Iloilo journalism’s bravest soldier

“I go to the ocean to say goodbye.”

―Charlotte Eriksson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AMONG my senior colleagues in community journalism, I ranked Limuel Sotto Celebria, 69, as among the best opinion writers in Iloilo of all time.

As a local columnist, he was in the category of Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, Herbert Vego, Atty. Teopisto “Pet” Melliza, Wenceslao Mateo, Jr., the late Sonny Rico, Bel Sobrevega, and Dean Art Jimenez.

They were the crème de la crème in the Iloilo print media after Martial Law was lifted in1981, and before the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

I mentioned only a few because they were really the most active columnists in the English periodicals then who became part of the household of regular newspaper readers in Western Visayas.

Limuel was already a prominent figure in Iloilo journalism when I was still member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)—both the original and the “reform movement” in late 80s.

I first met Limuel in the press conference of the 1988 Paraw Regatta Festival at Hotel del Rio’s Igmaan Hall in Iloilo City. I was reporter of News Express and he was associate editor of Western Visayas Daily Times. Limuel attended the press conference with sportswriter and future wife, Gina Hablero-Celebria.

The meeting was casual with no earthshaking moment, but it was the first time we saw each other in real time.

 

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Not all newspaper columnists are gifted. Not all who write columns are good opinion makers and analysts.

Because of Peter Principle, any charlatan can call himself a “columnist” even without substance and empirical evidence or basis.

Limuel was not only intelligent but was also a remarkable critic, a political, cultural and social gadfly who could easily sway public opinion and educate the readers.

Aware that tabloid space is a premium, Limuel had clarity and conciseness. His writing style was easily understandable; he knew how to circumvent jargon when writing for a broad audience.

Limuel was best known for using descriptive language and imagery to paint a vivid picture for the reader in his “calumny” column.

When I briefly joined the Western Visayas Daily Times sometime in 1993, he was the paper’s “outgoing” associate editor; Mejorada was the “outgoing” editor-in-chief.

The late Ivan Suansing, future first editor-in-chief of Sun.Star Iloilo in1996 and managing editor of Cebu Daily News in 1998, was their senior reporter.

Limuel lived a simple life. I noticed he never wore fancy or branded clothes, shoes and jewelry. He loved his family first and foremost, cold beer in a cold bar, and to belt out his favorite videoke song, Bon Jovi’s “Bed of Roses.”

 

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Too bad Limuel had to suffer from several serious ailments after his health problems began in late 2021 after experiencing blood in his urine.

The issue recurred, leading to a CT scan in 2022 that revealed stage IV renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) that had spread to his lungs after initial treatment offered some relief. Limuel underwent a nephrectomy to remove the cancerous kidney, but sadly, the cancer had already metastasized.

Limuel was also treated for the following: Pneumonia in an immunocompromised state; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in acute exacerbation; Stage II hypertension; Gouty arthritis.

He underwent targeted drug therapy for the cancer, but the cost of treatment presented a significant challenge.

After saying his final goodbye on July 4, 2025, Limuel must now be resting in peace in the bed of roses prepared by his Creator.  Farewell Limuel, Iloilo journalism’s bravest soldier. So long, my dear friend and colleague!

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)