Tacloban City – Mediamen in Tacloban City and in the Eastern Visayas region led the tributes to station manager and radio commentator Larry Portillo, who has passed away due to an illness at the age of 37.
Portillo, who died on Sunday afternoon, July 9, 2023, was a well-loved radio personality in the city.
“Salamat han pagtuod sa akon, salamat san pagtapod, salamat sa pagsarangkay Kuya Larry, dire ka namon hingangalimtan. Ako ngan an akon bug-os nga pamilya in kaupod han mga Leyteño ha kasubo ha pagbaya han usa nga harigi han radyo ngan maupay nga sangkay,” said Rigie Malinao, publisher and managing editor at Samar Daily News Online.
“Usa ka han pinakaboutan nga sikat nga media ha Region 8, nga akon nakilala, salit idol ko ikaw. Happy ako nga nakilala ko ikaw, ngan diri ko hinangangalimtan an imo ka humble,” wrote Rene Castino, a radio broadcaster at MSFM 105.3 in Catbalogan City, Samar.
Liza Baoy, former regional information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea)-Eastern Visayas, recalled her professional and personal friendship with Portillo.
“Those were the days when all you needed was a call and I’d be the guest you didn’t have but will rush up wherever and whenever…Rest easy, Larry. Thank you for the assistance you gave me and Regional Office 8 during those early days,” Baoy wrote online.
“Today, the Eastern Visayas media mourns the demise of one of its best media personalities, Larry Portillo. He was my college instructor, a friend, and my tatay. My heartfelt sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the whole Portillo family,” said RMN Tacloban broadcaster Justine Traya.
Portillo was the village councilor at Barangay 76 Fatima and was previously employed at Bombo Radyo and PRTV Tacloban.
He was the manager of 93.5 Brigada FM Radio Station at the time of his death.