On March 17, 1957, a tragedy struck the nation. An aircraft, dubbed Mt. Pinatubo, carrying former President Ramon Magsaysay and 25 others, journalists, politicians, and presidential staff, crashed into the slopes of Mt. Manunggal in Cebu. From the horrid accident, only one came back, journalist Nestor Mata of the Philippines Herald.

Tales of how Mata survived the ordeal detail how he was rescued, suffering from burns all over his body. He was then carried down the mountain by men carrying him on a hammock. Even after the horrid incident, Mata managed to break the news regarding the president’s untimely demise. It is said that he was dictating what had occurred to a nurse while he was being treated in the emergency room.

Back when he was executive editor at the luxury magazine Lifestyle Asia in the mid-1990s, he told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle editor AA Patawaran, then a junior editor in the magazine, that just as he was bracing for the crash,  an angel whispered to his ear to unbuckle his seatbelt. He did and so he was thrown off the C-47 Skytrain in the split-second before it burst into flames, sparing his life.

Over 67 years have passed but the story of Mata lives on after his book about the crash, One Came Back: The Magsaysay Tragedy, was relaunched at the University of Santo Tomas’ Miguel de Benavides Library. The new edition was put out by the family of Mata, and republished by Art Angel Commercial Quests, Inc. 

Speaking at the event were Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela and Jocelyn Mata, the first being the daughter of the former president and the latter of the journalist. Both shared their hopes for those who would read Mata’s account of the events that occurred. “In this book, I hope that people realize that life is so fragile, and fragile as it is, I hope it inspires people to live life with a lot of consequence, integrity, and love for country,” said Magsaysay-Valenzuela. She also shared how each year, a trek is done to revisit the crash site on Mt. Manunggal. 
 

Meanwhile, Mata’s daughter spoke highly of her father, recalling his dedication to getting the news out right away. Alongside the release of the new reprints, a special exhibit containing memorabilia, photos, and various items belonging to Mata is currently on display at the lobby of the Miguel de Benavides Library. The daughters of these two great men hope that the availability of the book in the library and the exhibit will help pass on the legacy of both Magsaysay and Mata to younger generations.