Broadcast journalist and film director Cesar Apolinario passes away

GMA Network praised Apolinario for “his dedication to his craft as a news reporter, producer, and public affairs host will continue to serve as an inspiration to all.” (File photo: cesarapolinario/Instagram)

The public was deeply shocked and saddened to hear the passing of GMA News reporter and film director Cesar Apolinario on Friday, December 13. He was 46.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our Kapuso, Cesar Apolinario, Jr., who peacefully joined his Creator today, December 13, 2019,” his network confirmed in a statement.

A GMA news report said the broadcast journalist was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year, “an illness which he chose to face privately.”

Apolinario, a Communication Arts alumnus from the University of Santo Tomas, started his career with the Kapuso Network as a cameraman-researcher, until he became one of the recognizable personalities in the Philippine news television scene.

People were used to seeing him reporting for 24 Oras and Saksi, doing documentaries for shows i-Witness, Born to be Wild, and Brigada, and co-hosting magazine show iJuander.

Apart from these, he also ventured into directing films like Banal, which was a Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry in 2007.

GMA Network praised Apolinario for “his dedication to his craft as a news reporter, producer, and public affairs host will continue to serve as an inspiration to all.”

“An award-winning broadcast journalist, writer, and director, Cesar will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues, especially those in GMA News and Public Affairs and in the film industry, where he devoted the best years of his life,” it said.

Messages of bereavement from his fellow broadcast journalists, celebrities, and netizens poured in on social media on Friday.

“Thank you #CesarApolinario for being a mentor, a Kuya (brother) and a friend to many of us, I will remember and cherish you forever,” Kapuso reporter JP Soriano tweeted, sharing some old photos with Apolinario during a carpool convoy and the burial coverage of former President Corazon Aquino.

Thank you #CesarApolinario for being a mentor, a Kuya and a friend to many of us, I will remember and cherish you forever. ❤️🙏 Sharing some old photos. ( One during a carpool convoy, the other during FP Cory Aquino burial coverage) pic.twitter.com/BT57vY7Xuj

— JP Soriano (@jpsoriano) December 13, 2019

GMA-7 journalist Raffy Tima, meanwhile said, “He was more than a colleague, he was a friend. There are no words. Godspeed and rest in peace, @CesarApolinario.”

He was more than a colleague, he was a friend. There are no words. Godspeed and rest in peace @CesarApolinario. pic.twitter.com/10LNaTLYus

— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) December 13, 2019

Kapuso actress Barbie Forteza also mourned the passing of the late director, whom she had worked with in the 2009 film Puntod.

“Ibang klase po kayong magalaga, magmahal at sumuporta. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat sa itinuro niyo sakin. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo, direk. Hanggang sa muli (You are one of a kind when it comes to showing care, love, and support. Thank you very much for everything you have taught me. I love you so much, director. Until then),” she wrote in an Instagram post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6AHFeohlCV/

Apolinario is survived by his wife and children. Details of his wake are yet to be announced.