GMA reporters pay tribute to Cesar Apolinario with funny stories, touching words, and a song

GMA reporters paid tribute to their colleague Cesar Apolinario on Saturday night. All their stories painted Cesar to be one hell of a guy: funny, generous, thoughtful, and an all-around good fellow.

“Si Cesar Apolinario ang nag-iisang reporter na walang makakapantay dahil siya lang ang umakbay kay Moro National Liberation Front founding Chairman Nur Misuari,” Benjie Liwanag said, much to the delight of Cesar’s family and friends.

Cesar can find light moments in a tense situation, Benjie continued, as when the two of them were in another coverage this time in North Cotabato. “Nagbabakbakan na, takbo kami. Hinila niya ‘ko pagbaba. Akala ko kung anong sasabihin ni Cesar. Sabi lang niya sa akin, ‘ang hirap tumakbo ng mataba, ano.”

Meanwhile ex-GMA reporter Michael Fajatin shared how he trained Cesar. “Ang bilis niyang kumonek [sa tao]. Bukod sa nakukuha niya  ang mahahalaga, nakukuha rin niya ang person. Yun ang madali para sa kanya. Madali makagaan ng luob,” Michael shared.

“Jologs si Cesar pero mayaman siya sa pinagdaanan. Puno ang kaluluwa niya makatulong sa iba. Marami siyang nakikita na hindi nakikita ng iba,” Michael continued.

Of his trainee Cesar, Michael said: “He got good. Then he got better. Then he got best.”

 

 

 

 

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GMA reporters and close friends of @cesarapolinario show to his family old clips of the beloved journalist as part of their special tribute for him. #SalamatCesar

A post shared by GMA Public Affairs (@gmapublicaffairs) on

Dec 14, 2019 at 9:33am PST

“Mapagmahal siyang asawa, mabuting anak at kapatid. Mapagmahal na kaibigan,” Lei Alviz said of Cesar, whose presence, she said, always invoked banter.

Among the very many touching stories Mariz Umali shared, that one instance where Cesar helped her in a story stood one. “Hirap ako makahanap ng case study, ikaw ang pinagtanungan ko,” Mariz began, addressing Cesar. “Sabi mo may nakabangka ka na. Pero hindi lang contact ang binigay mo, kundi pati kuha mo, hanggang time code, at edited version pa. Pinadali mo ang trabaho ko.”

Her husband, Raffy Tima shared an insightful video with Cesar.

“Isa sa pinakamapagbigay si Cesar. Isa siya sa pinakahirap, hirap siya sa buhay pero nag-uumapaw ang pagbibigay niya sa kapwa niya,” said Kara David, whose Project Malasakit will take on Cesar's children as scholars. 

After sharing their favorite anecdotes of Cesar, all of the reporters came together and offered a song to their colleague. There wasn’t a dry eye left in the room.

Cesar Apolinario passed away on Friday, December 13, of lymphoma. He was 46. — LA, GMA News