Journalist Rolly Espina dies at 84

Journalist Rolando “Rolly” Espina passed away on Thursday, his daughter and fellow journalist Inday Espina-Varona said.

Espina-Varona announced on a Facebook post that the 84-year-old veteran journalist, whose career spanned more than half a century, died on at 5:45 p.m., Thursday at his home in Bacolod City.

According to Inday Varona's post, the Escalante, Negros Occidental-born Espina had worked for the pre-martial law Manila Chronicle, served as bureau chief of the Philippine News Agency, and later as correspondent for various wire agencies and foreign periodicals, according to a write-up released by his family.

He also worked as editor for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and then for the Philippine Star.

The award-winning journalist and civic leader also served as vice president of the National Press Club twice, president of the Negros Press Club, chairman of the Negros Daily Bulletin, and was one of the founders of the Visayan Daily Star.

He married the late pediatrician Lourdes Llavore and had 11 children, 23 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren with her. Llavore passed away in September 2000.

—Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/LBG, GMA News