One of the most dramatic events to hit the local press was the death of president Ramon Magsaysay on March 17,1957.

Magsaysay had come to Cebu on a whirlwind visit. He arrived at around 3 pm on March 16 and went into a frenzied round of activities: a motorcade, courtesy calls on former President Sergio Osmeña, and (since it was graduation season) speeches at the University of the Visayas, University of Southern Philippines, and University of San Carlos. He dropped by at the residence of former Governor Manuel Cuenco and (in an interesting sidelight) even brought with him a rare drug (albumin syrup) to be given to the writer and Cebu Press Club president, Cornelio Faigao, who was dying in a local hospital.

Some ten hours after he arrived, Magsaysay left Cebu for Manila on board the presidential plane, Mt. Pinatubo. It was past 1 in the morning of March 17. A few minutes later (and 12 aerial miles from the city), he was dead, killed in the Mt. Manunggal plane crash that claimed his life and those of 25 others.

The irony is that this Big Story was not carried by Cebu’s leading paper, The Republic Daily, until two days later. As presses ran in those days, it happened too late for the March 17 (Sunday) edition of the paper. And dailies in those days came out “daily except Monday.” Hence, it was not until Tuesday (March 19) that the story was run.

- Ybarra