MANILA (UPDATE) —The gunning down of broadcaster Percival Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid, this week brought together not just fellow journalists and friends who were all shocked by the killing.

At Mabasa’s wake in Parañaque City, avid listeners of Mabasa’s radio and online commentary show also showed up to pay their respects and condole with the bereaved family.

Some who did not know each other before found themselves sharing memories of listening to Mabasa’s broadcasts.

They said Mabasa was a cut above many commentators, who in his own style brought out the truth.

“Malaking kawalan sa industriya ng pamamahayag,” said Lor, a 64-year-old listener from Manila who asked not to disclose her surname.

(He is a giant loss for the journalism industry.)

Lor said she had been following Mabasa for more than two decades as he moved through radio stations.

“Sana mayroong magpatuloy ng kaniyang ginagawa. Ang sinasabi naman niya ay sa katotohanan. Kasi sa panahon ngayon, daming fake news. So kailangan naman mamulat na ‘yong mga kapwa natin Pilipino, na sana sa totoo lang tayo,” she said.

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(I hope there will be others who will continue what he did. He had been saying the truth. And with the proliferation now of fake news, many of our fellow Filipinos need to know what is true.)

For Lor and other listeners, Mabasa was not a “marites”—a colloquialism for gossipmonger—but someone who gave informed commentary based on credible sources and his own experience as a journalist.

Vangie Ababadilla, 53, who lives in Parañaque City, discovered Percy online in recent years.

“Makikita mo ang kaniyang honesty, truthfulness niya,” she said.

“Makikita mo ‘yong courage niya to speak the truth. Bihira na ngayon ‘yon.”

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(You can see his honesty, truthfulness, as well as his courage to speak the truth. That’s rare these days.)

But Ababadilla and others also come back to his broadcast every 10 p.m. to midnight for one other element—Mabasa’s laughter.

“Kasi may mga comment siya na totoo naman, pero mayroon siyang way na nasasabi niya ‘yon sa paraan na parang joke. Tapos tatawa siya nang malutong na malutong. ‘Di ko makakalimutan ‘yon. Tawa ako nang tawa doon. Inulit-ulit ko ‘yon panoorin,” she said.

(He makes comments that are truthful but delivered as though he was joking. Then he would snicker. I won’t forget that. I was also laughing aloud as I watched it over and over.)

Stories like these from listeners lift the spirits of Mabasa’s family, his brother Roy said.

Roy, also a journalist, said they were visited by listeners from the province and even abroad, with different tributes to Mabasa’s character.

“Ngayon ko lang din nalaman na itong si Ka Percy, nakikipagkita sa kaniyang listeners kapag may mga pagkakataon. Hindi ko lang maisip paano niya napagkakasya ang kanyiang 24 oras na mapagbigyan ang lahat ng kaibigan at tagapakinig,” Roy said.

• Veteran radio broadcaster Percy Lapid shot dead

(I only found out lately that Percy met with his listeners if there were opportunities. I can’t grasp how he was able to squeeze into his 24 hours the time for friends and listeners.)

But he said it was no surprise many listeners felt an affinity with Percy, since he shared much of his life with them during his broadcasts.

Veteran broadcaster Rey Langit, who condoled with the Mabasas on Saturday evening, also paid tribute to Percy’s work.

He said they both were anchors at one time in radio station DZRJ.

“Alam kong Ka Percy is mabibilang nating iilan lamang sa mga breed ng talagang hard-hitting na commentarists na nagha-handle up to this modern time,” Langit said.

“Naniniwala akong marami pa rin tayong mga kasamahan na hindi tatalikod sa ating mga commitment. Basta ang importante ang ginagawa natin ay para sa greater majority ng ating mga kababayan kahit may mga masasaktan paminsan-minsan."

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(I know Percy is one of the very few breed of truly hard-hitting commentators still at it up to this modern time. I believe there are many of us who will not turn back on our commitment. What is important is we are working for the greater majority of our countrymen even though there will be those who get hurt sometimes.)

Roy said the slain broadcaster's final night lying in repose was dedicated to his fans, listeners, and followers.

“Kayo ang better judge kaya binigyan namin ng parangal sa gabing ito,” Roy said.

(You are the better judges of my brother's character, that's why we also honor you tonight.)

Acclaimed filmmaker Jim Libiran described Mabasa as a "totoong tao" (real person) and urged others to keep his memory alive by following his example.

“Wala na si Percy, tayo na si Percy. Pag di na tayo nagsalita, patay na si Percy," he said.

(As Percy is no longer with us, we are now Percy. Percy is only truly dead if we do not speak.)

Percy’s listeners in the Philippines and abroad were a chance to celebrate his life and work during a livestreamed necrological service on the last night of his wake.

Percy will be buried at the Manila Memorial Park on Sunday.

— with report from Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News

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