The Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) mourns the passing of its founding chairman Abrino Aydinan.
Aydinan, who was then working for the defunct Business Day publication, the precursor of BusinessWorld, was the one who made the bold suggestion in 1985 to create an organization of economic reporters.
In her account of EJAP’s history, the late Arleen Chipongian-Perez, who was also an EJAP Founding Member, said Aydinan suggested the creation of the organization since their group of 15 junior reporters would always meet after work to talk shop.
It was as simple as that but what Aydinan did not yet realize was that his simple suggestion would give birth to a 90-member strong institution that strives to always uphold excellence in business reporting.
“The EJAP owes much to Sir Abring and we will forever be grateful for his contribution to the industry,” the organization said.
As EJAP’s first president, his commitment and “intense intellectual” prowess are recognized by all as the moving spirit behind EJAP during its early years, according to Fe dela Cruz who, like Aydinan, was a former Business Day reporter/editor.
She recalled that Aydinan, a trade beat reporter, led journalists at the time to weigh in on the turbulent political issues of the 1980s, something business reporters rarely do.
Another founding member, Chi Liquicia, former Daily Express reporter and Reuters correspondent, said Aydinan “was tahimik pero malalim” and very credible as EJAP leader. Later, he was recruited by President Gloria M. Arroyo to work in Malacañang.
He was also director of the Department of Agrarian Reform and contributed to the success of the Cordillera Regional Consultative Commission as its chairperson. “He will be remembered dearly,” she said.
EJAP also expressed its deepest condolences to Abring’s family and friends.
“May we all find comfort in knowing that Sir Abring and his contributions to journalism will not be forgotten. We will always remember Arleen’s words: ‘Walang EJAP, if wala si Abring,’” the group said.