Veteran community journalist Dino Balabo dies at 45

The Philippine journalism community is mourning the loss of environmental journalist Bernardino "Dino" Balabo, who died of cardiac arrest on Monday. He was 45 years old.

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called Balabo's death "a great loss."

"As we pursue our dreams of a truly free Philippine press, you and your example will always serve as an inspiration, Kasamang Dino," it said.

NUJP remembered Balabo as "the unassuming, always smiling, hardworking other half of another giant of journalism," Joe Pavia, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) who passed away in 2011.

Balabo served as reporter and editor for Mabuhay, a weekly regional newspaper in Central Luzon for which Pavia was publisher. The paper was recognized by the PPI for Best in Science and Environmental Reporting and Best Photojournalism in June 2013.

Considered a pillar in community journalism, Balabo was also part of local publications such as Punto Central Luzon in Bulacan and Central Luzon Business Weekly in Pampanga.

He hosted a daily program on 90.3 FM Radyo Bulacan, and was a part-time instructor at the Bulacan State University.

Balabo was also correspondent for the Philippine Star and Pilipino Star Ngayon, and a contributor for GMA News Online.

In a career spanning 20 years, he received a number of awards, including the 2006 UNICEF citation for bird flu reporting and the 2010 Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Fellowship.

In the last years of his life, Balabo underwent training to enhance his reporting on the environment, and eventually became part of the 2012-2013 batch of Environmental Fellows of the International Women's Media Foundation. —  Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/JDS/BM, GMA News