MANILA (UCAN): The Order of the Carmelites in the Philippines honoured five local journalists this year with the Titus Brandsma Award, a recognition named after a Dutch priest who was killed during World War II.
“The Titus Brandsma Award recognises Filipino journalists and media workers who best epitomise the life and principles of Titus Brandsma,” said Carmelite Father Artemio Jusayan, prior provincial of the order.
This year’s recipients were journalists, Eduardo Lingao, Christian Esguerra, Luis Teodoro, Regina Paz Lopez, Jesuit Father James Reuter, and archivist Belina San Buenaventura-Capul.
Lopez, who died in August, was honoured for her leadership in environmental communication and advocacy, while Father Reuter, who died in December 2012, was given a lifetime achievement award.
“Titus commitment to peace and reconciliation is as relevant today as in this life,” said Father Jusayan. “His spirit reminds and challenges us to be instruments of peace and reconciliation,” he added.
Titus Brandsma was a Dutch Carmelite priest, journalist and educator who was arrested, tortured and killed by lethal injection in the Dachau concentration camp, southern Germany, on 26 July 1942.
An outspoken opponent of the Nazis he sought to preach and to write in defence of the Dutch Jews, and to oppose Nazi control of Catholic schools and newspapers in the Netherlands.
Pope St. John Paul II beatified Blessed Titus Brandsma, who is also known as the martyr of press freedom on 3 November 1985.
The award is the Philippine version of the International Titus Brandsma Award given by the International Christian Organisation of the Media, the Dutch Bishops’ Conference and the Dutch Carmel Province.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
In his speech, veteran journalist, Luis Teodoro, accepted the award “on behalf of the many journalists across the country,” who despite attacks and censorship, “continue the necessary task of seeking the truth and reporting it.”
Teodoro, who was named Press Freedom awardee, dedicated the award to the 155 journalists and media workers who have been killed since the 1970s, including the 32 who were killed in the 2009 massacre in Mindanao.
