Former Press Secretary, MB Editor-in-Chief Jun Icban writes 30

BY ISABEL C. DE LEON

Former Press Secretary and veteran newsman Crispulo Julio “Jun” Icban, Jr. has died at the age of 85.

Icban was editor-in-chief for the last 18 years, and devoted 47 years of his career in journalism to the Manila Bulletin.

“He will be missed. We have always looked up to him for his guidance in these times of transformation. The men and women of Manila Bulletin mourn the loss of a pillar in Philippine journalism,” said Dr. Emil C. Yap III, president and vice chairman of the Manila Bulletin.

Icban was named Press Secretary by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2010.

Icban graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines, with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree in 1954. While in UP, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian from 1953-1954.

He also took up a Master of Arts in Journalism course at the Syracuse University, New York State, USA in 1958 on Fulbright and Smith-Mundt grants.

From 1965-1966, Icban was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

His career in journalism started in 1954 when he joined the Manila Times as an Editorial Assistant, a reporter covering the Foreign Affairs beat; and Editorial writer.

He was named News Editor in 1968 up to 1972 when the paper was closed down by martial law.

He worked as an editorial consultant at the Manila Bulletin in 1974 and was later named News Editor. In 2003, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Manila Bulletin.

In 2020, he was named concurrent Publisher and Editor-in-Chief.

Icban, a fatherly figure in Manila Bulletin’s Central News Desk, was also chairman of Samahang Plaridel, an association of Philippine Journalists, and of the Campampangan in Media.

His remains is set to be cremated today, April 6. A two-day wake will be held at Loyola Commonwealth on April 7-8.