner makes one remember the error he had cited.

As EIC, Mr. Icban does not call people to his office for a remark or correction on their pages or stories.  He stands up and goes to that person, or calls the reporter by phone. 

Mr. Icban was always generous with his time ever since I can remember.  No question was insignificant to him even if it was only to ask about the proper preposition or proper word to use.  I soon learned that there is no quick-question for Mr. Icban, one whose answer you needed right away.  He would discuss why that word is correct or incorrect, stand up and consult a very large dictionary at the other side of his desk, and point out the word usage in many forms.

It was not only the proper use of a word that Mr. Icban would cite, it was also the implications on the use of a certain word.  From his wisdom, I learned and appreciated the many textures of words, especially of verbs.  

His eyes were always quick to spot an unintended pun.  You know that’s coming when he shifts his eyes from the page to you, then his eyes light up, and he would laugh loudly and repeat the string of words that do not sound as innocent as it is written. 

To the trainees whose task includes showing Mr. Icban the pages before it is sent down to print, he was the kind-hearted man of few words with “very sharp eyes.” They always shake their heads and say: “Why did I not see those errors?” 

By now you must know that Mr. Icban was “our walking style book and encyclopedia,” as Ed Bartilad, assistant EIC, remarked after he learned about Mr. Icban’s passing. 

To me, I will miss his presence behind my shoulder, reading what I was editing, and commenting on a word or thought. I will miss his wisdom which shall always guide me to make decisions.  

Mr. Icban was named Press Secretary by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2010.

He graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines, with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree in 1954. While in UP, he was  Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian from 1953-1954.

He also took up a Master of Arts in Journalism course  at the Syracuse University, New York State, USA in 1958 on Fulbright and Smith-Mundt grants.

From 1965-1966, Icban was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

His career in journalism started in 1954 when he joined the Manila Times as an Editorial Assistant, a reporter covering the Foreign Affairs beat; and Editorial writer.

He was named News Editor in 1968 up to 1972 when the paper was closed down by martial law.

He worked as an editorial consultant at the Manila Bulletin in 1974 and was later named News Editor. In 2003, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Manila Bulletin.

In 2020, he was named concurrent Publisher and Editor-in-Chief.

He was born on August 3, 1935 in Tondo, Manila to Crispulo Manansala Icban of  Lubao, Pampanga, and Mercedes Villanueva Julio of Pura, Tarlac. 

He is married to Zenaida Pamintuan Icban with whom he has six children — Susan Icban Amores, Mercedes Icban Hermogenes, Crispulo Icban III,  David Icban, Zenaida Flor Icban, and Michael Ben Icban. (With a report from Isabel De Leon)